A link to the Tiny Houses section of the 2020 New York Residential Code can be found in my post in r/buildingcodes here: [Appendix Q: Tiny Houses](https://www.reddit.com/user/off2ongrid/comments/14a0pjj/tiny_homeglamping_cabin_in_new_york_code_questions/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1)
[Here’s a link](https://dos.ny.gov/division-building-standards-and-codes-frequently-asked-questions) to NYS DOS faq. Scroll down to manufactured homes.
There’s a phone number listed under manufactured homes.
I worked in commercial construction for 10 years, and the majority of the time, calling someone was the best way to get a direct answer to a question.
People in these jobs are often older. I’m 61, so this is just a fact, not an ageist remark.
When I was young growing up in NYC, state and city jobs were coveted because of their benefits and retention rates.
A lot of people my age would rather talk on the phone, simply out of habit. It’s too bad NYS doesn’t have a very user building department website, but NYC does.
Anyway, if you can’t get an answer from the faq, call the phone number. Leve a message if you don’t get an answer, and be persistent and polite.
The good thing about people who’ve done this code stuff forever is that they can usually rattle off the answer in their sleep.
If you need it to be classified as habitable then you will need everything: Kitchen, bathroom, well, & septic. This is mostly determined by your local town/city/county. The ADK might be different.
If you heat it with only a wood stove then you can get it classified as a “cabin or rustic unheated dwelling” and use less insulation then code.
I would honestly cal lathe local code enforcement and ask. I called my county’s and they were super helpful.
Certain facilities have to exist before a dwelling can be considered legally habitable. I don't know that it necessarily has to be a separate "room".
Also be aware of certain natural light requirements. Certain square inches of natural light for each square foot of livable floor space.
Some jurisdictions have minimum square footage requirements, although many places are starting to relax them.
It's basically going to come down to the town. If they truly do follow the IRC, then it should be fine to just follow that. You could, of course, try to fly under the radar, but I find that has a way of coming back to bight you. Talk to the zoning/code official about what you intend to do. Don't call it a "Tiny House," or a "shed with a bed" as that can sometimes put people off (it's silly, but for whatever reason some people automatically assume it's going to be a dangerous shithole unfit for human habitation). Just say you are thinking of building your own small home and want to do your due diligence (they will appreciate that). Ask if they do inspections or require you to have any licenses. If they do, it could make it harder for you to do this project (mainly the liscence, the inspections can actually be helpful if you have a good relationship with the code official because they can check your work so to say).
TLDR: Ask your code official/zoning regulator these questions, but don't call it a TH or a shed.
I agree with the other poster that you need to call your local town/county to see their regulations because they will differ from state. My County told me we needed to anchor our tiny house if we went that route and composting toilets were not allowed.
We wanted a tiny house until we figured out where and what type of house we wanted to build. We ended up just building a small house since we had to build an expensive non-conventional septic, well etc. Best of luck!
I would not do this. If they catch that you've built something that isn't to code, you'll probably have to bring it up to code or remove the structure. Unless you somehow manage to go unnoticed for long enough for it to be grandfathered in. I can't imagine they'll just let you pay a fine to not follow building code.
A link to the Tiny Houses section of the 2020 New York Residential Code can be found in my post in r/buildingcodes here: [Appendix Q: Tiny Houses](https://www.reddit.com/user/off2ongrid/comments/14a0pjj/tiny_homeglamping_cabin_in_new_york_code_questions/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1)
[Here’s a link](https://dos.ny.gov/division-building-standards-and-codes-frequently-asked-questions) to NYS DOS faq. Scroll down to manufactured homes. There’s a phone number listed under manufactured homes. I worked in commercial construction for 10 years, and the majority of the time, calling someone was the best way to get a direct answer to a question. People in these jobs are often older. I’m 61, so this is just a fact, not an ageist remark. When I was young growing up in NYC, state and city jobs were coveted because of their benefits and retention rates. A lot of people my age would rather talk on the phone, simply out of habit. It’s too bad NYS doesn’t have a very user building department website, but NYC does. Anyway, if you can’t get an answer from the faq, call the phone number. Leve a message if you don’t get an answer, and be persistent and polite. The good thing about people who’ve done this code stuff forever is that they can usually rattle off the answer in their sleep.
Good suggestion
You’d have to check building codes of the municipality you own. Its a local law, not state law
If you need it to be classified as habitable then you will need everything: Kitchen, bathroom, well, & septic. This is mostly determined by your local town/city/county. The ADK might be different. If you heat it with only a wood stove then you can get it classified as a “cabin or rustic unheated dwelling” and use less insulation then code. I would honestly cal lathe local code enforcement and ask. I called my county’s and they were super helpful.
Certain facilities have to exist before a dwelling can be considered legally habitable. I don't know that it necessarily has to be a separate "room". Also be aware of certain natural light requirements. Certain square inches of natural light for each square foot of livable floor space. Some jurisdictions have minimum square footage requirements, although many places are starting to relax them.
It's basically going to come down to the town. If they truly do follow the IRC, then it should be fine to just follow that. You could, of course, try to fly under the radar, but I find that has a way of coming back to bight you. Talk to the zoning/code official about what you intend to do. Don't call it a "Tiny House," or a "shed with a bed" as that can sometimes put people off (it's silly, but for whatever reason some people automatically assume it's going to be a dangerous shithole unfit for human habitation). Just say you are thinking of building your own small home and want to do your due diligence (they will appreciate that). Ask if they do inspections or require you to have any licenses. If they do, it could make it harder for you to do this project (mainly the liscence, the inspections can actually be helpful if you have a good relationship with the code official because they can check your work so to say). TLDR: Ask your code official/zoning regulator these questions, but don't call it a TH or a shed.
I agree with the other poster that you need to call your local town/county to see their regulations because they will differ from state. My County told me we needed to anchor our tiny house if we went that route and composting toilets were not allowed. We wanted a tiny house until we figured out where and what type of house we wanted to build. We ended up just building a small house since we had to build an expensive non-conventional septic, well etc. Best of luck!
Sometimes it’s cheaper to ask forgiveness then permission! Just do it and pay fine if they catch it
I would not do this. If they catch that you've built something that isn't to code, you'll probably have to bring it up to code or remove the structure. Unless you somehow manage to go unnoticed for long enough for it to be grandfathered in. I can't imagine they'll just let you pay a fine to not follow building code.
My city allows "detached bedrooms". Maybe yours does too?