Wow so the "minimum square footage" thing is real? The town's building inspector (where I ended up getting property) thought I was crazy when I asked him if we had a minimum size requirement.
He answered: you can live in a box for all I care.
It's because of a hunter's cabin thing in the code, and this is in NY state...where usually regulation rules the land.
I didn't realize there was a minimum either until Matt started investigating. I think the reasoning is two-fold: one, neighbours in the suburbs want to keep a certain aesthetic and maintain their property value by having new houses be equal or larger. Which is unfortunate because rural properties fall under those same guidelines. And two, bigger houses means higher property taxes. Leave it to the government to weasle as much money out of your pocket as possible. LOL at living in a box! -Aimee
Yea, I think you're absolutly right about the property tax and the neighbors. It's a shame...
Property value is for sure a double edge sword. On one side you can leverage the value for whatever and on the other more regulations are demanded "by some neighbors" in order to keep that value on the up and up...to get more leverage, to have more buying power to chase the illusion
At leaset your is set at 800 which isn't too too aweful.
They leave you alone with the tiny house?
A double edge sword is right. The tiny house is currently parked at my in-laws where there is an existing house so no one questions it. We were planning on towing the house out to live in while we build 2.0 but now we are thinking we will get the shell of 2.0 up first so we don't raise any suspicion with the county. -Aimee
Good idea. Sometimes playing it safe is best!