If you are going to be moving into a tiny house soon, there are some initial steps you may need to take to get your site ready. First, let’s discuss sites at tiny house communities and RV parks. Then, we will talk about what you may need to do to prepare private land, which will comprise the bulk of this article.
Tiny House Community or RV Park
You probably will not need to do much at all to prepare a site at a tiny house community or RV park. They usually have concrete foundations already installed, as well as utilities.
You also may not be allowed to do much to modify your site, especially if you are paying rent on it.
If you own the site, you will probably have more freedom. But you will still need to conform to the park’s rules. We will discuss a couple of modifications worth making near the end of this post (as they also are worthwhile on private land).
Private Land
If you have private land, you have much more control over your tiny house lot. You just need to conform to zoning requirements, building codes, and your HOA’s rules (if applicable).
- Remove obstructions
When you purchase the land, it might sometimes have obstructions where you want to put the home, such as large boulders. If that is the case, you will need to remove them.
- Level the site
If the site is not level, you either have to have a tiny house custom-built to accommodate the site, or you will need to level the site so you can put a regular tiny home on it. Most people will find the latter more affordable and achievable. And that is definitely what you will need to do if you want to be able to move the home in the future.
- Add a foundation if required
If local tiny house laws require you to put in a foundation, then you will need to install one. Check the zoning regulations and building codes to make sure that you are meeting all legal requirements with your foundation.
- Install utilities if needed
Hopefully, you lucked out and were able to purchase land that already has utilities. But if you did not, then you may be required by law to install them in order to put a permanent residence on the land. Common requirements include
- Access to water
- A sewer system
- Access to the electrical grid
Also think about utilities that may be optional, but which you probably will want to have, such as cable.
Do you need to install utilities if you plan to live off the grid, relying on solar energy, etc.?
That all depends on the local laws. Some counties may require that you install the utilities even if you are not planning on using them. If that is the case, then that is just what you are going to need to do.
If you haven’t bought your land yet, be sure to calculate in the costs of installing utilities. Otherwise, it is easy to underestimate your overall costs when purchasing what seems to be cheap land.
- Put in an access road if necessary
Another common situation when you purchase cheap land is ending up with land that does not have a direct access road for vehicles. You might have to use some kind of poorly-made dirt road to reach it, or even go off the road with four-wheel drive.
If you are going to be living in a tiny house on the land, the zoning regulations are probably going to demand that you install an access road. This can be a large and expensive project. So, again, it is just something to calculate before you purchase a piece of land.
Optional: Landscaping
We have gone over what you probably are going to need to do to prepare your site for your tiny house. But you may want to think about some optional upgrades to your lot as well.
If it is your own private land, or if it is a lot in a tiny house community you are allowed to modify, you may want to do some landscaping. You may be able to do some of this before you install the house, though much of it will probably be easier after the house is delivered.
Here are some modifications you might want to make to your yard:
- You could install a fence around your tiny home. This can significantly increase your privacy. It may also be a necessary addition with a pet.
- You could plant privacy bushes or trees. There are fast-growing options that can quickly help to reduce line-of-sight between your home and your neighbors, or your home and the road. They also can provide you with shade, as well as make your yard look and feel more beautiful and inviting.
- You could plant a garden. This is an improvement to your yard’s appearance. But it offers practical benefits as well. These days especially, with so much uncertainty in the world, it is great to be able to grow your own produce and reduce your reliance on the food supply chain. This feature is probably easiest to create after your home is in place.
- Perhaps you can think of some other ways to improve your landscaping, i.e. putting in a trellis or adding some lawn furniture or such. But these are additions you would typically make after your home is delivered.
Summary
In some cases, you may have very little to do to prepare your lot for your tiny house. In others, you could have quite a few big projects you need to complete. Either way, make sure you do whatever preparation is required before your tiny house arrives. That way, you can have it placed, connect your utilities, and move in right away.
