Comments on: Introduction to Issue 8: Bureaucracy, Regulations & Small Living http://smalllivingjournal.com/uncategorized/mandasue/introduction-issue-8-bureaucracy-regulations-small-living/ A monthly journal on the Small Home Movement Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:56:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Amanda Abel http://smalllivingjournal.com/uncategorized/mandasue/introduction-issue-8-bureaucracy-regulations-small-living/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Amanda Abel Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:28:02 +0000 http://smalllivingjournal.com/?p=2165#comment-442 Hi Mo, that's true, I haven't been considering how taxing figures into it. You would think, though, that they would just apply taxes based on similar properties in an area, in much the same way as a realtor uses a CMA to determine a sale price based on a house with similar size and amenities. In areas where there are still older (and usually smaller) homes, that could work. Nonetheless, I think that the longer we try to work around codes, the longer it could take to establish uniform approaches. Hi Mo, that’s true, I haven’t been considering how taxing figures into it. You would think, though, that they would just apply taxes based on similar properties in an area, in much the same way as a realtor uses a CMA to determine a sale price based on a house with similar size and amenities. In areas where there are still older (and usually smaller) homes, that could work. Nonetheless, I think that the longer we try to work around codes, the longer it could take to establish uniform approaches.

]]> By: Mo http://smalllivingjournal.com/uncategorized/mandasue/introduction-issue-8-bureaucracy-regulations-small-living/comment-page-1/#comment-427 Mo Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:47:07 +0000 http://smalllivingjournal.com/?p=2165#comment-427 The issue is complex and the lack of uniformity the rules are applied from county to county and sometimes neighborhood to neighborhood compounds the problem. In my experience the major hurdles to building small are taxes and code compliance. Habitable small buildings don't easily fit existing tax and regulatory laws on the books. Officials are regular folks just doing their jobs and don't have the flexibility or authority to apply rules unevenly - it is easier to deny than finding a way to meet tax designations, health district requirements, structural codes and zoning laws. I do see the little house movement gaining momentum but the critical mass is not yet been achieved. Until the revenuers figure out how to tax little houses I believe the challenges will remain. Once a way to tax them is discovered a method of issuing permits and enforcing codes will follow. The issue is complex and the lack of uniformity the rules are applied from county to county and sometimes neighborhood to neighborhood compounds the problem.

In my experience the major hurdles to building small are taxes and code compliance. Habitable small buildings don’t easily fit existing tax and regulatory laws on the books. Officials are regular folks just doing their jobs and don’t have the flexibility or authority to apply rules unevenly – it is easier to deny than finding a way to meet tax designations, health district requirements, structural codes and zoning laws.

I do see the little house movement gaining momentum but the critical mass is not yet been achieved. Until the revenuers figure out how to tax little houses I believe the challenges will remain. Once a way to tax them is discovered a method of issuing permits and enforcing codes will follow.

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