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Amendment could affect tiny home construction

Amendment could affect tiny home construction
Amendment could affect tiny home construction
Posted at 5:36 AM, Feb 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-12 14:33:45-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A public hearing will address tiny homes in Leon County, working to make sure developers are able to build them in a safe but timely manner.

WTXL ABC 27's Jada Williams was live Tuesday morning to tell what Leon County is doing about the issue.

There's a proposal on the table to amend the Florida Building Code, making it put down specific requirements for the tiny homes that have become so popular.

As it stands right now, there isn't a code to specifically address tiny houses like The Dwellings.

This amendment would address things specific to tiny homes, such as loft access for those two-story ones, the size of them and others.

The amendment would give more clear-cut options to developers without the hassle of having to wait for separate approval for each and every concept.

A simple change to put more guidelines in place could be the answer to more of the affordable living options popping up around time.

Barry Wilcox is the chief development officer for Leon County.

"We get inquiries on tiny homes fairly frequently," Wilcox said. "Obviously its a very popular product right now. You see it all over tv. We do have a fairly large project going on right now to provide tiny homes in an affordable format, at a larger scale. We hope to see more of them in the near future because it is providing diversity in product for affordable housing and quite frankly for any type of housing."

Gainesville has already enacted a similar amendment for development of tiny homes.

The public hearing takes places at the Leon County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon.