Warning to ‘do the homework’ on tiny home

Waipā landowners are being urged to do their homework before moving tiny homes on to land across the district.

Waipā District Council has seen a massive increase in interest around tiny homes, receiving between 5-10 enquiries per week.

Tiny homes usually have a floor area of 30m2 or less and are either on a trailer with wheels, or can be attached to the ground on piles.

Manager - district plan and growth Wendy Robinson said Council did not know how many tiny homes there were in Waipā given some were built out of the district and moved in.

But different councils have different rules and she was urging people to be clear on what was required before putting a tiny home on a Waipā property, irrespective of where it was in the district.

“It’s not that Council is against tiny homes. They can be a great option and we absolutely understand the interest given the cost of housing,” Robinson said.

“In Waipā, there are still rules people must comply with. We’d rather they did that up front so it’s a smooth and easy process for everyone.”

Changes to building legislation in 2020 mean some – but not all – buildings under 30m2 don’t require building consent in New Zealand. But any building with plumbing and drainage does require a building consent, whether connected to the public wastewater or not. A publication produced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), provides some general guidance.

“Tiny homes with foundations to the ground will also need a building consent and in Waipā, they must comply with the District Plan so may also need a resource consent,” Robinson said. “Some may be subject to development contributions, depending on where they are located.”

In Waipā’s District Plan (the rule book which guides development in the district) tiny homes are considered a ‘secondary dwelling’ with only one secondary dwelling, or tiny home, permitted, on a piece of land, irrespective of where that land is. The building itself must be no more than 70m2 (excluding decking and garaging) with different rules for residential, large lot and rural zones.

Robinson said there had only been two complaints about tiny homes.

“One tiny house subsequently got a resource consent and the other did not need a consent given where it was.”

Rules around tiny homes in Waipā were on council’s website at www.waipadc.govt.nz/tinyhomes. Those considering a tiny home should check out it out, Robinson said.

“We don’t want to put people off. We just want to ensure people know what they are getting into before taking the plunge.”