Design, Construction and Regulation of Small Residential Units and Tiny Houses for Permanent Occupancy
The First Draft of ICC/THIA 1215 Design, “Construction and Regulation of Small Residential Units and Tiny Houses for Permanent Occupancy” has been posted for public comment with a deadline to receive comments by November 24, 2025.
Please see the link below to the IS-OSMTH committee webpage for more information:
Link
ANSI Standards Action October 10, 2025
Make Your Voice Heard
The instructions on how to comment are listed below. I am opposed to the Small Residential Unit takeover of the standard but there are some great aspects to the standard, because of the contribution of structural engineer, Kelly Cobeen with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates.
About Kelly
Kelly Cobeen joined WJE in 2008 with twenty-three years of experience in structural design, working in a wide range of project types, sizes, and construction materials. She has a special interest in seismic resistance of light-frame construction, applicable to new construction and seismic upgrade of existing buildings.
Ms. Cobeen has been involved in numerous code development, research, and educational activities. Her code development activities include involvement in the NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings as well as International Building Code and International Residential Code development. Her educational activities include coauthoring the Design of Wood Structures textbook, teaching wood design at University of California, Berkeley, and teaching seminars for professional organizations. Ms. Cobeen’s research activities include involvement in the CUREE-Caltech Woodframe Project, studying improved seismic performance for wood-frame buildings.
ICC 1215 First Draft
The Standard Has Been Hijacked By The Small Residential Unit
The original intent was to add chassis provisions to progress tiny houses on wheels as a viable solution for housing and further the progress of Appendix Q Tiny Houses.
The standard has been completely hijacked by the Small Residential Unit ( SRU ) and Tiny Houses has now become an incidental focus.
Definition Of The SRU In The Standard
SMALL RESIDENTIAL UNIT (SRU). A dwelling that is 1200 square feet (111 m2) or less excluding lofts and is constructed as a permanent residential structure with or without a permanent chassis.
There has been a great debate in the OSMTH 1215 committee regarding the Small Residential Unit takeover of the standard which is the agenda of ICC.
Opponents Of The SRU Have Been Ignored
The Small Residential Unit ( SRU) still remains the focus of the standard that places tiny houses, a codified term, as a subcategory under the SRU, a made up term that no one recognizes or even uses even;
- Against the written comments of stakeholders that participated in the meetings
- Against the opponents at the first CAH Hearing
- Against NAHB stating it would tag every IRC house of that size
- Against 2 petitions that garnered over 700 signatures against the SRU
Resources
Instructions To Fill Out Form
Form to Fill Out
Exciting Hope For The Tiny House Industry
There is a saying at ICC that states a code always trumps a standard. A perfect example is a new tiny house code change that is going to be presented at the second CAH Hearing in Ohio that could finally put the wheels under tiny houses and is a much better solution to what the tiny house industry needs as opposed to the ICC 1215 standard. RB42-25-1 is an an I-Code change to Appendix BB Tiny Houses that could be approved for the 2027 IRC. It has been submitted as a public comment to RB42-25 that was submitted at the first CAH Hearing.
The proponents of RB42-25 asked for disapproval at the first CAH Hearing because the standard was in draft form. The ICC 1215 standard was referenced in RB42-25.
Why Does RB42-25-1 Trump ICC 1215?
RB42-25-1 was born out of response to the ICC 1215 standard that is currently being developed and has changed in the wrong direction with the takeover of the Small Residential Unit, placing tiny houses as a subcategory under the Small Residential Unit. ( SRU).
October 19, 2025
