If you are considering building a tiny house in Illinois, you may be concerned about whether or not it is legal. The good news is that there are no laws against building a tiny house in Illinois. However, there are some codes that apply to tiny houses so you will need to make sure that your plans meet those codes before you start building.
Minimum Square Footage
The first code that you will need to consider is the minimum square footage for all structures in Illinois. You can build a tiny house with as little as 150 square feet of living space.
The next thing that you will need to consider is the total square footage of your tiny house. This code states that the total square footage of your tiny house cannot exceed 400 square feet. You can use the living space, hallways, and closets to calculate this number.
Sizes
The next code that you will need to consider is the size requirement for all structures in Illinois. This code states that all structures must be at least 20 feet from front to back and at least 12 feet from side to side. Fortunately, this code only applies to permanent dwellings.
You should also make sure that your tiny house is not taller than 14 feet, and it cannot be wider than 16 feet unless it has a foundation or it is bolted down in a permanent structure like a garage or shed.
Structure Types
This code states that all permanent dwellings must be built on a foundation, which includes mobile homes and modular homes as well as traditional houses.
In addition, this code states that all permanent dwellings must be built on a foundation or have permanent walls. This includes things like wooden decks and other temporary structures.
These codes only apply to tiny houses if you plan to live in them year round. If you plan to live in your tiny house full time, then you will need to follow these codes. However, if you plan to use your tiny house as a vacation home or a weekend getaway, then these codes do not apply.
Building Code Requirements
The next code that you will need to consider is the building code requirements for all structures in Illinois. This code states that all permanent dwellings must be built according to the International Residential Code or the International Building Code.
This code also states that any additions or alterations must be approved by the local building department before they are started. This means that you will need to submit plans for approval before starting any additions or alterations.
If you plan on building a tiny house in Illinois, then it is important that your plans meet these codes so that they can be approved by the local building department before construction begins.
