What Are Tiny House On Wheels Height Regulations?
City ordinances are the primary hindrances that make you doubt whether having a tiny house is the best option in this day and age. Here is the bottom line – it is not as bad as it sounds! If you have heard of the Tiny House Movement, you know that having a tiny house is still the most efficient, practical, and suitable choice for a modern family.Â
Generally, most housing regulations require tiny house trailer or home height to be 8 ½ foot high as the maximum. This height allows you to travel through national roads without permits for being oversized. You can build your tiny house 10-feet wide, but this width is not recommended if you’re looking to travel with it more than once.
Others even reach 16 to 32 feet high but not all road regulations allow transporting these high manufactured homes from one place to another. The maximum in some states is at 10 feet from the floor to the roof.  The reason for these restrictions is practicality. You cannot live comfortably inside a tiny house with such a low roof unless you’re three-feet tall now, can you?Â
Which Locations Are Tiny House On Wheels Friendly?
The first factor to consider when owning a tiny house with wheels is determined by your destination. This would allow tiny house owners to know firsthand that their abode is allowed in a county or not.Â
Therefore, you would need to know states that are tiny homes on wheels-friendly.Â
Luckily, city ordinances have adapted to the tiny home on wheels concept. States like California, Texas, Florida, Oregon, New York, Michigan, and Massachusetts are the best location options in the country. These are areas that legalize tiny homes on wheels as residential abodes.Â
What Size Of Vehicle Should Your Tiny House Be Built On?
You must make sure that the size of a tiny house can be towed and must not exceed the weight of the foundation. You can make sure that you comply with these standards by taking up lessons. No need to worry – we will run you through it.Â
You can find helpful guidelines for tiny houses on wheels on YouTube.  Most videos show the dos and don’ts of owning a mobile home without going over the limit or overlooking ordinance requirements.Â
The most recommended height would be up to 24 ft.  Anything larger or heavier makes it challenging for you to transfer from one place to the next.  Luckily, there are developers that are experts on tiny house regulations and can help you determine the most viable size to build a tiny house on wheels, noting the maximum length and height limits. Â
If you’re only planning to move your tiny home once, it would be best to leave the towing to the professionals.Â
Why Do Tiny Homes Have Width and Height Restrictions - Regulations You Need To Follow
Before determining the right size and weight of a tiny house on wheels, you need to know the tiny house laws that would govern its existence. These laws are zoning and building regulations. Most laws are friendly towards secondary residential dwelling units (SDUs).Â
These are usually situated in single-family lots where you would stay at a friend or a family’s backyard or driveway.  Most cities allow this but the unit or tiny house must be made with a permanent foundation.  ADUs are also usually larger and are usually found in tiny house communities.Â
Now, we would need to distinguish building codes from zoning regulations. These laws provide guidelines on which tiny homes on wheels are allowed in a particular city and for how long they would be parked at certain areas.Â
Construction codes would tell you how to build your tiny home on wheels – what goes in, what materials to use, the type of foundation it should stand on, and how mobile they can get.Â
The zoning ordinances, on the other hand, are the standards that you need to follow depending on which location you choose.Â
These laws are crafted from the International Residential Code (IRC). They categorize your tiny home on wheels as two-family dwellings. These types must have specific sizing of each room and must occupy at least 70 square feet and with a height maximum of 7 ft.Â
To ensure that you comply with the zoning ordinances, the local inspector would guide you through it. You may seek their assistance at local planning departments.  The usual requirement is for a tiny house built on wheels to occupy at least 1,000 sq. ft.  It would really depend on the vicinity.  Â
How Wide Can A Tiny Home Be - Tiny House On Wheels Sizing Guide
The size and the weight of your tiny home on wheels can be revealed once you have it registered. Â First, know where you want to situate and whether that city allows temporary abodes of tiny houses on a trailer or wheels in RV parks.
Next, you should consult with the town inspector who will instruct you of your limitations and requirements before awarding a permit. Most U.S. states require tiny house dimensions to only rise up to 13 ½ feet tall, 8.5 feet wide, and 40 ft. long.Â
Some states allow a maximum of 65 ft. wide tiny houses on wheels but the same must be towable, livable, and incorporated with regulatory requirements such as a bathroom, living rooms, bedrooms, and a kitchen, in general.Â
You must also ensure that you have complied with safety and utility standards. Most semi-trailer tiny houses on wheels designs allow you to make the most of your space without crowding every part of the abode.Â
Most tiny houses on wheels are also no steeper than 45 degrees apart.  The walls must also be shorter than 8 ft. so that you won’t go over the limit.
Trailer Weight Of Tiny Houses
The most practical design that complies with the height and weight requirements of tiny houses on wheels are commercial travel trailers. They are often aerodynamic and lightweight.Â
They are also built in a similar way to standard houses. Â They are quite comfortable to live in but the more the length, the more requirements you would need to comply with especially when it comes to towing.
Most tiny houses on wheels that are 19-feet long are 6,000 pounds heavy. Â Adding in the weight of your belongings, you could reach a weight of around 8,000 pounds.Â
Since most road regulations only allow a 40-ft. limit, you must make sure that your tiny house on wheels only sums up to 16,000 pounds as the maximum. This type of abode would require a larger pickup truck when it comes to towing.Â
Regulations And Limits For Tiny House On Wheels
As you can see from the requirements, the U.S. already allows its residents in some states to opt for efficient alternative living. Tiny houses on wheels, in particular, allow citizens to transfer from one city to the next without recognizing them as illegal settlers.Â
Not only is the U.S. prone to natural disasters that destroy standard homes, but there is also a shortage of sustainable living since the real estate crisis of 2006-2007. Â This is why tiny houses on wheels are the future of real estate. Â
All you need to do is comply with the easy regulation requirements and your family can easily vacate areas when a storm threatens the safety of your household or go on a camping trip around the country while enjoying the comforts of your home.Â
