Buffalo Mayor Brown Is Encouraging Tiny Houses On A Foundation

The Structures Must Comply With The NYS Residential Building Code

The City of Buffalo is offering guidance for people that are interested in building tiny homes, by providing them with better roadmaps to do so. Mayor Brown and his administration are in the process of educating residents about the benefits of constructing micro accommodations, which are dwellings that are 400 square-feet or less in floor area (excluding lots).

As part of the educational process, the City is doing its part to make building codes and guidelines readily available for property owners, architects, and builders. Ultimately, while the City is “prompting” people to build the homes, the structures must comply with the NYS Residential Building Code.

Along with building the homes on vacant lots that might not be large enough for standard home sizes, the City is suggesting that homeowners consider building small dwellings on their properties (a detached house) as a way to accommodate an aging relative, for example. Of course these smaller units would be suitable as Airbnbs, or as supplemental income properties, while creating more affordable dwellings in Buffalo.

The City has offered the following tips for Tiny Houses in Buffalo:

The house must be built on a foundation and not wheels.
The city’s Property Maintenance Code sets limits for occupancy based on floor area. A tiny home is not suitable for large households containing 4 or more people.
There is not a building size requirement in the city of Buffalo. Depending on whether there is already a house on the lot, your tiny home will be considered a carriage house or detached house and will have to comply with the requirements for those building types set forth in the city’s Green Code.

Source Buffalo Rising: City of Buffalo Offers Guidance for Residents who are Interested in Building Tiny Homes