There is big news in the tiny house industry right now. Tiny houses on wheels and foundations are about to be legal almost everywhere in the United States. The International Code Council, the organization responsible for building codes, recently collaborated with the Tiny Home Industry Association, the Modular Building Institute, and the Modular Builders Association to release the 2021 International Tiny House Provisions.
This new resource provides code officials, and tiny home builders access to all applicable codes and standards for tiny houses. These new codes will apply to tiny homes on wheels and those built on a foundation. This is huge news for the industry as, up until now, movable tiny homes have been considered RVs and not permitted for year-round dwellings.
What Does This Mean for Tiny House Businesses?
There is still a long road to complete acceptance. Just because the ICC has created provisions for tiny homes doesn’t mean that individual municipalities will automatically accept them. But this is a giant step in the right direction providing more opportunities for tiny homes, especially those on wheels, to be considered viable solutions. As a builder or other tiny home-related business, it’s essential to stay ahead of these significant changes.
Become a Subject Matter Expert
Years ago, I started an organization in my city to help make tiny homes more legally viable. We began before Appendix Q was accepted; the current code governing homes under 400 square feet. The most common question we received was, “How do I know if it’s legal to build a tiny home in our county?” I see it in every Facebook community I’m a part of, regardless of location. It’s the single most common question. If you can provide that information on your blog and share it on social media, you build trust and attract a broad audience.
Be Discoverable
Social media like Facebook or Instagram can significantly drive traffic to your tiny house business, but it isn’t perfect. First, your posts are only seen based on algorithms controlled by the platform. You can pay to have your posts seen by a wider audience, which can add up and yield very little. The other big concern about social media is that you don’t own it. Your posts can be taken down by the platform for any reason. You own your website and can become a repository for all the knowledge and information you share across social media.
Do you want to be a subject matter expert in the tiny home niche?
DPEG Marketing Company has 8 spots open for website design in 2023. We partner with tiny house, agriculture, outdoor, and equine businesses to help them grow.
Contact us for a FREE consultation by emailing [email protected] or calling (828) 333-3816.
