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Authors

Jaclyn Troutner

Abstract

“Tiny living” is a growing trend in which small-scale, ecoconscious housing is used as an alternative means for homeownership. Tiny homes are smaller than the average detached home with the appearance and character of a traditional freestanding residential home. They are one-story, single-occupant dwellings and usually constructed on a trailer base for towing. State-of-the-art building techniques provide a lower environmental burden and utility cost per square foot. Due to their smaller size, tiny homes are cheaper with an average price of $52,000, opening a wider door to home ownership. The typical design is to include all the standard amenities and aesthetical elements of the typical single-family home, but with a focus on hyper-efficiency in space utilization, all in about 225 square feet. The smaller size provides opportunity for a luxury aesthetic detached from the traditional enclosed apartment structure or condominium.

Tiny homes are single-occupant dwellings, meaning they are stand-alone structures with permanent provisions for sleeping, cooking, eating, living, and sanitation. However, tiny homes are substantially smaller than a typical house, leading to confusion as to how to classify the structure within a jurisdiction’s existing building codes and zoning restrictions.

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