Anne Arundel Co. Inches Closer to Tiny Home Living

ANNE ARUNDEL CO., MD — Residents looking for affordable housing in Anne Arundel County recently got one step closer to the goal line after county lawmakers advanced legislation for tiny home developments.

The measure was advanced late Tuesday in a 4-3 vote after undergoing several rounds of adjustments. The bill was first introduced in November.

For the tiny home lifestyle to receive full approval by lawmakers, it needs to be signed by County Executive Steuart Pittman.

It is anticipated that the legislation will be signed and allowed to take effect, as the Pittmann camp has been supportive of the initiative. Pittman previously indicated that creating affordable housing was one of the main objectives of his last year in office.

The bill, however, is the brainchild of Council member Pete Smith, who has repeatedly highlighted tiny homes as part of the solution to the housing crisis in Anne Arundel County.

While developers are allowed to build tiny homes in the county, they shy away from the initiative because the construction is neither the most profitable nor practical for business.

But, Smith's legislation makes it so that multiple tiny homes that measure out to be 800 square feet or less can be built in a zoned area that would traditionally be intended for one residence per acre. Depending on the zoned areas, there would be limits to the number of tiny homes.

Related: Tiny Houses Could Be Coming To Anne Arundel County

Smith told The Banner he was most excited to speak with interested builders and people who are already fully immersed in tiny houses, also referred to as cottages.

“I’m more excited about the people who own these because I’ve seen the variety of homes that have been built in these cottage home communities, and they just look amazing,” Smith said. “To have that as resource and opportunity here in this county I think is going to be amazing for our citizens.”

As affordable housing is the driving objective of Smith's efforts, his legislation includes language that restricts tiny homes to individuals who make no more than the area's median income.