Tiny Homes Explored As Potential Attainable Housing Option In Loudoun County

ASHBURN, VA — As the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors considers ways to meet housing needs, it received information on tiny homes at its meeting last Tuesday.

At the request of the Board of Supervisors in May, the Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Board and county staff prepared a white paper on tiny homes to explore as a potential attainable housing option. The board requested the scope not include rural parts of Loudoun County. There was no action by the county supervisors on allowing development of tiny zones.

According to a presentation to the county supervisors, tiny homes are defined as residences ranging from 80 square feet to 800 square feet and can be either mobile or permanent homes. Most are less than 600 square feet, and some include lofts or second floors. Depending on the home's size and features, tiny home prices often range from $10,000 to $250,000. There are instances of tiny homes as permanent supportive housing with philanthropic, government or private funding, rental housing and homeownership opportunities.

The presentation gave scenarios of what tiny homes could look like in Loudoun County. One scenario uses the example of the former Ashburn North Park and Ride lot, which the Board of Supervisors approved in March for development of 131 affordable rental units and 813 homeownership units. The white paper gives several tiny home scenarios if a lot similar to the Ashburn North Park and Ride was made available for tiny homes. Those scenarios are based on 416-square-foot tiny homes and range from 57 units to 84 units and density ranging from 18 to 26 units per acre.

In the white paper, the board says tiny homes could serve single adults, older adults and small households. But the report said it would require considerations like site selection, creative unit and community design, approvals for zoning modifications and reduced land price models.

"Based on the research, [Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Board] believes tiny homes could be a helpful tool as part of the County’s housing toolbox to address homelessness and housing needs, the report stated. "Tiny homes may also offer a way to provide attainable homeownership depending upon the design, financing, and ownership structure."

Rising costs of housing continue to be a concern for low and middle-income households. According to the county, its affordable dwelling unit purchase program has a 434-household wait list as of Sept. 30. Households could wait three years or more to make it through the wait list and receive a unit.