One possible solution to the lack of affordable housing in Boise is tiny homes on wheels — accessory dwelling units that are 400 sq. ft or smaller and are built on a mobile platform. The problem: mobile tiny homes are not legal in Boise. So, why are they still being built and will the city soon make them legal?
Why Are Mobile Tiny Homes Illegal in Boise?
Tiny homes are allowed in Boise as long as they are built on a permanent foundation and meet the city’s building codes. When tiny houses are built on a mobile platform like a trailer or chassis, they are considered a private recreational vehicle that cannot be set in a residential zone.
[Boise is] probably in the moment of least [housing] affordability that we ever have been in.
Bart Cochran, Founder of Nonprofit LEAP Housing
Why They’re Still Being Built
Building mobile tiny homes can be significantly cheaper than building them on a permanent foundation. The mobility also doesn’t require an owner to sell if they decide to relocate.
In an effort to find affordable housing solutions, the city of Boise has partnered with the nonprofit LEAP Housing for a pilot program that is building and gathering data on these specific structures. The purpose of the pilot is to evaluate whether the zoning laws should be changed to make mobile tiny homes legal.
What’s Next
The pilot program, scheduled to last 12-18 months, recently expanded and is looking for an additional five to 10 participants willing to host one on their property. Bart Cochran, founder of LEAP Housing, says the organization has a goal of building 1,000 affordable housing opportunities by 2026.
