Utah Tiny Home News

Utah Tiny Home News

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Commission bans smoking on county property, adopts updated attainable housing plan: Dec. 26th, 2019

While the county adopted an affordable housing plan in 2017, the Utah Legislature passed a bill in March requiring counties and municipalities with a population of over 5,000 to update their moderate income housing plans.

“Attainable housing is not just for those who are currently homeless, this is housing that’s needed for everyone up to the middle class,” said Scott Messel, Washington County’s community development director.

Messel is also a part of the county’s Housing Action Coalition, which is working with county and city planners, home builders, title and mortgage companies and other invested parties to find ways to help create more attainable housing across the county.

The term “attainable housing” has begun to be used in place of “affordable housing” due to the negative connotation certain parts of the community associate with the term, Messel said.

Iverson said he was glad municipalities were involved in the process, as the county has limited infrastructure and services to adequately address housing issues in the unincorporated parts the county.

“We’re somewhat limited in what was can do,” he said.

Prior to the state-mandated requirements, the county had amended zoning ordinances allowing auxiliary out-buildings and “tiny homes” to be used as dwelling units.

Moving forward, Messel told the commissioners that the county’s planning commission wants to see an inventory of places in the county where attainable housing could be built. This includes areas near transit stops and commercial developments.

Article Source St. George News

Utah architect creates tiny — really tiny — houses he hopes will address gaps in homeless services Oct 4th, 2019

South Salt Lake ∙ At first glance, it doesn’t look like much: A rectangular box covered with aluminum and broken up by two windows and a door. On the inside, a 60-square-foot room with a desk, a bed that folds down over it and a door that locks and looks onto a small covered porch.

But Jeffrey White, a small homes architect, has a big vision for the space, which he sees as a way to help combat Utah’s affordable housing crunch and to temporarily stabilize people experiencing homelessness.

Article Source The Salt Lake Tribune

City Council Creating Committee To Study Short Term Rentals In Heber Oct. 3rd, 2019

“Look at the person who wants to live in a tiny home,” Peet explained. “It’s not that they want to be mobile all the time, but if they get a job that would make them move, they don’t have to sell anything. They can take their house and move. Now, the other side, which you’re talking about with being permanent on a foundation. If we’re dealing with ADU’s, if I were to go to my friend’s house, I would be benefiting the homeowner’s property but then I would get nothing from it.”

Article Source KPCW

Utah home builder offers cash prizes for new ways to increase affordable housing Sept 12th, 2019

Utah’s largest homebuilder launched another national contest Wednesday seeking ideas for making housing more affordable, just as lawmakers are readying their latest strategies for tackling the problem.

Competition for the 2020 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability got underway after its first iteration drew widespread interest. The contest offers $200,000 in prizes for the best innovations aimed at bringing more housing within reach of Utahns earning average incomes.

Contestants have until Dec. 15 to submit their concepts for new home design and construction, financing, and public policy approaches. More information can be found at http://www.ivory-innovations.org

Article Source The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City sees increase in mother-in-law apartments, but one key obstacle remains — the price Sept 3rd, 2018

Since Salt Lake City loosened its rules last fall, it has received at least 27 applications from homeowners seeking to build new units to go with their existing homes, be they basement apartments or over a garage or a separate structure in the backyard.

Article Source The Salt Lake Tribune

Provo council talks allowing accessory apartments, tiny homes as it looks to address affordable housing problem  August 29th, 2019

The Provo Municipal Council began discussion on an ordinance providing optional overlay zones allowing accessory apartments in basements of owner-occupied homes and detached apartments — including tiny homes.

Article Source Daily Herald

Put An Investment Property In Your Backyard August 12th, 2019

After nearly a decade in the works, Salt Lake City has finally joined many other US cities passing new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) housing ordinances. That ordinance means that local residents can now build smaller accessory residential units—oftentimes referred to as granny flats, mother-in-law apartments, or tiny homes—on their properties.

Article Source Utah Business

Utah

Salt Lake City: Adopted Appendix Q Effective July 1st, 2019

Building Code Review & Adoption Amendments, was signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert; this will go into effect July 1, 2019. Plans not previously accepted and fees paid for plan review to Salt Lake City Building Services, will be required to be designed & reviewed under the new codes.

Appendix Q of the 2018 edition of the International Residential Code, issued by the International Code Council;

Article Source SLC Gov

Matched Savings Account Utah June 11th, 2019

Are you dreaming of a tiny home? I am going to be making it my mission to contact as many non profits offering matched savings accounts ( IDA) that could help with down payment assistance for a tiny home in different areas, because I would like to spread a lot of hope. If you are reading this and you feel your goal of having a tiny home is too far out of your reach, this is dedicated to you. Do not let go of the dream.

AAA Fair Credit Foundation based in Utah, is an award-winning ISO 9001:2008 certified and HUD-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers expand financial capability and reclaim their financial future.

Article Source Tiny Portable Cedar Cabins

Solving homelessness through community, connection and tiny homes May 22nd, 2019

With The Block Project, leaders at Architectural Nexus saw a way to engage architects in a community investment while helping them sharpen their skills by constructing the tiny home. Architects who help with construction bring new insights to their future architectural designs and become better at their craft, architect Jeff Tuft explained.

Article Source KSL

Could Weber County be the next destination for tiny homes? Habitat for Humanity hopes so  March 26th, 2019

WEBER COUNTY (ABC4 News) – Could Weber County be the destination for Utah’s next tiny home community? Habitat for Humanity of Weber and Davis Counties hopes to do so to help meet the growing housing need for low-income families.

Article Source ABC 4 Utah

Ogden man pushes for tiny homes, says they could ease Utah housing crunch January 13th, 2019

Planning officials are going to look into the notion of tiny homes, a trend that’s garnered plenty of national attention in recent years. But the enthusiasm of Beeli and Becker notwithstanding, there are a lot of factors to consider, the mayor warns.

Article Source Standard-Examiner

Tiny house trend on the move in Southern Utah July 21st, 2019

The county has had a lot of inquiries about tiny homes, county planner Scott Messel said, which was unexpected because lots in the unincorporated areas of the county are typically quite large.

“We removed the square-footage requirement for single-family dwellings,” Messel said. The previous minimum size was 800 square feet. Home builders must still abide by the county building codes, he said.

Tiny homes built to be mobile with an axle and wheels are now classified as park model recreational vehicles and are allowed as a conditional use in recreation grounds and facilities and campground projects. However they are not allowed on residential lots, Messel said.

The revised zoning ordinance, approved by the Washington County Commission Tuesday, amends and clarifies several zoning regulations.

The ordinance created a definition for private recreation grounds and makes the use permissible in some areas.

Article Source St. George Utah

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