Tiny Home as secondary home on property? (Chicago, Elgin: RV parks, apartments)

[flamadiddle]

Not a lot of info on this. Anyone know how a Tiny Home would be taxed (if at all) if put on a property that already has a primary home? Assuming no HOA and ample land.

[damba]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

Not a lot of info on this. Anyone know how a Tiny Home would be taxed (if at all) if put on a property that already has a primary home? Assuming no HOA and ample land.

Not gonna happen in Metropolitan Chicago AFAIK. Regulations. In the western United States, perhaps....

[flamadiddle]

Originally Posted by damba

Not gonna happen in Metropolitan Chicago AFAIK. Regulations. In the western United States, perhaps....

Not so sure. This place makes and sells them in South Elgin. https://titantinyhomes.com/

[damba]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

Not so sure. This place makes and sells them in South Elgin. https://titantinyhomes.com/

Don’t conflate a presence of a manufacturer/builder in S. Elgin with any bending of local codes and/or ordinances.

I read through many of the links on that site and it vaguely mentions RV parks, farms and unincorporated land as possibilities in IL. That does not address specifics, or your specific scenario of two homes on an existing lot.
For the vast majority of areas I mentioned, it is not likely not permitted. Call around to a few communities (or county/township, if unincorporated) to see what they say.

[RJA29]

It's going to be nearly impossible to add a coach house to a property in any municipality around here. However, if you have a _huge_ estate, you might be able to do this, but it could require breaking up the parcel. I'd call and ask your village hall if it's allowed. 95% guess it's a flat out "no" with no room for negotiation at all. In Downers Grove you can't even add a living space above a detached garage.

[doodlemagic]

Originally Posted by RJA29

It's going to be nearly impossible to add a coach house to a property in any municipality around here. However, if you have a _huge_ estate, you might be able to do this, but it could require breaking up the parcel. I'd call and ask your village hall if it's allowed. 95% guess it's a flat out "no" with no room for negotiation at all. In Downers Grove you can't even add a living space above a detached garage.

I see plenty of detached garages with apartments above. You probably can't add in water and stuff for the inspection but once you get the thing built you can do whatever you want, just don't tell the city. You may have to remove it when it comes time to sell.

[doodlemagic]

If your talking about a tiny house on wheels it's fine, city can't really do anything to you as long as your adhering to rules about parking an RV. I'm assuming it has to be something like not visible from the street and 10 foot from property line or something along those lines. If your talking about something not on wheels it's not gonna be allowed. YOu could call it a pole barn or garage or shed, get it approved and add your heat or water after the fact and not tell the city but they wont' allow something like that. Keep it on wheels and our all good.

In general we don't live in a place that gives you much freedom on what to do with your property, alternative building methods, etc. Out in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, and many other states they have a lot more freedom to build tiny homes, shipping container homes, etc.

[flamadiddle]

Yeah, I think the wheels are what differentiates it. I see many RV's parked on properties in my neighborhood so I can't see how this would be any different. If you look at the models from Titan, they are towable.

[damba]

Originally Posted by doodlemagic

I see plenty of detached garages with apartments above. You probably can't add in water and stuff for the inspection but once you get the thing built you can do whatever you want, just don't tell the city. You may have to remove it when it comes time to sell.

Grandfathered garages as such with apartments above probably won't get the same attention as new ones.

[damba]

Originally Posted by doodlemagic

If your talking about a tiny house on wheels it's fine, city can't really do anything to you as long as your adhering to rules about parking an RV. I'm assuming it has to be something like not visible from the street and 10 foot from property line or something along those lines. If your talking about something not on wheels it's not gonna be allowed. YOu could call it a pole barn or garage or shed, get it approved and add your heat or water after the fact and not tell the city but they wont' allow something like that. Keep it on wheels and our all good.

Not necessarily. All this will vary by municipality. I would be frankly surprised if most of them would not have already put in language to specifically limit to RV vehicles (e.g. that can be licensed via the DMV) and thereby differentiating from 'something on wheels'.