Is the plot suitable for (my) tiny house?
Before a small house can become a reality, one of the most difficult questions arises: Where can it be built? And when is a building plot suitable for this purpose? These are questions that builders and landowners ask themselves.
For future builders, it often starts with a quiet longing for less. The idea of owning a tiny house on a sunny plot of land conjures up images of freedom, clarity and self-determination. Owners of unused building plots often want to combine pleasure with practicality: instead of maintenance costs and property tax expenses, they would rather generate rental income and provide living space.
But it's not quite that simple. This article offers practical guidance for both groups. It shows what is important when analysing a plot of land for a tiny house.
1. Building regulations
What can actually be built here? Not every vacant plot of land is automatically buildable – and certainly not with one or more tiny houses. The decisive factors are the location of the plot and what the development plan or building regulations allow. In general, building is permitted in inner areas (§ 34 BauGB) – i.e. within built-up areas – if the project fits in with the surrounding development. In outer areas (§ 35 BauGB) – i.e. outside built-up areas – building is generally prohibited, except for privileged uses such as agriculture.
If a development plan (B-Plan) exists, it specifies more detailed rules, such as building boundaries, roof shapes, type of use (residential/commercial) or maximum floor area and floor space index. Tiny houses – just like conventional single-family homes – are classified as Class I buildings. Formally, this means they are often permitted, but in practice it can sometimes be difficult because they do not meet the required building dimensions.
Regulations from the German Land Use Ordinance (Baunutzungsverordnung), the State Building Code (Landesbauordnung) and possible protected areas such as landscape or nature conservation areas can also restrict development. Furthermore, possible entries in the land register should be checked, such as rights of way or building encumbrances in favour of third parties, which may influence the development.
Tip: A preliminary building application to the relevant authority provides legal certainty at an early stage – for both landowners and builders.
Would you like to read the whole text? You can do so in the magazine Kleiner Wohnen. There you can find out what else there is to read about the other points: ‘Development: Is the technology available here?’, ‘Location: Is the property suitable for everyday life?’, ‘Topography and access’ and ‘Renting or letting the property’.
The text was written by Madeleine Krenzlin. She is the founder and managing director of IndiViva and lives in a tiny house herself. IndiViva GmbH is a Germany-wide consulting and planning company for modular houses, mini houses and tiny houses. IndiViva works with landowners to develop viable and fair concepts for their building plots for rent and offers a legally secure rental agreement.
