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Changes proposed for tiny houses in Pennsylvania

George Stockburger

Skip works on a tiny home at Liberation Tiny Homes on June 5, 2019 in Leola, Pennsylvania. - In a country where bigger is nearly always better -- think supersize fries, giant cars and 10-gallon hats -- more and more Americans are downsizing their living quarters. Welcome to the world of tiny homes, most of them less than 430 square feet (40 square meters), which savvy buyers are snapping up for their minimalist appeal and much smaller carbon footprints. (Photo by Don Emmert / AFP) (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A Pennsylvania lawmaker is proposing legislation that would create new standards for tiny houses.

In a memo sent to all House members, State Rep. Darisha Parker (D-Philadelphia) said there is “a lack of clear guidance and building standards makes it difficult for local governments to establish parameters by which tiny houses are permissible as permanent single-family dwellings.”

Tiny homes have become popular in recent years for those looking to downsize, a solution to local homelessness, and for people looking for a unique home setting.

Parker says she is proposing legislation to make it easier for local governments to include tiny homes with safe building standards. The bill would amend Act 45 of 1999 to require the Department of Labor and Industry to promulgate regulations adopting Appendix Q “Tiny Houses” of the 2018 International Residential Code.

Doing so would allow a tiny house under 400 square feet to be installed on a foundation, such as a concrete pad, as a permanent residence. Attention is specifically paid to safety features such as handrails, headroom, ladders, fans, and emergency requirements.

The bill would only apply to a municipality that adopts Appendix Q by ordinance.

According to TinyHousVillages.com, there are two communities in Pennsylvania, including one in Elizabethtown.

“I hope you will consider joining me in co-sponsoring this legislation to expand housing options for Pennsylvanians in municipalities that want to provide residents with an affordable, safe, and environmentally sustainable home,” said Parker.