[Torinne]

I would like to know the smallest passable house you can build. I may get a sum of money in the near future. But this money won't be enough to let me build the house most people build. I am not that greeding and would be happy to build the smallest house possible. I know it may matter from county to county to what the answer is to this question, but I can't tell you all where I live. I may move too. So if anyone has a near answer to this question, I would appreciate it truely. I hope this read is understandable. I keep having to change what I write on other forums.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Torinne

I would like to know the smallest passable house you can build. I may get a sum of money in the near future. But this money won't be enough to let me build the house most people build. I am not that greeding and would be happy to build the smallest house possible. I know it may matter from county to county to what the answer is to this question, but I can't tell you all where I live. I may move too. So if anyone has a near answer to this question, I would appreciate it truely. I hope this read is understandable. I keep having to change what I write on other forums.

It will also change township to township. My township has no house size but, you have to have 200 foot of frontage. Subdivisions are the hardest on size.

[YAZ]

You'll need to visit your County Clerk's office or your local Township Hall to get minimum specs.

These change sometimes, so ya might see an area full of "cottages" that were grandfathered in after zoning laws were changed.

My first home in MI was a one bedroom cottage on the river with two beautiful acres of land. I wanted to tear it down and build a new home, and live on the property in a single wide trailer during construction.

Nope.

No trailers allowed in that neighborhood. I could've bought a motor home though, go figure.

Unless the structure was destroyed or condemned, there had to be three walls standing at all times. I.e., I could've added on.

I sold it, and the folks that own it now use it for its original intention. A summer getaway.

[talbet]

If you look on line there are people who build 150 SF homes on wheeles. this way the zoning does not affect them and you do not have to pull permits. Downsizing to 100 square feet of bliss - CNN.com

[Project_Patt]

It seems to me that buy the time you purchase the lot and the materials to build this house you still would not be able to build it as cheaply as some of the foreclosures i have seen.

[tjay]

i don't have much to add except i envy you....i've always wanted to build a small house for myself. to be able to create your own little dwelling and truly make it your own...i prefer small houses over large: less cleaning, less maintenance, less on utilities and there's something to be said about only having what you need. so many houses these days are ridiculously large and unnecessary.
good luck!

[magellan]

A split level is your best bet. Maybe 800 sf finished up (2 BR, 1 ba), with the lower level unfinished.

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