Proposal seeks to remove code barriers for 'tiny homes'
A proposed appendix to the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code could make it easier to build a tiny home.
The Bangor Daily News reported that a tiny home is generally defined as a structure under 500 square feet. Gov. Paul LePage has already signed off on the proposed appendix and the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code Board will hold a public hearing.
“The current building code is unfortunately inflexible when it comes to tiny houses,” Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, who requested the board consider the appendix, told the BDN.
“Anything that can help move the tiny house movement along is a good thing,” said Ted Lucier of Tiny Houses of Maine.
According to its website, Tiny Houses of Maine specializes in tiny houses on wheels and park model houses up to 400 square feet.
LD 873, “An Act To Adopt Tiny House Standards in the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code,” was withdrawn late in the first session of the 128th Legislature. It had called for the Technical Building Codes and Standards Board to adopt standards for tiny house construction no later than Jan.1, 2018. Changing the standard via the appendix, the proposed legislation stated, “is considered routine technical rule-making” under Maine’s revised statutes.
Earlier this year, the BDN reported that Midcoast Habitat for Humanity and Mid-Coast Hospitality House are working with the town of Rockport to build a tiny home prototype as part of a plan to address homelessness. The plan is to build a cluster of 14 individual units in a neighborhood-type setting.
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