Introduced In The House Feb. 16th, 2022
The Tiny House Alliance USA and many stakeholders of the tiny house industry were invited to recent calls with Cathy Kipp to discuss this new Colorado Bill for tiny houses and it was introduced in the house on Feb. 16th, 2022.
New ASTM Tiny House Committee
What is very exciting is that we are close to knowing about the results of our potential tiny house committee with ASTM International. Janet Thome has been leading the initiative to develop global standards for tiny houses. We have spent a little over a year in negotiation, and our proposal has gone to the governing board of ASTM that grants new committees. ASTM has 140 technical committees that write voluntary consensus standards in many different industries including cannabis, commercial space flight, 3D printing, nanotechnology, the performance of buildings, every type of construction materials, and more.
Potential That Colorado Could Adopt
The Standards We Develop With ASTM
The timing of the Colorado bill that is coinciding with our potential ASTM Tiny House Committee, as stated below.
Rules promulgated by the board must include provisions imposing requirements reasonably consistent with recognized and accepted standards adopted by THE ASTM INTERNATIONAL, the International Code Council, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Colorado state plumbing and electrical codes, or a combination thereof OF THESE STANDARDS AND CODES, except to the extent that the board finds that the standards and codes are inconsistent with this part.
Sponsors
The sponsors are Representatives Cathy Kipp and Tony Exum, and Senators Joann Ginal and Dennis Hisey.
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-02-16 | House | Introduced In House – Assigned to Transportation & Local Government |
Summary 2022 Regular Session
Regulate Tiny Homes Manufacture Sale And Install
Current law regulates the manufacturers, sellers, and installers of manufactured homes. This regulation includes requirements for the installation of manufactured homes, contract and disclosure requirements, and the registration, escrow, reimbursement, bonding, and inspections of the manufacturers, installers, and sellers. In addition, the state housing board (board) sets standards for the proper manufacture and installation of manufactured homes. The board consults with an advisory committee when promulgating rules.
The bill adds tiny homes, which are typically manufactured, to this regulation on substantially similar terms. This includes adding 2 representatives of the tiny home industry to the advisory committee. The board is given the duty to regulate foundations for manufactured homes and factory-built structures where no construction standards otherwise exist.
In addition to adding tiny homes to these provisions, the bill addresses tiny home regulation in the following manner:
- The board shall promulgate rules establishing specific standards for tiny homes. When the national or international standard is created, the board may use that standard. The board may modify these standards as necessary.
- The board shall establish standards for connecting a tiny home to utilities, including water, sewer, natural gas, and electricity;
- A local government may require the inspection of a tiny home manufactured before July 1, 2023, if the tiny home is not manufactured in accordance with the board’s standards;
- A state electrical inspector or a local government may approve the connection of a tiny home for electric utility service if the tiny home is in compliance with applicable codes and standards for connection for electric utility service; and
- A state plumbing inspector or a local government may approve the connection of a tiny home for water, gas, or sewer utility service if the tiny home is in compliance with applicable codes and standards for connection for water, gas, or sewer utility service.
If a tiny home is approved for connection to utilities through the process described above, the tiny home may be connected to the appropriate utilities. Current law governing the connection to each utility is amended to avoid conflicts with the process established in the bill.
Selling or installing a tiny home without complying with the bill is declared a deceptive trade practice, which subjects a violator to damages in a lawsuit, a class 1 misdemeanor, and civil penalties of:
- Up to $20,000 per violation;
- Up to $10,000 for violating a court order or injunction; and
- Up to $50,000 per violation if the victim is an elderly person.
Current law regulates mobile home parks, including notice requirements, lease termination limits and requirements, security deposit regulations, entry fee prohibitions, antitrust prohibitions, selling fee prohibitions, kickback prohibitions, retaliation prohibitions, regulation of how and if park rules are established, a right of first refusal when the owner wants to sell the mobile home park, a peaceful enjoyment right, and remedy provisions. The bill includes tiny homes under these provisions.
Current law exempts manufactured homes from sales and use tax. The bill adds tiny homes to this exemption.
Colorado HB 1242 Regulate Tiny Homes Manufacture Sale And Install
Related: Ethan Waldman Interviews Janet Thome On Podcast
Ethan Waldman interviewed Janet Thome on the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast that is airing on Sept. 24th, 2021 at 7 am EST time. Janet Thome is the founder and President of Tiny House Alliance USA and is also leading an exploratory initiative to develop Global Standards for tiny houses.
Quote From Ethan
Janet and I have been talking for a while and we’ve decided that it’s finally time to pull back the curtain on the efforts that she has been working on for the last several months and do an interview on the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast. Janet is the Founder, President, and Treasurer of Tiny House Alliance USA and is currently leading an exploratory initiative to develop new global building standards with ASTM. Before your eyes glaze over, I encourage you to stick with this show because Janet does a great job of explaining what ASTM International is, what standards are, how they would impact the tiny house building industry, dwellers, DIYers, not just in the United States or North America, but in the entire world. It’s a really exciting effort. I think there’s a lot of potential here and we need more people to get involved.
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