Tiny Home and Accessory Dwelling Units Task Force for the Homeless
a
Tiny Homes&Accessory Dwelling Units
While there is no standard for what constitutes a tiny home, in general they will fall somewhere in the
range of 200-400 square feet. For comparison, most Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations limit size to 800
square feet or less. So a tiny home can be thought of in some sense as a "micro-ADU", although not every
ADU is a tiny home, and not every tiny home is an ADU.
Historically,the issue with these units is that they have trouble meeting building code, not specifically
because of their size, but because of other building code standards regarding loft space, stairs, and the like.
To avoid being subject to building code,the approach has been to put these homes on wheels.This means
that they are no longer subject to building code and are regulated instead as recreational vehicles.
However, most jurisdictions place restrictions on recreational vehicles, only allowing them to be occupied
on private property for a certain number of days per year.Typically, an exception to this standard is made
for sanctioned RV parks. While this standard might seem unfair, it is a health, safety, and welfare issue. RVs
are not on a permanent foundation, and do not have connections to sanitary sewer.
Some of you asked about existing tiny home developments in Oregon like Opportunity Village in Eugene.
While Opportunity Village (first conceived of based on a recommendation from the Eugene Council's Task
Force on Homelessness) does have small sleeping units of about 80 square feet,they do not include
restroom or kitchen facilities, and so are not technically tiny homes.They are in effect single-room
occupancy(SRO) sleeping units with communal bathroom and kitchen facilities.The city of Eugene
regulates those units as temporary structures, and extended the 180-day limit for temporary structures
based on a demonstrated need. While the units help fill a gap,they are considered transitional housing.
The Oregon legislature in its last session passed a bill (HB 2737) requiring the state Department of
Consumer and Business Services to develop and adopt construction standards for tiny homes that will be
incorporated into the state building code.These standards are required to: a) allow sleeping lofts and b)
allow ladders as a legal means of egress from the lofts.This change will allow tiny homes to be placed on
permanent foundations and be regulated as a building, not an RV.The new standards are not required to
take effect until January 1, 2018.
Taken in tandem with an administrative rule allowing use of the 2015 IRC building code,which removed the
requirement for at least one room of 120 square feet,the new bill will allow development of permanent
tiny home villages like the Emerald Village complex planned in Eugene.These units will include a
kitchenette and bathroom facilities. I believe that Emerald Village is already under construction, but the
new law will provide a clear path for building code compliance without any need for subjective
interpretation to pass inspection.
If you have any further questions please contact Schuyler Warren -schuylerw@tigard-or.gov.