PERMITS

We could have a whole website on whether the government being involved in our dreams of having a tiny home is overreach. Are they just meddling in order to get more money or are they trying to make sure things are being done safe and right? This debate is about as useful as which side of the Twix ® bar is better, left or right. Both sides may have valid points, but at the end of the day, it’s really not optional. You need to work with your local and/or county governments as you start your project.

While we are mostly talking about home conversions here, this also applies to other conversions. For example, you may choose to start a shed-to-office conversion. If the office will be for commercial use you will also need to go through all these same permitting procedures.

Since you plan on doing things the legal way, you will actually need to make sure you are building in accordance with local building codes and zoning regulations in order to obtain the proper permits.
Both zoning and building codes dictate how tiny homes are built, but they mean different things.

Local building/construction codes dictate how you can build your tiny house, whereas zoning deals with the location of where it will be built.

Zoning Codes

Zoning deals with the location of where you intend to place your building.

Zoning regulations are based on more local factors and determine the size requirements of your building on what zone it’s located in. You will need to call your local zoning or planning department to find that info. 

Cities and towns in North Carolina have been fairly accommodating for people intending to use tiny homes as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). So if you have plans to put your tiny home in your backyard, most areas have specific guidelines in addition to the standard setback and such. For example, some require that the ADU can only be a certain size, based on the size of the primary dwelling.

If you plan on putting the tiny home on a different parcel of land, or plan on using it as something like an Airbnb or vacation home, there will be different zoning guidelines.

Zoning codes are super specific to each town and city and typically can have different requirements within each city zone. So your first stop would be to contact the Planning & Zoning department of your county. They will direct you to the proper contact.

See the Resource Section at the bottom of this page for samples and links to various Planning & Zoning departments.

Building Codes

Local building/construction codes dictate how you can build your tiny house.

Tiny Homes in North Carolina must meet minimum requirements from the North Carolina State Residential Code. This means you need to consider many items such as:

  • Habitable Room Space (must be at least 70 square feet)

  • Ceiling Height (must be a minimum 7 foot in habitable spaces, hallways, bathrooms, and toilet rooms)

  • Toilet Facilities (must have water closet, lavatory, and a bathtub or shower)

  • Kitchen Area (with a sink)

  • Egress Requirements (minimum windows and size)

  • Foundation

This is really no different than building a home. Just on a “tiny” level. And just like home construction, there are different inspections that must be done. Electric must be inspected. That means, don’t add insulation that covers the wiring before approval. Plumbing must also be inspected. There are multiple steps to getting your final approved permit.

This is why many people who don’t understand building codes decide it is best to hire a general contractor.

See the Resource Section at the bottom of this page for samples and links to various Construction Guidelines.

Resources

Planning Departments

Raleigh, in Wake County, has a fantastic couple of pages that provide great, easy-to-read details about ADUs and specific contact information. Check it out!
Raleigh ADU Building Info
Raleigh ADU FAQs

Other locations like McDowell County don’t have the bells or whistles of the Raleigh website, but with a quick search, it does tell you who to contact and clearly says they are there to help the landowners and developers.
McDowell County Planning

Building Codes

Jackson County has a nice little brochure that highlights some of the building codes for tiny homes. It also provides contact information.
Jackson County Tiny House Brochure

Office of the State Fire Marshall, North Carolina Department of Insurance also issued guidelines for Tiny Homes. Of course, you will need your unit to pass this inspection.
Click here to view the OSFM document.

General County Permit Office Numbers