SB 5383, concerning the creation of tiny house communities, was amended by the House and passed unanimously. The bill now heads to the Governor for signature.

The bill does the following:

• Authorizes cities and towns to adopt ordinances regulating the creation of tiny house communities, including through use of the binding site plan method;
• Prohibits cities and towns from adopting ordinances that prevent entry or require removal of a tiny house with wheels used as a primary residence in a manufactured/mobile home community;
• Defines “tiny house,” “tiny house with wheels,” and “tiny house community”;
• Tenants of tiny communities are entitled to all rights and subjected to all duties and penalties under the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (MHLTA);
• The owner of land on which a tiny house community is located must make reasonable accommodation for utility hookups for water, power, and sewer services in compliance with the MHLTA;
• Requires the State Building Code Council to adopt codes specific to tiny houses by December 31, 2019; and
• Authorizes schools and training programs for students to contract with community service and nonprofit organizations to build tiny houses for low income housing, without regard to competitive bidding laws, if the students participating in the building of the tiny houses are in:
• Training in a community and technical college construction or construction management program;
• A career and technical education program;
• An apprenticeship preparation program; or
• Training under a construction career exploration program for high school students administered by a nonprofit organization.