Tiny Home Popularity Has City Reviewing Zoning, Building Codes

Tiny houses are all the rage right now, which has the City of Tulsa reviewing its zoning and building codes.

In most cases, tiny homes are not allowed in the city because they're classified as house trailers.

The city is looking at the codes, they say, not to encourage or discourage tiny home developments but to be ready if one comes up.

At one "tiny home" showroom, the largest home is 580 square feet and costs $62,000. Autumn Morrison says many Tulsans come in to look, but the buyers take them elsewhere.

"Most of our customers are purchasing just outside the Tulsa area," Morrison said.

That's because the homes aren't really allowed inside the city limits, and, in some cases, not even in the county.

The foundation is key - if they're placed permanently they stand a better chance of meeting code.

Nathan Foster with INCOG said, "Our zoning code really restricts our existing single-family neighborhoods to those permanent constructed homes."

That restriction - and some confusion over what is a tiny home and not a mobile home - has the city council and city planners reviewing the code to clear it up.

"They're going to keep us informed with how many applications come in, and what needs to come to council, and see if we need to address more issues and what areas that tiny homes would fit," said Tulsa City Councilor Jeannie Cue.

The City doesn't regulate how small a house can be, but the lot has to be at least 3,300 square feet. That alone might be preventing developments of tiny homes, but city planners feel certain they're going to get some ideas from developers before long.

Morrison, the tiny house sales rep, said it's happening, just not here.

"They're big on the east and west coasts. Oklahoma is just trying to wrap their head around it here," she said.

The zoning code affecting placement for tiny homes is the building code that regulates construction and the requirement for a proper foundation.