Building a small house in Eastwood

[TxHustla]

maybe a permanent mobile home is ok..ive seen quite a few like that in that area..

[City Love]

Never seen a mobile home in the area. Anything already in place would be grandfathered in. But city of Houston has strict guidelines on mobile/trailer homes. I don't even think a temporary one would be allowed as living quarters. Maybe only as a temporary office or work area.

[Dusty's Dad]

The Eastwood subdivision has a very active civic group that does enforce deed restrictions and stays on top of city ordinances. The civic association covers 19 other non-deed restricted subdivisions. All previous trailers have been removed by the city based on the rules someone else commented. The last two houses and the next one to be built on the few lots available in the Eastwood subdivision have been built to look like their historic neighbors. There are lots available outside that subdivision, but part of the Eastwood area, particularly east of Dumble, which are less expensive. One modern shotgun house built in that area was featured in a national magazine and was on the home tour. That area is near the new Altic station on the East End rail line. You could also look west of Cullen, nearer Scott St., but I think developers are eyeing lots there.

[locustzzz]

Thank you all for your responses. Thanks for the referral to the civic association. Regarding the trailer...I am mostly curious about how and to what lengths neighborhoods restrict what people can do on their own land. As I said before I am interested in alternative building methods and land use, so this trailer question gives me an idea of how this particular neighborhood might respond to something that pushes the limits a little bit. For instance what if I wanted to build a house using entirely re-used materials and what it looks like is not of the highest importance to me? Thanks again for your interest and responses.

[DJboutit]

Mobile home is a bad idea just get a small rv for 4 months that would be a much better idea

[swanstone1]

Yep, multi generational Texan and still can't get over all the Laws and Restrictions in the state I thought was most free. Did the yuppies doom it in the 80's or what? Funny I moved to a state I never heard of and the motto is Live Free or Die. I grew up thinking THAT was TX. Sad seeing these posts coming from TX that I hold so dear and an icon of what the US should strive to be???? Maybe I'm wrong but I won't tell 100% of family that lives there.

[City Love]

Originally Posted by locustzzz

Thank you all for your responses. Thanks for the referral to the civic association. Regarding the trailer...I am mostly curious about how and to what lengths neighborhoods restrict what people can do on their own land. As I said before I am interested in alternative building methods and land use, so this trailer question gives me an idea of how this particular neighborhood might respond to something that pushes the limits a little bit. For instance what if I wanted to build a house using entirely re-used materials and what it looks like is not of the highest importance to me? Thanks again for your interest and responses.

This is Houston specific, not Eastwood specific. If your home passes city code, you should be fine. I've seen a house near the Heights built out of train/truck containers.

Most of the city of Houston does NOT have HOA's, only deed restrictions. Most just impose setback limits and minimum lot size requirements. I think the issue you'll have is the code requirements by the city of Houston.

Good luck!