Discussions

have a place to put it?

It's staying on the acreage it will be born on...unless some regulation says otherwise.

Wondering if gutting/refurbishing an older camper trailer would also work??  
 

The world of the internet is wide open to you. Lots of videos on Youtube, including a couple camper trailers either redone or torn down to the trailer frame. Good luck. The tiny home on wheels movement is a super cool way to go.

The time to worry about permits is definitely now.  
 
You need to talk to your local building/planning authority about structural and other design requirements (is a trailer frame okay?), and check the local zoning by-law to see if there is a minimum square footage on new dwellings in your municipality. If there is, you'll need a variance from council before you can take the first step.  
Good luck.

Suppose you're right. Since I have no wish to talk to that unhelpful, condescending putz, I will try to find a camper that I can refurbish...so now to find something so awful the seller just want's it gone!

If you are planning on building it with in the BAPD(Brandon Area Planning District)Namely City of Brandon, RM of Cornwallis or the RM of Elton. Forget it!  
 
They stifle everything that is not cookie cutter Mcmansions

Jovial said "Suppose you're right. Since I have no wish to talk to that unhelpful, condescending putz, I will try to find a camper that I can refurbish...so now to find something so awful the seller just want's it gone! "

I like tiny houses and agree with the philosophy behind them.  
 
But from the municipal government perspective, a tiny house generates less tax revenue than larger houses, to the point where offering services like water, sewer, lagoon, snowplough, etc. could result in increased tax burden on everyone else.  
 
From the building inspector's perspective, people who want tiny houses may be so desperate to cut costs that they'll scrimp on materials and design, possibly to the point that there's a liability issue.  
 
Municipalities are liable for any construction they approve, so when someone wants to build the cheapest house possible, it makes the building inspector uncomfortable.  
 
So that could be why you are at odds with your building inspector. Not necessarily your fault, but in general when people try to build as cheaply as possible, it's a lot more work for the inspector, who is probably having a busy day before you even show up in his/her office.

In the rv classifieds someone is selling a bigger 5th wheel that's gutted inside. I think it was $2000.  

Its just such a shame that the powers that be have to make it so difficult for low income people to survive.  
 
As for the classifieds, I continue to check them as well as a few other classifieds sites. I also posted a wish on the off chance someone had any ideas for me. Problem is my budget for tjus year

...sorry hit post my mistake...  
 
Problem is my budget for this year is tight and I had hoped to at least have something in the yard to work on for next year in spare time. Dad tried to help (bless him) but his income isn't high enough for a small $3000.00 loan to help me with.  
 
Anyhow, not giving up. This too important for him and me.  
 
Oh, and I tried contacting about that trailer (among several others) and many did not reply so I assumed they were sold. Someone had a nice 27' trailer for my current budget ($1000) but sold it the night before I phoned  
 
Something might come up...

I don't know how this works, and I don't know where you live. But all these people talking about water and sewer hook up and taxes... Tiny houses don't have sewer or water usually since there on a trailer and just go wherever... I don't understand why you would need some special permit ..it moves... How can they tax you on a camper like structure? You don't have property tax because it isn't on a set property, it may sit in someone's driveway or back yard (like a camper) but you don't pay extra taxes for that? Who knows, I'm probably wrong, but I just see it as a glorified camper...

The issue with non-standard housing is that it has to comply with the National Building Code of Canada. The RM is just enforcing the law. To ease acceptance of these, lobby your MP to get the national code changed.

Build it/renovate it on a chassis with wheels. Eliminates BdnArea Planning from the loop. And, if it is mobile, you 'could' license it as a homemade camper. If it remains on your own lot, no need to license it because it isn't moving on a public road.  
 

into this already. In Brandon, as long as it has wheels, it has to be in a mobile home park. No exceptions. In Rivers, houses must be a minimum of 650sq ft. Souris is willing to work with tiny home owners if you own a lot, otherwise you are in the mobile home lot too.  
 
Tiny homes can have sewer, water and electrical hook up. It depends if you want to be off the grid or not.  
 
It's easy to build the house. It's much harder to find a place to put it.  
 
There are lots of builders who will build a tiny house that meets MB code. you just need to check them out online.

Forget it if your thinking in Brandon or RMs associated with Brandon Area Planning. Your going to find that most RMs will enforce the building code,but some might be flexible.The code has minimums for room sizes with your tiny house your hooped before your start. Talk to Mr Campbell and the other trailer park owners see what their minimums are, they are actually fairly high, trailers that no longer meet code are encouraged to be upgrade or moved out of the park. You could perhaps get a condemned unit for nothing as long as you can find a place to put it. A Flexible RM might allow you to declare an old trailer as a summer cottage letting you bring it up to code over an extended period while you live in it.  
If you fight them they can get nasty, Kids CFS, Cut off Electricity, Prevent you from getting a septic field, or come on your property and knock it down. It's all about Property Taxes but they will claim safety and your blocked at every turn.

Missing property taxes are a lot more affordable for an RM than a lawsuit due to property damages or loss of life. The building code exists primarily for the safety of Canadians. RMs that take shortcuts ("willing to work with you") may do so today, but inspectors are always getting new information from places like the Office of the Fire Commissioner, which also goes on to the Reeves and council. A "deal" today may not be the same deal tomorrow. I'd recommend doing something that is code compliant, and also talk to your MP.

Brandon sun has an article about a tiny house being built in Brandon.

For many of us that don't subscribe, can you expand on what you learned from the article (without copying and pasting it)?  
Assuming it's this one?  
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=903958&cat_id=3  

Does anyone know if its possible to build your own homemade camper trailer? What the regulations are? Where to find out (RM office)? Just wondering if they have similar or more/less red tape  
 
Thanks for the replies

Jovial said "Does anyone know if its possible to build your own homemade camper trailer? What the regulations are? Where to find out (RM office)? Just wondering if they have similar or more/less red tape     Thanks for the replies "

In terms of the camper, I don't think building it is the issue, I think it's then using it as a residence where you may run in to problems, depending on where you plan to live.

The MPI auctions are a great place to pick up cheap campers. http://apps.mpi.mb.ca/salvage/SlvgItmImg.asp?salenm=3414&itemnm=4

It seams to me this idea of a tiny house and living minimal is gaining momentum around particular areas of the world. It would be interesting to see just what the regulations are for some other places that do allow it. It is popping up more and more where it is getting just to expensive for an average person to live. People have decided they do not want to be owned by the banks and credit companies there entire lives anymore. Maybe some are realizing there is more to life then just going into debt to accumulate more and more things. One thing is for sure I believe we will start to see it getting more popular closer to home. At that point the powers at be are going to have to start putting regulations in place so that people can choose to do that as an option for living. I feel terrible for anyone who is just trying to start out these days. The cost of living and housing has made it pretty near impossible for a person with an average pay who is just starting out to have a fighting chance at living the Canadian dream. Anyone who does want usually has to be fortunate enough to have a family member or someone that is willing to help. Good luck to you on your search and if anyone knows first hand the regulations in other places it would be interesting to know.

sending you a pm