Building code

NO MINIMUM!!!!

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Laura
Here is a sweet little business set up in an alley in the arts district in Saskatoon. An absolutely right sized spot isn't it?

Here is a sweet little business set up in an alley in the arts district in Saskatoon. An absolutely right sized spot isn’t it?

After a recent trip to Saskatoon, a community filled with tiny and little houses, I called the City of Saskatoon, Planning and Building Department.  I asked if there was a minimum size requirement in Saskatoon.  Apparently there is not because they said they did not think that there was a minimum size restriction in the National Building code.  This is the code that Saskatoon uses.

After speaking with three people on the phone, I wrote to the Canadian Code Centre (a couple of times before I got the straight to this question):

What is the minimum size of a house in the National Building Code?
Here is the response I got:   ((((I will comment on this after the letter below))))

____________________________________

Dear Ms. Moreland

 The National Building Code (NBC) does not regulate a minimum size for buildings in the body of the code. Whether a permit is required or not for a building is an administrative requirement, for which each province and territory has detailed requirements (and – which may differ from province to province).

 The National Building Code only contains a few (model) administrative requirements for provinces or territories, should they wish to use them in enforcing and administering their code. Within these model requirements (located in Division C of the NBC) is a reference to a document “Administrative Requirements for Use with the NBC 1985”, which in turn suggests that an exemption for permits would be appropriate if buildings are smaller than 10m² (108 ft²).

This exemption is based on the assumption that such small buildings would be accessory buildings and that there is only 1 such accessory building per primary building. In addition, the 1985 document states that the exemption for small buildings is not intended to waive the safety and health requirements for a series or group of such buildings. This likely means that an authority having jurisdiction (city or municipality) would not use this exemption where people intended to live in such small houses.

In addition, staff at the Canadian Codes Centre are not aware of a study or research report that contains a clear-cut, definitive answer as to whether there is a legal or safe minimum size for a permanent dwelling.

The views expressed in this letter are those of the staff of the Canadian Codes Centre of the National Research Council who assist the Committees which are responsible for the preparation of the National Building, Plumbing and Fire Codes. These views should not be considered as official interpretations of legislated requirements based on the National Building and Fire Codes of Canada because the final responsibility for an official interpretation rests with the authority having jurisdiction.

Kind Regards

Frank Lohmann,
Senior Technical Advisor, Housing and Small Buildings  (NBC Part 9)

NRC Construction
Canadian Codes Centre
1200 Montreal Road Building M23a
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6
http://www.nationalcodes.ca

_________________________________________

What I get from this letter is that it is as I previously understood.  There is NO minimum house size in Canadian code!

So, it is therefore up to we Tiny Housers and Tiny House enthusiasts to educate our municipalities and local government to the benefits of tiny living so that we can have these changes in code made to all locals.  We must lobby, speak to elected officials, educate those who are on the election trail and keep making our voices heard if we want to see tiny houses available in communities across this nation.

What I am asking is that anyone who is interested in this lifestyle please take a few moments and write letters to the elected officials in your community.  Copy the building department as well.  If we all lobby together there will be change, community by community.

ALSO, FYI… Here is a story on the awesome community that  opened my eyes a little more; Saskatoon.

Categories: Building code, Environmentalism, Money, Tiny House Ontario, View, Writing | Tags: , , , | 28 Comments

Interior Shots Update, 2013

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Laura

I had an MPAC person stop by my project, Tiny House Ontario a few days ago.  If you don’t know, these are the tax assessors that ensure that the people of Ontario pay their fair share of taxes.

I am not opposed to paying my fair share of tax, what I oppose is the way that building codes do not allow people to build as they wish.  I absolutely understand and agree that they need to be put in place so that people don’t just build unsafe, cardboard dwellings in which they, their family and guests could easily burn to death.  What I don’t get is the part where we all have to build 2400 square foot McMansions which are totally disconnected from the planet around them.

I don’t get why I should have to worry about my tiny house being somehow unlawful.  It seems every new house I pass is not facing in the right direction to benefit from the sun and wind.  There is no effort for these homes to be environmental except of course, the compulsory level of insulation.  The codes need to be revisited, deconstructed and rewritten in order to reflect a more modern age in building technology and realistic resource consumption.  At the very least, in a country were the seasons change passive solar should be considered in every single new structure that is built.  Too size limits need to drastically decrease, both in terms of lot size and the footprint of these homes.  I took all this into my mind and more, and believe me THO has as tiny a carbon footprint as she does a physical one!

The woman, who came was very pleasant and I think she liked the tiny house which she referred to as a cabin.  I disclosed everything to her about the house.  No point in omission or in lying.  We wait now to see if all will remain okay with respect to the house in the township where it is located.  So far, while they knew what I was planning because I called them multiple times, I am unsure if they really know about me being there.

For those of you who are just joining me here, you should know that as with most houses, Tiny House Ontario (or any tiny house) is in constant flux.  I am not sure how it happens here.  I very rarely buy new stuff, but I guess, I add more blankets as the weather gets cold and move the mats.  This year, the big addition to the house was the stone patio and I also bought some horizontal blinds for some of the windows, when there was a sale on.  It was not that I was trying to gain privacy from peeping chipmunks.  Rather I thought it would be good to block out the sun in those windows that allow too much heat in during the summer months.  Both of these improvements were felt and I am happy with them.

The house is not finished, there is still no kitchen, no running water, no furnace and no modern bathroom facilities.  There is much to be done in order to make it livable beyond the summer months.  As it is, when I am here, I live in a sort of constant state of “glamping” – a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.  Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t mind this.  I actually love THO with all its little unrefined bits too.  Even so, I do envision a few more comforts in my tiny house.

What I mean to say is now MPAC has been here, so we will find out if the powers that be will allow this little sugar shack to stand and her vision be fulfilled.

A cute antique dresser to put away clothes in. I am sure a high dresser would offer more practical storage, but it would not be nearly as cute as this.

A reclaimed antique dresser to put away clothes in. I am sure a high dresser would offer more practical storage, but it would not be nearly as cute as this.

I have a king sized bed in the loft. Actually it is two twins put together in the German style.

I have a king sized bed in the loft. Actually it is two twins put together in the German style.  This makes for a more comfortable sleep even on nights when one of us fidgets.

This is the East side of the house. Do you see? There is rain barrel out there. This window gives me easy access to the spout.

This is the East side of the house. Do you see? There is rain barrel out there. This window gives me easy access to the spout.  The curtained area is the closet, should you just now be looking at my the house for the first time.

The doors to the cloth porch are here in this corner. I bought these doors second hand on kijiji for $100. They work fine but are not very air tight. If I was building again, I would buy the doors new. Or at the very least I would be sure they were better made.

The doors to the cloth porch are here in this corner. I bought these doors second hand on kijiji for $100. They work fine but are not very air tight. If I was building again, I would buy the doors new. Or at the very least I would be sure they were better made.  I read the Lord of the Rinds trilogy this summer.  I have had the quote on a board for many years and have long been a wanderer, so I thought it was time.  “Not all those who wander are lost”

Dishes are drying inside. Due to the rain outside, they won't dry on the porch.

Dishes are drying inside. Due to the rain outside, they won’t dry on the porch.  I did not get the kitchen put in this summer.  I hoped I would earn a little more than I did with my art at the market, but this is the way that the cookie crumbles.  When you are trying to support yourself and build a home using only creative earned budget, you can only do a little at a time.  No debt gained, and I do have a wonderful now patio too!

IMG_0877

This green chair is where Hj likes to sit. I would like to pitch this chair because he love to tilt back in it. This blocks the way to the upstairs, the entry, and the bathroom. A tilting chair (recovered from the road side) is not the best solution for a tiny house, in my opinion.

This green chair is where Hj likes to sit. I don’t want to air our dirty laundry… BUT in the spirit of sharing what works and what does not… I would like to pitch this chair because he consitantly tilts back in it. This blocks the way to the upstairs, the entry, and the bathroom. A tilting chair (recovered from the road side) is not the best solution for a tiny house, in my opinion.   At least NOT in the “route” corner…  Still, I like the chair, it has a funkiness about it and it is dead comfy.

Categories: Art, Building code, Laura Moreland, Materialism, Off Grid, Ontario, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny house, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , | 20 Comments

Necessity

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Laura

I think that everyone has heard “necessity is the mother of invention.”  It might just be true in all cases, but when I found the photo below, I was totally blown away by the ingenuity of the fellow who made this place into his home.  It looks humble but it may just have everything that a person needs to live comfortably.

Could you live here?  I think I could, but I am not sure that I would want to; it looks as though it may be a bit spider rich for me.

Categories: Building code, Magical, Materialism, Nature, Simple living, Tiny house | Tags: , | 3 Comments

Decisions & Heated Rant

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Laura

Susan B. Anthony once said that “cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputations… can never effect a reform.”

Recently, I have been distracted by some changes happening both within me and also with regard to the decisions that I have made.  Some of the things that I am thinking about are personal while others are directly to do with Tiny House Ontario.

A couple of days ago I posted about my regret for not putting in a fruit cellar.  Now I have to confess that my mind might be changing regarding the type of furnace that I want to put into THO.  I have always, since the beginning of the project thought I would go with a Dickinson Marine Stove.  About $1,200 US +++

A couple of days ago, while checking around on the internet for other Tiny House stories, I noticed a stove that appeals to me visually a lot more.  The Mini Franklin Woodstock Soapstone.  About $1,200 US +++

I like this one visually a lot better because the vent pipe goes STRAIGHT out the back to the chimney.  No silly, wobbly, silver, tube climbing up the wall to find the exit.  The chimney too, if that is what they are called on propane stoves.  It also looks to me as though they offer a different sort of tidy looking chimney which sits flat against the exterior wall.  Both of these look so much tidier in my opinion.

The cost is about the same for the two stoves I am not sure that the cost of shipping is similar, nor am I sure if the cost additional things, such as: wall mount, vent, pipes, chimney and so on, is similar.  I am also not sure if the Mini needs a 12v electric hookup or even if it requires any electric at all.  I can’t find this on their website.

AAAAUUUURRRRGGGHHHH!  Rant…

I found it easy to navigate the Dickinson site and they have the manual right there for you to print and read.  Which I have done and but truthfully, I feel as though, with this Dickinson I know what I am getting because so many Tiny Housers use them.  Their website, though, is not ideal.  I don’t know what beyond the stove I need to order; nor what it costs for these things I need to hook one up.  I would like a nice neat package.  I get that they are somewhat unique for every home BUT there are no images provided there either.  In short they don’t make things nearly as clear as I want them to be.

The Soapstone Mini makers are not even as clear at the Dickinson people.  Right down to the image they provide being so tiny that it is hard to see. I know… I know, you think I like tiny things, but this is really, really TINY.  No manual either.  You have to write them to find out more.  I am not too wild about that idea, I hate it when companies are vague.  Basically, if they just put the stuff on the site then I could do my own homework.  I don’t want to talk on the phone or spend weeks chatting back and forth via email.  The most frustrating thing is, I don’t know what questions to ask because the product information is basically just size and colours and the shipping method.  I mean, I want to know about size… all we ladies do… I might also like to choose a different colour… but seriously who cares how they ship it?  I don’t want to bash them totally, in fact, they had some things better on their site.  They do provide a few (albeit TINY) images of the types of hook ups and this was most appreciated.  Like Dickinson no packages with the extra stuff in it.  They give a nice 360* (TINY) option I can see a tiny wire coming out of tiny bottom of the tiny back — unless this is a tail.  In truth it is such a small image that I can’t see.

Before I have some knowledge I am silenced by not feeling I know even enough to ask a simple question.

So what do I want?  I am going to assume that these businesses are both dealing with a lot of DIY people.  I heard that Dickinson sells far more stoves to Tiny Housers than they do boat owners, so I would like to see them cater to our DIY philosophy!

Key stuff for me is I want user friendly, diagrams, images and explanation options in click out bubbles.

Examples would be more and larger images.  Diagrams of the various packages that are needed to hook one of them up based on the sort of place that they are going into.

They know better than I what I need!  In my naivety I think I will require a:

A wall mount thingy: $x

A going through the wall tube: $x

A turning up elbow: $x

A chimney of length x: $x

A bunch of other thingamabobs that only they know about: $x

Screws/nuts/bolts/any unusual drill bits etc: $x

Why do they not have a package that looks like this that has a nice little diagram showing you what you are going to have to do with the stuff when it arrives?

Ideally too, they could also provide VARIATION to those packages based on different roof heights, wall thicknesses and slopes.

Then and only then would I want to be told to contact them personally if I have questions… once I understand what I need.

I can’t be the only one who is like this?

______________________________________

If you are a Tiny Houser, I would appreciate a ball park on the costs of the other stuff and shipping.  Also if you have a Soapstone Mini… what electric system do you need for her?

Please comment on this one…

Thanks for listening to me rant!  xo L

Categories: Building code, Money, Off Grid, Simple living, Tiny house, Tiny House Ontario | Tags: , , | 10 Comments

Small Houses in Old Neighbourhood

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Laura

I just brought some of my green tomatoes over to my friend Marilyn and while I was out, I went though the waterfront neighbourhood by the Hamilton Bay. The area is getting nicer all the time down that way!

The community did a lot of revitalization along the waterfront and this action by the community, really picked up the market and brought in some interesting new buyers.  It is now attracting  lots of artists, professionals and people who take pride in their homes.  Unfortunately a lot of these lovely little small homes have (or are having) additions put on them but there are still a number of cute and solid little small homes that just need a bit of TLC to be AWESOME homes again.

Here are photos of a few of the old small homes that have been polished up and that don’t have additions bigger than the original home on them.  Hamilton, Ontario gets a bad wrap because of the industry along the water front.  A lot of people, even those who live close don’t know what this city has to offer.  It is an interesting and pretty place not just because it is the waterfall capitol of the world either.

If you can’t find something to do or see here, then you are not looking very hard.

These are just lovely little old houses – within a few blocks from the waterfront, in Hamilton. Probably people raised 8 or 10 kids at a time in these houses… just 100 years ago.
Now, so many people think them too small for a couple. Not me… what about you?

Categories: Building code, Ontario, Open your eyes, Sustainable living, View | 3 Comments