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Two-Story Tiny Homes: New from Keen’s Buildings

Long-time Keen’s Buildings customers are surely familiar with the wide range of two-story sheds we’ve been offering for years. But now, Keen’s Buildings now offers habitable structures and tiny homes for sale in Florida & Georgia. This is a game-changer in our mission to secure more affordable and sustainable housing solutions in these regions. 

Though our services are centered in the southern U.S., we are open to nationwide contracts, so if you’re outside of our service area and in need of one of these structures – don’t hesitate to reach out. 

First, however, you might be asking yourself: What are the benefits of our tiny homes? We’ll break it down.

#1) They’re ADU-approved. 

Naturally, our tiny homes can be used as standalone structures, to be placed on an empty plot of land as a main residence. However, many homeowners also use them as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). An ADU cannot serve as a standalone, and is defined as being a secondary building on a parcel of land already containing a main structure (such as a house). 

Commonly, ADUs are used as mother-in-law or guest suites. They can also be used as long-term rental setups. If you have a large property, implementing an ADU provides you the opportunity to house tenants and therefore earn additional rental income. 

In states such as Florida, where there is a large senior population, ADUs are becoming a popular method of capitalizing on the single-family home economy. More and more of these structures are being constructed to house elderly parents or caregivers to elderly citizens who reside in the primary residence. 

They also serve as an affordable way to experience single-family home living for individuals and families who cannot take on a mortgage. 

#2) Tons of customization options.

The new habitable structure on your property doesn’t have to be an eyesore. If you are using it as an ADU, there are enough color, siding, and roof options to match it to your main house. And, if you plan on using it as a tiny home, you’re sure to appreciate its beautiful aesthetic. 

You can aim for a quaint, charming, barndominium style tiny home with a gambrel roof. Or, if you’d like something a little more contemporary, a gabled roof is also available. 

Door and window configurations are also flexible, and you can even go as far as to add a porch or decking to your tiny home so as to create an outdoor space for relaxation. 

#3) Extremely versatile. 

These tiny home structures don’t have to act as permanent residences, they can also be used as destination cabins and weekend getaway homes. Set one up on your mountain or beachside property to enjoy as a vacation home and regular escape. 

Use it as a guest house for out-of-town visitors or even as a short-term rental unit through sites like Airbnb. 

It can also be repurposed for recreational use, such as a pool house, home gym/fitness studio, or home office. No matter which applications you choose for your tiny home, the extra space is sure to serve you productively.

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Why Choose Keen’s? 

The main reason to choose a Keen’s habitable structure is its expert engineering. With more floor joists and an improved wind load rating on our new tiny homes to align with Florida & Georgia codes, you’re sure to find this structure sturdier than ever. 

The 26-gauge metal roof provides protection against even the most severe weather conditions and each tiny home is constructed with double pane windows filled with argon gas. These provide superior insulation for the structure.

Beyond this, a Keen’s tiny home offers size advantages over the other prefab tiny homes you’ll find online. Since our habitable structures are constructed onsite, they’re not limited to Department of Transportation sizing guidelines. Where most tiny homes are built on wheels for portability, intended to be shipped to their destination via roads, they are therefore limited by height and width. 

A Keen’s tiny home offers a wider array of dimensions for your needs, and our floor plans easily accommodate a two bed/two bath setup. 

Size options include: 

  • 16’x24’
  • 16’x28′
  • 16’x32′
  • 16’x36’

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With their favorable square footage, you’re also unlikely to find similar offerings for the same price. Mobile home prices are ever-rising and few tiny home companies provide the same financing options that Keen’s does. With our rent-to-own program and zero-down financing, our tiny homes are accessible to everyone. Furthermore, our experienced team works with customers through the engineering and permitting processes. 

Onsite implementation is also fairly flexible, and the tiny home will be laid on either a permanent concrete foundation or anchored to concrete blocks.

Permitting Your Tiny Home or ADU

Zoning codes and restrictions will vary by municipality – particularly where ADUs are involved. Implementation of an ADU on your property typically requires the approval of neighbors in your community, as it can have an effect on overall neighborhood occupancy, parking space, noise levels, and more. 

There are a few main factors to consider in the permitting process of your tiny home/ADU: 

  • Minimum lot size/setback lines
  • ADU/structure size 
  • Parking configurations 
  • Owner-occupancy
  • Utility hookups

Figuring out whether your community allows such structures is the first step. If you have a Homeowners’ Association (HOA), consult with them about their guidelines. There are also general rules about the size of your lot in relation to the size of your proposed ADU. Each local government has different restrictions regarding setback lines, which dictate how close a structure can sit in relation to your property line. 

There may also be guidelines as to how large your ADU can be in comparison to the main structure, with as much as a 25% cutoff. 

Parking is also a consideration. You will need to evaluate how the implementation of an ADU could affect neighborhood parking availability, and whether it would contribute to on-street congestion. If you provide an onsite parking spot, this is less of a burden. The general guideline is that a parking space must only be provided for ADUs of 500 square feet or more. 

The local housing authority could also require owner-occupancy on the lot, either in the ADU itself while renting out the main structure, or as the primary resident. This alleviates neighborhood concerns about renter behavior in the absence of the homeowner, so keep this in mind if your tiny home structure is going to serve as a rental solution. 

There are approximately 22 counties (at the time of publication) in Florida that do not allow long-term ADU rental. Temporary guests, including family members, caretakers, visitors, and laborers are permitted. Certain commercial, industrial, and agricultural applications are also allowed.

Lastly, as utilities will be needed to make this structure habitable, you will want to make the need for electric, water, and sewer hookups known to your local government. They may require these utilities to be connected to the main structure or instruct you to run separate lines. 

Florida and Georgia are both exceedingly tiny home friendly, with increased flexibility in restrictions with each passing year. However, there are still zoning, building code, and fire safety standards to comply with. Going through the proper avenues will contribute largely to long-term enjoyment of your Keen’s habitable structure. 

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