Where Can I Put My Tiny House? A List Of Resources to Find Tiny House Parking

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Where Can I Park My Tiny House?

This is a question we get almost every day.  Often, your town won’t have already considered whether to allow tiny houses as year-round residences: it just takes someone to ask.

Start out by looking at the zoning laws in your own town.  B&B Tiny Houses are built to RVIA standards, which legally classifies them as RVs.  If your town or city doesn’t allow RVs, then you can either ask your planning board or go to another town.

Networking is a common way people find spaces for their tiny houses: start out on Facebook, Meetup, or in person at a tiny house festival.  By using personal networking rather than tiny house websites, you might find someone with land willing to rent a space to you who hasn’t previously heard about tiny houses or considered renting a small piece of their land for one.  Try Facebook Groups that are tiny house specific, or just general community groups.  Before agreeing to rent someone’s land, though, make sure both you and the potential landlord are aware of the tiny house legalities in that community.

Facebook groups for Massachusetts Residents:

American Tiny House Association: A network of tiny house enthusiasts with resources for how to make tiny house living legal year-round in your own community.

Search Tiny House Villages: RV Parks, villages, and communities across the United States and Canada that allow tiny houses.

Try It Tiny: Short-term and long-term rental lots, often on privately owned property, for your tiny house as well as tiny houses for rent.

What’s The Difference Between a Modular Home and a Tiny House on Wheels?

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Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home

Left: A Tiny House on Wheels- the wheels are obscured by shrubbery.  Right: A Modular Home: no wheels, slab foundation (coming soon!)

 

 

 

Tiny Houses on Wheels

Tiny houses on wheels are permanently on the chassis.  The tires can be removed but the house will always be on the trailer. If you want a tiny house on wheels but don’t plan to travel with it, we can also permanently anchor a tiny house on wheels to the ground, remove its tires, and skirt it.  Road-legal limits of 8 1/2′ wide and 13 1/2′ high constrain the size of tiny houses on wheels. We are certified to build tiny houses on wheels by the RVIA, so our tiny houses on wheels are legally considered RVs.  Tiny houses on wheels don’t require a building permit, but you’ll need to make sure RVs are allowed in your zone of your town.

Modular Homes

Modular homes are constructed in pieces in a factory and then transported to the home site to be assembled and attached to the foundation.  They look just like traditional houses– you can’t tell the difference between a modular home from a traditional home just by looking at it– and can be any shape and size as long as each module is small enough to travel from the factory to the build site.  After a modular home is built and inspected inside the factory, it is transported to the site and then permanently attached to a foundation (basement, slab, or pin foundation) where it is inspected again.  B&B Micro Manufacturing is certified to build Industrialized/Modular Homes by the State of Massachusetts.  Modular homes are financed using traditional home financing and there’s no difference in zoning for a modular home versus a traditional site-built home.  B&B Modular designs will be released in early 2019.

Both types of homes are built inside our factory in Massachusetts.  The advantages of factory-building include a quicker build time (we don’t have to stop working in extreme weather) and a less expensive build, especially when the home is built alongside other homes of the same design.

B&B Micro Manufacturing, Inc. is honored with an AIM Next Century Award

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We are thrilled and humbled to be one of the twelve organizations honored by Associated Industries of Massachusetts with a 2018 AIM Next Century Award.

“AIM created the Next Century Award to honor the accomplishments of companies and individuals creating a new era of economic opportunity for the people of Massachusetts. These remarkable people and institutions – world leaders in their fields – inspire the rest of us by exemplifying the intelligence, hard work and dedication to success that has built our commonwealth,” said Richard C. Lord, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIM.

We couldn’t have accomplished as much as we have without our team of talented, driven craftspeople; our customers who continuously push our creativity to new heights; and the support of the many individuals and entities in the Berkshires, particularly here in North Adams, who have helped us grow over the past two years.

The regional celebration was held at the gorgeous Hotel on North in Pittsfield. Alongside Canyon Ranch in Lenox, we received the Next Century Award, while Pittsfield’s Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing received the Sustainability Award, given by Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

We’re pleased and humbled to be honored along with twelve other businesses and organizations across the state of Massachusetts for our “unique contributions to the Massachusetts economy and the well-being of the people who live there”.

Are Composting Toilets Allowed in Massachusetts?

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Composting toilets and greywater systems can be a great solution for how to deal with waste water.  But are you allowed to use them on your own land in MA?

Spoiler alert: Like pretty much every code, there’s not a single easy answer that applies everywhere.

According to mass.gov, for residential homes: “Title 5 (310 CMR 15.000) allows composting toilets for Remedial Use and also certifies them for General Use in new residential construction where a system in full compliance with Title 5 could otherwise be installed. The local approving authority (typically the Board of Health) must also approve installation of a composting toilet through a Disposal System Construction Permit and Certificate of Compliance. Check with your local Board of Health for its approval procedures.”

Read all the details here:

Source: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/qm/comptoi.pdf

Note that this doesn’t apply to tiny houses on wheels– only homes that are permanently affixed.

In summary, Title 5 allows for conforming composting toilets and a greywater system in new residential construction where there could otherwise be a septic system.  However, this doesn’t mean it’s allowed in every town.  The local Board of Health will also have to approve it. 

Here’s how to get in touch with your local Board of Health in Massachusetts.

But wait: a composting toilet isn’t the only option for your tiny house!

B&B offers five different toilets for tiny houses on wheels: the best solution for you depends on where you’re parking your tiny house, whether it’ll move, what utilities are available and how often you’ll use your tiny house.  Check out this blog post on the 5 Types Of Tiny House Toilets.

 

 

 

A Look Inside B&B’s Resideo Tiny Smart Home with Honeywell Home Tech

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We’ve built a Tiny Smart Home using tech from Resideo, Honeywell‘s new spinoff which goes public today.

The Tiny Smart Home is right outside the New York Stock Exchange where Resideo rang the bell this morning, showing off Resideo’s smart home technology.

“As Resideo rings in a new era as an independent company and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the company is hosting a pop-up experience outside the iconic Financial District landmark to display its top-notch, easy-to-use solutions. The mobile technology showcase is the brain child of Resideo and news-outlet Cheddar, who are joining forces to highlight the intersection between smart home technology and simple living. The Resideo Tiny Home, built by B + B Tiny Houses, serves as the backdrop of a new Cheddar show, which will launch later in 2018 and highlight Honeywell Home’s end-to-end, integrated home solutions on the exterior, on the wall, in the wall and in the cloud.

The 125 square-foot home features Honeywell Home’s professionally installed options, which were slightly modified for the small space, and are available through professional HVAC contractors and home automation and security dealers (through Resideo’s ADI Global Distribution business). The home also includes DIY solutions found at major retailers and www.Honeywellhome.com. The solutions are controlled via simple voice commands or Honeywell Home apps, make the home smarter, cozier, safer, and more efficient.” –resideo.com

If you’re near Wall Street check out our Tiny Smart Home with Resideo technology!  If you’re not near Wall Street, this tiny house will soon be traveling the nation– keep up to date on its whereabouts on Residso’s Twitter or Facebook!

Click the images to enlarge:

Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home Resideo Tiny House, Resideo Tiny Smart Home

Learn More about “The Tiny Home On Wall Street” in this article by Resideo. 

Watch the video of B&B co-founder Jason’s interview about Building The Smart Tiny Home on Cheddar TV.

5 Home Design Ideas for Renovating a Small Space

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5 Home Design Ideas for Renovating a Small Space

Whether it’s a tiny house or small space, follow these guidelines for maximizing space.

1. Declutter and Add Storage

Add storage everywhere! This is where you can be creative and build storage in unconventional ways.

2. Light colors

Light colors allow for the space to feel fresher and bigger.

3. Windows and Mirrors

Adding natural light will make a space feel more open. By adding windows and placing larger mirrors where natural light hits, you’ll maximize the freshness of your space.

4. Multi-Use Furniture

Space-saving furniture is perfect for a small space as it allows your room to become multi-functional.

5. Vary vertical and horizontal dimensions

If possible, vary the dimensions and finishes in both the horizontal and vertical direction. When done correctly, this helps the space feel less uniform and allows for the eye to wander.

small space furniture tiny house

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10 Must Have Kitchen Appliances in Your Tiny Kitchen

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10 Must Have Kitchen Appliances in Your Tiny Kitchen

Tiny living doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the ability to make delicious home cooked meals. Below are some neat appliances that can make cooking easier and more fun!

1. All-in-One Crock Pot

These bad boys are able to slow cook, pressure cook, steam, and saute your food. No oven required for delicious meals!

kitchen appliances

2. Food Steamer

Steamers are easy to clean, healthier as they don’t require oil, allow you to cook all your dinner items at the same time, and require very little supervision.

kitchen appliances

3. Rapid Egg Cooker

These small egg cookers can serve you poached, scrambled, hard boiled eggs, and omelets in no time. And now time for an egg pun…What does a meditating egg say? Ohmmmmmmmlet.

4. Ice Maker

This ice maker can make ice cubes in 6 minutes and will make up to 26 pounds of ice daily.

kitchen appliances

5. Single Serve Blender

Yummy smoothies are quick and fast with this single serving blender that features one bottle for blending and drinking.

kitchen appliances 6. 3-in-1 Breakfast Station

Simultaneously make coffee, pancakes, eggs, toast, and sausage. This is a dream come true!

7. Breakfast Sandwich Maker

Finally a fool-proof way to make a circular egg for your breakfast sandwich.

kitchen appliances 8. Gridler 

Bring the grill indoors with this space-efficient appliance.

kitchen appliances 9. Pizza-Maker

Pizza is unarguably the best meal on the planet.

kitchen appliances

10. Kitchen Herbs

Plant these herbs in pots and put them right below your kitchen window for a green touch and delicious dishes.

B&B Tiny House Kitchens

At B&B, our tiny houses come with custom cabinetry and the following kitchen features: 
Basic Kitchen 
The basic kitchen comes with a minifridge, two-burner electric cooktop, and a sink.
The Upgraded Kitchen
The upgraded kitchen has an apartment size fridge, sink, and propane oven and stove.  Customers may also get an “upgraded plus” kitchen with a dishwasher.
The Custom Kitchen
For a design alteration fee, we can also design a custom kitchen for your tiny house. This includes the layout and types of appliances put into your kitchen.

 

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Choosing the Right Towing Vehicle for Your Tiny House

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Choosing the Right Truck for your Tiny House

All of our tiny houses on wheels are able to be towed; however, if you will be moving around regularly and do not have a truck with a large towing capacity, we recommend purchasing a tiny house under 26 feet long. This is due to the towing capacity of most trucks.

The weight of B&B Tiny Houses depends on the size and materials used.  A vinyl-sided 20′ Hoosic weighs around 9400 pounds, while a solid wood clapboard-sided 20′ Hoosic weighs around 10,000 pounds.  The 20′ Brodie Office/Studio with T-111 siding weighs the least of everything we’ve weighed so far, at 8,000 pounds, and the 30′ Stony Ledge with solid wood clapboard siding comes in at around 14,000 pounds.

As a general rule, our tiny houses weigh between 400-500 pounds per foot, so to determine the weight multiply the number of feet by 400 and 500 to give you an estimate.

new tiny house construction

Pictured: The Arcadia Tiny House

Our tiny houses are deliverable anywhere in the United States, so if you plan on staying in only one spot, then you do not need to ever worry about towing your tiny house.

We tow our tiny houses that are under 24 feet with a Chevy Silverado 2500. For larger tiny houses, we hire a professional shipping company. As always, our customers are welcome to pick up their tiny house at out manufacturing plant. If you are looking for trucks with large towing capacities, then check out this article on the trucks with the highest towing capacity.

Smaller Tiny Houses for Those on the Move

All of the houses below allow you to customize the interior and exterior finishes to your choosing.

The 20′ Brodie

Perfect For: a mobile office, art studio, backyard guest house, mobile clinic

Features: The Brodie can be used as an office, guest house, and much more. The Brodie features an electric in-wall heating system, half-bath with a dry-flush toilet and sink, storage and countertop space, and a freshwater tank and water heater.

Base Price: $39,000

The Hudson 20′

Perfect For: a weekend getaway for 1-2 people, guest house, rental property

Features: Enter the Hudson into a small sitting area.  A queen size bed with nightstands is to the left on the same level. To the right is a kitchen, with a sink, mini-fridge, cabinets, shelving, and a two-burner cooktop.  Through the kitchen is a full bathroom, with a macerating toilet, sink, and shower.

Base Price: $39,000

The Arcadia

Perfect For: full time luxury living, sleeps up to four people,

Features: The kitchen boasts premium fixtures and appliances, including poured-in-place sealed concrete countertops, a three-burner propane stove and oven, a range hood, and under-counter refrigerator and freezer drawers. The sofa slides out on rails to convert into a full-size guest bed, allowing the house to sleep four. The bathroom has a rain shower head, subway tiles in the full-size shower, a macerating toilet, and a porcelain hand washing sink.  The loft fits a queen-sized bed with a little extra floor space.  The loft has 360 degree views with windows on all sides, plus skylights. An optional built-in Bluetooth audio system connects to your smartphone.

Base Price: $59,000

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Appendix Q “Tiny House Appendix” Advances in Massachusetts, August 2018

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Tiny House Appendix Advances in MA!

From the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) August 14, 2018 Regular Meeting Division of Professional Licensure (DPL):

Proposal Number 5-2-2018 – Consider adopting Appendix Q of the International Residential Code pertaining to Tiny Houses.

“On a MOTION by Rich Crowley seconded by Kevin Gallagher it was voted in the majority to advance Appendix Q forward as an amendment to the ninth edition of the code, independent of the tenth edition effort.

On discussion, Rob Anderson indicated that Board members should refrain from making changes to the ninth edition if the effort is to advance to a tenth edition based on the 2018 I-Codes. Jen Hoyt and Kerry Dietz agreed that it becomes awkward and confusing and, by their estimation, there still may be some issues to be resolved with other agencies relating to tiny houses and it makes more sense to review further as part of the tenth edition revision.

Following discussion, the motion was approved via a majority of Board members with Rob Anderson, Jen Hoyt, and Kerry Dietz voting in opposition.”

Next Steps:

According to Rich Crowley, board member of the MA BBRS, the next steps are for a public hearing in November and then a final vote.

“We’ve voted it in now it’s on to public hearing and final vote. After Tuesday’s vote I don’t anticipate any objection… In fact at one of our previous meetings there was one member, the architect, that voiced some opposition to micro units and this time she offered some positive feedback. The Proposal will return with a document that will more than likely get a unanimous approval as well. That should make it to the hearing and  to promulgation along with tiny houses.
…Once the hearing is over the following month we decide on all the items came in front of us at the hearing and vote up or down or move them somewhere but some form of action is taken at that following meeting. tiny houses are more than likely move forward. At that point it’s just two steps away from [promulgation].
Next it goes to Administration and finance. Once they sign off then it goes to the governor’s desk for signature. It takes maybe a day or two after that for the Secretary of State too publish it as a part of our first amendment to the 9th Edition of the mass building code. The date that gets published is the date of becomes Law so to speak.
I think we can get it all done by the first of the year pretty close. I have talked to lieutenant governor who’s very excited and wants to see it move forward. In fact when one of  governor Baker’s main themes is for affordable housing and that’s what this does. Give people a chance to get on that first rung of the ladder.”

Background Info:

What is The Tiny House Appendix?

Appendix Q addresses building code standards for small houses on foundations that have already been adopted into the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), including standards for lofts, stairs, egresses, and ceiling heights.  To be clear, the adoption of the Tiny House Appendix won’t completely legalize tiny houses in Massachusetts– that’s up to each city– but if it is adopted, it will provide a set of building standards for under 400 sq ft homes where they are legalized, and where they aren’t yet legalized, help legitimize tiny homes in the eyes of local building departments.  Appendix Q does not address tiny houses on wheels, as they are currently considered vehicles.

Read the Tiny House Appendix here.

Appendix Q in Massachusetts

Andrew and Gabriella Morrison have been instrumental in writing and getting the Tiny House Appendix adopted into the national 2018 IRC: now it’s up to each state, and then each city/town in each state, to adopt it into their specific building code.  Andrew presented at a Massachusetts BBRS meeting, introducing Appendix Q last fall.

How to Start a Tiny House Hotel Business

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What is a tiny house hotel?

A tiny house hotel can be a great spot for campgrounds, wedding venues, retreat venues, and much more. The possibilities are endless for what a tiny house hotel can provide. Tiny house hotels offer a more intimate experience with their environment than traditional hotels for the same price.

tiny house woodburned siding tiny home arcadia b&b micro manufacturing

Arcadia Tiny House at Woodlife Ranch

Tiny house hotels can usually range from $125-$300 per night. Tiny house hotels contain houses under 400 square feet, are often located in scenic places, and offer guests the chance to explore the outdoors or local attractions. Many tiny house hotels offer the features of a traditional hotel: they can sleep 5+ people, have wifi/cable, have an outdoor deck/grill, and have a full bathroom/kitchen. In addition, they can offer unforgettable experiences for weddings, dining, business retreats, and family reunions.  For some examples of tiny house hotels, check out these tiny house hotels across America.

Tiny house hotels usually have the customers book their stay online and then on the day of their arrival the customer will receive a code in order to get into the tiny house. The days of traditional check in are in the past!

In addition, tiny house hotels can be formed on a smaller level. As long as you have land and one tiny house, then you can set up a cozy bread and breakfast. Read our blog post on how to make money on your personal tiny house for more information. 

Choosing the Right Tiny Houses For Your Hotel

When determining the tiny house you want to use for your hotel, you want to make sure that it is fully accommodating to your customer. Will your customers be able to sleep their entire family? Is there enough built in storage for food and clothes? Does the design allow for your customers to feel connected to the scenic outdoors? Is their something unique and memorable about your hotel?

The Arcadia Tiny House

One of the great things about tiny house hotels is that it’s very easy to expand your capacity. As long as there is land and electricity/water available, tiny house hotels can add more units whenever they wish.

Attracting Tiny House Hotel Customers

The location of your tiny house hotel may be your biggest selling point. Many customers decide to stay in a tiny house because they’re looking to disconnect and spend time outdoors, so by choosing a location that is close to activities like hiking or swimming you ensure that your customers will have a great time while they’re on their vacation. In addition, customers may want to check out some cultural attractions while on their vacation. Locations that allow customers to spend time outdoors and are nearby to cultural attractions are optimal locations.

tiny home investment additional income New England

The Hudson Tiny House

Most tiny house hotels allow customers to book through their website and through websites like AirBnB, Try it Tiny, VRBO, and Homeaway. When creating listings for AirBnB, it’s important to showcase what makes your hotel stand out. If your tiny house has a beautiful deck area with a grill, showcase it! Allow potential customers to envision what their time at your hotel would be like through pictures. In addition, social media is another tool to attract customers. Because lifestyle content is integral to social media, a tiny house hotel can attract a lot of attention on social media platforms. Social media is a great tool to garner interest in your tiny house hotel.

Finding Land

Figuring out where to develop a tiny house hotel can get tricky as you must make sure that local building codes and laws allow tiny houses.

Zoning Laws

After you’ve looked over the zoning and, if applicable, building codes for your specific zone of your town, you may need to ask the town permission to have a tiny house on your property. Most towns don’t already have tiny houses written into their zoning or building codes.  If this is the case, don’t be discouraged: it doesn’t mean you can’t do it, it just means you’ll have to introduce the concept to the zoning board.  In this blogger’s experience, zoning boards are made up of passionate people who want to find housing solutions for their towns.  With tiny house TV shows and news stories all but taking over television networks, no doubt at least a couple of the folks on your town’s zoning board will already have an idea of what tiny houses are.  They’ll let you know whether you need a special permit to have a tiny house on your property, and if so, guide you through the process.

The Hoosic Tiny House

Getting Utilities

For electricity, the cheapest and easiest option is to plug into an existing power source.  Others choose to power their homes with solar power.  Click here to learn more about solar power for tiny houses.

For fresh water and waste water, city water and sewer are one option; pieces of property in less dense locations that don’t have city water and sewer will need to use a well and septic systems.

If the land already has electricity and water hookups, you won’t need to worry about having those put in.  Generally, although not always, it’s less expensive in the end to buy land that already has utilities than buying land without and then paying to have them installed.

For more information on this topic, read our blog post on the things to know before buying land for your tiny house for more information.

The Silver Lake Tiny House

How do I make it happen?

With determination, anyone can open their tiny house hotel. You have many options for securing funding. Read these 10 ways to get funding for your business and 6 tips for securing investments. As previously mentioned, a great aspect of tiny house hotels is the ability to grow your business whenever you please.

If you have any questions about developing a tiny house hotel, please contact us! We have experience in mass producing tiny houses for hotels.