Tiny home dogtrot expansion plans

[carley14]

I am looking into building a small home under 400 square feet to follow the Florida tiny house codes. My plan is to start small and then add a second building later. I want to connect them with a covered porch to create a dogtrot style layout. Florida rules say a standard house needs to be at least 700 square feet. If I combine two small structures, I am curious if the state will reclassify the whole thing as a regular dwelling. The middle porch area is not heated or cooled, so it should not count toward the total square footage. I need to know if code enforcement allows this transition or if I will run into legal trouble by merging two tiny homes into one larger living space. Thanks!

 

[i'm nobody]

@carley14 Does your land allow for two separate dwellings or does the porch make it a single unit?

 

[jellyp0p$$$]

I am looking into building a small home under 400 square feet to follow the Florida tiny house codes. My plan is to start small and then add a second building later. I want to connect them with a covered porch to create a dogtrot style layout. Florida rules say a standard house needs to be at least 700 square feet. If I combine two small structures, I am curious if the state will reclassify the whole thing as a regular dwelling. The middle porch area is not heated or cooled, so it should not count toward the total square footage. I need to know if code enforcement allows this transition or if I will run into legal trouble by merging two tiny homes into one larger living space. Thanks!

Ask a local contractor about the cost of permits when changing a building's classification.

 

[valak*]

Check with your specific county office because local zoning often overrides general state codes.