Washington
Tiny Homes
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Washington Tiny Homes Zoning
Thinking about Washington tiny homes? Washington has always been a place of great beauty and a frontier lifestyle since the 1800’s. It makes sense that Washington is accepting of the tiny home movement. With some of the most impressive landscapes in the world, Washington has it all—mountains, desert, coastlines, and more. Washington is perfect for homesteading or setting up a permanent foundation tiny house. Some of the best areas for living the tiny house lifestyle are Seattle, Olympia, and Spokane.
Recently, Washington adopted new laws to make tiny house living easier and more accessible. The new laws allow local municipalities to approve multi-unit lots for tiny home communities, eliminates any single-family dwelling minimum square foot requirements, adds tiny houses and THOWs to the definition of factory-built housing so they can be included in RV and trailer parks, and clears a regulatory pathway to allow tiny home communities.
A tiny house on wheels (THOW) is defined as “a dwelling that may be built on wheels and is no larger than 400 square feet, including a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping/living area”, and must be built to the Washington State Code. Any tiny house on wheels in Washington State must have full inspections and approvals from the Department of Labor and Industries. This includes tiny homes purchased from out-of-state builders. The approval process for THOWs depends on where it is built, so get in touch with the Department of Labor and Industries to be sure you’re following the regulations for your particular tiny house. Also, it’s best to do your due diligence before committing to a tiny home by contacting your local building department to discover where you’re allowed to locate your new home.
Below are some great resources to get you started on your Washington tiny home journey.
*Adapted from Tiny Home Life
Washington Tiny Homes News & Resources
Washington Tiny Homes Communities
Washington Tiny Homes Building Considerations
Foremost, an important investment for your Washington tiny home is good insulation to keep your home comfortable in this colder climate. We use spray foam insulation and 2×4 framing. Spray foam has by far the highest R-value available for the tiny home application, and wooden construction allows less air infiltration than steel framing when the temperature rises. Additionally, we use LP SmartSide for a low-maintenance and durable siding that won’t warp or change with fluctuating temperatures (and which can be painted any custom color you like). We recommend the Pacific Northwest color pallet by Sherwin Williams in Coastal Plain, a beautiful and calming green perfect for the coastal living.
Another consideration for the hotter months is humidity—an important factor for a Washington tiny home. You’ll want a reliable and efficient HVAC system in your home. You may want to explore other options for dehumidifying your tiny home as well. This will work in tandem with your insulation and framing to keep the hot out and the cool in.
Also, if you’re opting for a more off-grid Washington lifestyle, investing in solar power is also a good idea. If the set-up of your Oregon tiny home is permanent or semi-permanent, we recommend a ground mounted solar array. And housing the heavy batteries in a separate outbuilding will allow you to maximize your tiny home’s precious square footage.
Another key design element for Washington tiny homes is an exterior deck, especially if you’re living on the coast. Your builder should be able to assist with your overall site plan and may even be able to create a set of deck construction documents to be used for building your deck on-site.
Washington Weather Considerations
Furthermore, Washington can be prone to severe weather. You may want to consider the safety options for your tiny home. There are industry practices to keep tiny home dwellings safe and secure. Read this blog post on Setting Up Your Tiny Home – Blocking, Anchoring, and Skirting. As well as this blog post on Crisis Preparation for Tiny Living to get you started.
