New Hampshire Tiny Home News
City considers easing restriction on in-law apartments to create more housing options Feb. 3rd, 2020
MANCHESTER, NH — Aldermen on Tuesday night will consider a change to the zoning ordinance that would make it a little easier for residents to create small rentable apartments as part of a detached garage or carriage house.
Formally known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) the zoning change, requested by Ward 2 Alderman Will Stewart, would allow residents to create an apartment inside a detached garage. Currently, ADUs are only permitted inside a residence or built on to an existing primary residence.
In a letter provided by Stewart to the Committee on Administration/Information Systems to amend Chapter 155 of the city’s zoning code, Stewart said the change would address “in a small way” the city’s housing shortage, evidenced by a rental vacancy rate of just 1.1 percent.
Millennial Home Ownership in the Granite State Sept 16th
Members of the millennial generation are now at the age when Americans typically purchase their first home. But this particular group of young adults faces unique challenges. Coming of Age in the shadow of the recession may have affected their finances and their outlook on housing as a good investment. On top of that many carry high student loan debts and all face tough competition in the starter home market. From downsizing baby boomers today in exchange millennial home ownership. What this large number of potential homebuyers wants and needs and whether they’re able to get it. Let’s hear from you especially if you’re of this generation or have millennial young adult children. What’s your view of this topic. Give us a call 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. Email exchange at an NHPR.org will use Facebook or Twitter at an HP ya exchange.
Young woman’s tiny house rejected in Hampton Falls August 26th, 2019
Stephanie Burrows, of the Tiny Homes of New England Meet-Up Group, urged members to approve the variances. Tiny homes are trending strongly nation-wide, she said. In November, state legislators will study HB 312, which relates to allowing tiny homes in New Hampshire.
After Losing Everything, Veteran Rebuilds Life In Tiny Home August 14th, 2019
Tiny Houses Create Big Questions for Building Codes, Zoning and Banks August 12th, 2019
Like many aspects of a tiny house, the stairs are, well, tiny. And that’s a problem, because the stairs may not comply with New Hampshire housing codes.
“I think the stairs need to be 3 feet wide,” Boyd says “They need to be so tall and so deep.”
And therein lies the rub: things small enough for a tiny home may be too small for the New Hampshire building codes. Boyd could request a code variance for her stairs, but most city and town officials we spoke to are hesitant to make such exceptions for tiny homes.
Article Source Vermont Edition
Tiny Houses Create Big Questions for Building Codes, Zoning and Banks August 9th, 2019
Housing codes and zoning aren’t the only issues tiny home owners face. Chelsea Boyd struggled for months to get the loans she needed to finish “Big Tex,” her tiny home on wheels.
Cohousing plan on Plainfield estate aims to cut living costs for those who buy in August 3rd, 2019
‘The former Plainfield home of American painter and illustrator Maxfield Parrish is being eyed by a group of Upper Valley residents to become a “micro-cohousing” residence in a project that seeks a new residential model by combining common social ideals with economic efficiency.
New Bill To Study Tiny Homes: Effective November 1st, 2019
New Hampshire Established A Bill To Study Tiny Houses: Effective November 1st, 2019: House Bill 312
Those issues include defining the very structures themselves: “The committee shall determine what constitutes a ‘tiny house,’ both on a permanent foundation and on wheels.”
Proponents of tiny homes say they can expand the state’s housing options by providing a relatively low-cost place to live that might help ease labor shortages and keep young adults in the state.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT establishing a committee to study tiny houses.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study tiny houses.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom shall be a member of the house municipal and county government committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall study issues associated with state and local permitting of tiny houses suitable for year-round occupancy, including both tiny houses of permanent foundations and tiny houses on wheels. Such issues shall include, but not be limited to, building codes, fire codes, conflicts with local land use ordinances and regulations, and other local codes. The committee shall determine what constitutes a “tiny house,” both on a permanent foundation and on wheels. The committee may seek the testimony of any individuals or organizations it deems appropriate.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2019.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Cohousing plan on Plainfield estate aims to cut living costs for those who buy in August 3rd, 2019
Born in part from a lack of affordable housing in the Upper Valley, the project at The Oaks would be just one of many cohousing setups across the U.S. — 288, according to the Cohousing Association of the U.S., including nine in Vermont and one in New Hampshire.
Housing Policy Task Force taking applications through Friday July 25th, 2019
Hatcher said the task force will ultimately guide the writing of a new housing chapter that will guide Peterborough’s zoning ordinances.
Article Source Ledger Transcript
Tiny homes seen as big solution, but what about laws? July 11th, 2019
Morgan hopes to be appointed to the committee and help it form guidelines for cities and towns to regulate tiny homes, as the concept is new to many communities like Hampton Falls. O’Brien is currently working on getting her tiny housepermitted as a legal dwelling space by the town, which has zoning language that does not account for tiny homes.
New Hampshire legislature & governor want to study ‘tiny houses July 7th, 2019
N.H.- Fred Kocher sits down with Dave Testerman, Franklin State Representative, to discuss the desire of the New Hampshire legislature and governor to study “tiny houses.”
Tiny home built by student with $5K grant makes big difference for NH refugee farmers July 2nd, 2019
Duncan Jurayj, 17 – you might know him from the TED Talk he did when he was 11 – is a student at the Beaver Country Day School (BCD) in Chestnut Hill, Mass. His school offers an annual “passion grant,” in honor of former BCD student Alex Cohn, to a student with a big idea. Past winners have built boats and powered exoskeletons, taken immersive trips to Jordan and Mexico, built recording studios, and made documentary films. Jurayj’s big idea was to think small.
Article Source Manchester Ink Link
Tiny house take a tiny-really tiny-step forward in N.H. April 11th, 2019
The bill, House Bill 312, originally sought to require towns to allow tiny houses – usually defined as stand-alone homes of less than 400 square feet – in any place zoned for residential development. (I reported about it last month.) Questions were raised about various issues, including its effect on local control, and it was amended to create the committee.