Jay Shafer: The Politics of Tiny Houses

In February, 2011, we spent a few hours with (Tumbleweed ), in his 96 sq. foot house-on-wheels in Sebastopol, California. Jay is one of the more well-known and successful tiny house designers, and there is no denying the “curb appeal” of his designs. That attraction is generated by Jay's careful consideration to proportion as well as by his selections about which parts to incorporate in–and even more precisely, what to leave out of– his designs. But as much as he enjoys speaking about , what he genuinely desired to speak about was the politics of . Why constructing and zoning codes are stacked in opposition to tiny , how the prices of purchase and upkeep compare to the houses he calls “debtors' prisons”, and why, when the Big One shakes the land round San Francisco Bay, he'd preferably be in his tiny house than anywhere else.

A curiouslylocal.com film; interview by Joan Packard; digital camera by George Packard, produced by Parrot Creek Productions.

66 Comments

  1. I am passionate about small houses for many reasons, but this Video really
    boils down some of my reasons for wanting to live in a small house.

  2. In spite of what you’re saying, Tiny Homes are absolutely more efficient,
    economical, and sustainable. This is a fact. Compare building your own tiny
    home for $10,000 and then paying $20 per month for utilities with what many
    Americans are doing today. Yikes!

  3. Ouch. Sorry, I was just curious. But I am curious as to why you couldn’t
    reveal your political leanings or affiliation. I was just hoping that maybe
    more people were waking up. The guy in the video is talking about being
    “pissed off” about zoning laws and codes. I always associated that kind of
    person as being a Conservative and/or Libertarian. I’ve always been a
    Conservative and I’ve always been against zoning. So, as I said, I was just
    curious to know if some liberals were waking up.

  4. Ouch. And you all collapsed Ronald’s post. Typical liberal behavior. We
    don’t like what he says, so we’ll shut him up. Ouch. Things to consider
    about the U.S. is the size of the population and our standard of living.
    Most of the world lives in sub-standard conditions, so, that is naturally
    going to put us near the top of energy usage and other kinds of
    consumption. As other countries catch up, I’m thinking of China for
    example, their energy consumption will, no doubt, surpass our own.

  5. People who don’t agree with you are “knuckle draggers”. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
    Can’t you be nice? I don’t want to have to analyse what is going on with
    you, but, who mistreated you during your childhood?

  6. Ouch. Stealing is superior? Forced confiscation is superior? Republicanism
    is selfishness? That doesn’t jive with the statistics, but you can keep
    believing that. How is the Tea Party out to victimize others? Could you
    give me some examples, please?

  7. I don’t think you get out much. Or maybe you operate in very limited social
    circles. At school this week, the librarian, an older woman, was voicing
    how she just found out that, under Obamacare, she will be limited in what
    kinds of things she will be able to have done as an older person, meaning,
    health care under Obama will come with conditions and limitations depending
    on age and kind of ailment. Freedom-loving people have been warning about
    this for quite a while now.

  8. There was a man and wife in Tennessee who raised, like, 10 kids inside a
    tree. No joke. And those kids grew up to be doctors, lawyers, and
    politicians. DaySaviour99’s stereotyping of people is almost unbelievable.

  9. OK, Jonathan, Ronald and Daysavior99: Interesting discussion, but please,
    my Youtube channel is not a general political forum, and this video about
    Jay and his ideas about tiny houses should spark comments closely related
    to…well, the politics of tiny houses. So, please stay on topic? Thanks,
    George Packard

  10. I’m sorry, George. I just saw this post of yours. My original intention was
    to discuss the zoning one encounters when wanting to live in a tiny house,
    which does lead to a somewhat political discussion. It seems that every
    area of our life today is under some form of political control.

  11. Jonathan, yes, indeed…to live in a community or a society is to live with
    restraints…and one thing I appreciate about Jay is that he looks around
    and asks, “Now, which restraints can I live with, and which restraints
    don’t make sense and should be changed.” Regarding zoning, both Stephen
    Marshall and Mike Litchfield (you’ll find those interviews on my channel
    here) comment on the issue as well, though not as strongly as does jay.
    –George

  12. Ronald: As I noted earlier today, this is neither a political forum, nor a
    public place to engage in low-level flames with other writers. Please make
    comments here ONLY which are relevant to the video and the ideas raised by
    Jay. Thanks for your understanding. –George Packard

  13. Understood. I will refrain from further comment on your channel. Honestly,
    I’ve stated my piece, this man’s statistics are incorrect. I standby this.
    I do not necessarily disagree with parts of his philosophy just the ‘facts’
    and ‘stats’. Furthermore, a home this size is unsanitary. However, I have
    no hard data to back that claim. My apologies for my tactics, but it is an
    open debate. Furthermore, it’s quite revealing of the forces driving the
    ‘tiny’ home ‘revolution.’ Thank you, good day.

  14. thanks, Ronald. When i do a piece like the interview with Jay, I’m
    operating as a reporter, just putting somebody’s voice, which I find
    provocative and interesting, out into the world. There are always facts and
    backstories that could/should be vetted. –George

  15. Ronald, I *loved* this posting. You are so-o-o candid when you follow your
    statement that “a home this size is unsanitary” with “I have no hard data
    to back that claim”. Few people can perceive, much less acknowledge their
    own prejudices, man. So, well done. I hope I’m not speaking out of turn,
    but I suspect YOU suspect there can be no correlation between size and
    cleanliness, yes? Idk. Personally, I’ve lived in large and small spaces,
    and found smaller ones easier to keep clean.

  16. Okay, look at third world countries. That isn’t ‘hard’ data. However, the
    third world homes I’ve been to are filthy and quite small. And part of the
    reason they are so unsanitary is the size of the home. There is no room to
    put anything, four, five, ten people crammed in 300sq ft. That is very
    close contact for disease transmission. For example, are you more likely to
    get the flu in the lobby of a bank or the elevator? ‘Love’ the
    condescension, by the way. Way to make an argument.

  17. I’d get claustrophobic in there bad!! I’d rather live in a one bedroom
    apartment. Mine’s only 700 sq feet, and ppl say it’s tiny but suits me
    well… 100 sq feet.. I couldn’t deal. It’s GREAT for a children’s
    playhouse though! My 5 yr old niece would love it.

  18. Your argument is no more valid that his. Obviously, this hundred square
    foot home is not made for many people; it’s pretty crowded with two people.
    And a three hundred square foot home is not made for five to ten people.
    Not only this, but the fact that it’s a third world country also tells us
    something. Likely, they don’t have city services like garbage pickup. They
    might not have running water.

  19. They may not even have electricity, so chances are their homes aren’t going
    to be as clean as someone in a developed country with these things. And
    lastly, they might not have the time for cleaning. They may be working in
    fields or doing other work, and to them, cleaning may be a waste of time.

  20. The problem is use of space. A lot of McMansions have huge areas of unused
    or badly designed spaces that people buy just for the outward bloat … but
    I agree with the political statement, and no mortgage, BUT, these small
    houses do not have really liveable ergonomics unless you have to live there
    in order to save up enough for a real place … that doesn’t have to huge
    either by the way. The idea of simply trying to get to the bathroom at
    night in some of these places is absurd.

  21. Whether you like a 100 square foot house or not should not be the issue.The
    issue we should be fighting for is the right to build whatever size house
    or houses we want on our land.This is just another example of how the
    elites and the government keeps us on the plantation.

  22. I think he’s taking a pretty severe tack to prove a point, but there’s a
    very important message here. I’m a single guy living (currently alone) in
    an 1100sf 2-bedroom condo. I basically spend all of my time in about 300sf,
    and the rest of the space is either disused, or full of *stuff* that I
    rarely use. When I get rid of my *stuff* I look forward to selling my place
    and shrinking my living space down to around 400sf or less.

  23. Well, the first thing is that this is all premised on whatever city and
    infrastructure you depend on staying up and running. I think a lot of the
    gut feelings that people go by, like thinking that something they bought
    and rarely use is useless and should be discarded. Sometimes, sometimes
    not. It is hard to manage and get rid of stuff, and doing so intelligently
    takes exponentially more time the more stuff you have. That is the prime
    reason people use too much space, and vanity of course.

  24. I don’t necessarily want to live big, or small … I want to live “right”
    … right-size. For instance if you like to work on things, like
    wood-working or something you need room for tools and room to work, light
    and stuff, and then you don’t want that in your living space. I think there
    should be freedom for more people. Personally, I’d like to own land and
    build a small house/barn/greenhouse/shop … If I do I’d have to live in an
    RV at first.

  25. I can see your point. At the same time, I’m personally finding myself
    hindered by the sheer amount of things I own. I end up buying duplicates of
    stuff I have put away, because I don’t even remember I still own it. I’m
    very certain that if I had a smaller living space and far less stuff (and
    places to put stuff) I would waste less money on redundant possessions, not
    to mention heating an oversized condo.

  26. A house this size is complex, I don’t say bad, but there is a thing called
    “scaling”, that is the average small house can accommodate 1-3-maybe 5
    people if necessary, flexibly and make it work. What do you do if you have
    the same requirement and have a house like this? How do you entertain, how
    do you have a relationship? As I said, how do you even go to the bathroom
    at night … what if you are sick, or have to have a home nursing care for
    a while, these houses do not let someone do that.

  27. In that case, I think we’re very much on the same page. I’m a design geek
    and a crafty guy, and I feel very much stifled living in 1100sf of living
    space with nowhere to put a workshop, when I could easily live in 400sf or
    probably less. I was fantasizing about building one of these tiny trailer
    cabins and plunking it down on a plot of land next to a garage in which I
    can work on projects.

  28. I lived in a studio apartment for college years, it was maybe 22×15, living
    area, kitchen, bathroom, closet … close to 300sq.ft. I was single and it
    was like living in a hotel room. It worked, but I got tired of being able
    to see everything in your life at the same time all the time. If someone
    visits, they see everything to. Two people in a small area will drive each
    other crazy, and even one person will get territorial when they feel
    cramped or cannot be alone.

  29. This story, while I think people should be able to do what they want as
    long as they do not affect others adversely, but I wonder if there is more
    to this guy’s story of going from a 6000sqft house to a vritual
    trailer,what was the reason. I know guys that get divorced for example,
    dump their wife and kids and quit the job to not have to pay anything
    towards alimony or child support, and this allows that? I’m not saying that
    is the case, but I wonder if there’s pathology here?

  30. > I’m personally finding myself hindered by the sheer amount of things I
    own Tell me about it. So, your problem though is really an energy problem
    in heating … why not store your stuff in a room that can be closed off
    and not heated. I’m usually one to want to travel light, but I always
    rethinking that when I see friends who are the opposite make good use of
    their packrat tendencies and are more prepared and more quickly at hand
    with solutions. It bugs me, but I don’t deny sometimes works

  31. This is not really about housing per se, it is more about strategies and
    skill in resource management, which some people tie emotionally to freedom
    and liberty and thus manage to sell ideas through romance. A lot of this is
    really economics, business or management. Why not remodel your current
    house to include a garage or workshop?

  32. Yeah, I completely agree; I was just pointing out that the houses aren’t
    built for many people. So you are both right that small spaces would
    increase the chances of the spread of disease.

  33. I think the point that should be received here is that 1 person really only
    needs so much space to feel happy and content. So let’s say your personal
    comfort level is 200 sq ft of living space and you have a family of 4, then
    it’s logical to think that you and your family would require 800 sq ft to
    be happy and content. Assuming of course they share your same desire to
    live the same way as you wish to. Besides, it really is a personal thing.
    If you don’t want a tiny house, don’t build one.

  34. I think the point that should be received here is that 1 person really only
    needs so much space to feel happy and content. So let’s say your personal
    comfort level is 200 sq ft of living space and you have a family of 4, then
    it’s logical to think that you and your family would require 800 sq ft to
    be happy and content. Assuming of course they share your same desire to
    live the same way as you wish to. Besides, it really is a personal thing.
    If you don’t want a tiny house, don’t build one.

  35. As far as the legalities of the whole thing. It seems to me that IF I were
    to purchase an acre of land, that land should now be mine to do as I wish.
    Owning land and placing whatever size house you wish on said land shouldn’t
    be an issue. What if I totally went off grid and made my own repairs out of
    pocket? I’d have no need for insurance companies or utility services. Pay
    my taxes and take back my little part of the country. Everyone needs to do
    that, but that is a whole other subject.

  36. The bottom line is this: It’s about finding freedom. We as a society have
    always been told that bigger is better. That one is successful if one has
    many materialistic things and are constantly judge by this. Now our own
    Government is telling us how to live? I totally disagree. Advancements
    within a society was because someone stood up for what they believe and
    then others followed because it made sense to them as well. Regardless of
    any ill thought or action. It’s called free will. Maintain it!

  37. By our thoughts we make the world. Those whose thoughts are imprisoned by
    consumerism and societal judgement require others to be similarly
    imprisoned. Why should the mortgage life stylers suffer while watching
    others escape the life trap? Misery loves company, and we see this as
    “traditional” homeowners screw it up for those seeking freedom.

  38. Building codes are bullshit, people have lived in small travel
    trailers/motor homes for years SAFELY they just want you to have to pay for
    permits & big houses. Have they stopped to think if they allowed these
    there’d be less homeless people & more folks who could afford a home. Total
    crap!

  39. Safety & well being what about the woman who has that 90 something sq ft
    apt in Manhattan she doesn’t even have a kitchen how is that even legal.
    These should be legal for regular plumbing & all the a standard 3 bed home
    has or whatever such horseshit build these homes in a trailer park setting.

  40. The following video is an interview with Jay Shafer, where he shares his
    opinions about the freedom that you may gain when downsizing and
    de-cluttering, ridding yourself of unneeded space and stuff, and reducing
    your debt obligations.

    Islam takes the matter of debt very seriously and warns against it and
    urges the Muslim to avoid it as much as possible.

    It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the
    Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say in his
    prayer: “Allaahumma inni a’oodhi bika min al-ma’tham wa’l-maghram (O
    Allaah, I seek refuge with You from sin and heavy debt).” Someone said to
    him: “How often you seek refuge from heavy debt!” He said: “When a man gets
    into debt, he speak and tells lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.”
    Narrated by al-Bukhaari (832) and Muslim (589).

    It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
    blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

    “The soul of the believer is suspended because of his debt until it is paid
    off.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1078).

    Al-Mubaarakfoori said in Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi (4/164):

    The words “the soul of the believer is suspended” – al-Suyooti said: i.e.,
    it is detained and kept from reaching its noble destination. Al-‘Iraaqi
    said: i.e., no judgement is passed as to whether it will be saved or doomed
    until it is determined whether his debt will be paid off or not.

  41. Look for mobilehomes on beautyful. campsites and you will live in freedom
    without nervracking poltics about tiny houses. I`ve sold my property
    because it was illegal to build a tiny house. I lived in caravans,
    sailingboats, logcabin, woodframe cabin, built a 200 sq ft brick house and
    the only place i wasn`t illegal is my mobilehome on a campsite, where i
    found living freedom. You can see it at my tiny home tour. Good luck Elena.

  42. I forgot to tell you that i`ve bought my property as an 18 year young boy
    and i`m 47 now. It was a long way to find a way of living small and cheap
    without beeing illegal. Watch carefully and you will make it. Best wishes
    to you.

  43. What an articulate argument for our rights. In response to those stating it
    is unsanitary or “whatever”, I beg to differ with you. My husband and I are
    team commercial drivers. We work on the road for weeks at a time living in
    a semi. We take regular showers, wash our hands, and live a healthy
    lifestyle. A “tiny home” would seem spacious to us at times. However, there
    are “pigs” that live in small houses AND large houses …the house does not
    make the lifestyle, the inhabitant does.

  44. ever heard of “cabin fever” mental health issue. we should have the right
    to build whatever SIZE home we wish on our property.. Article each week on
    tiny homes, tiny apartments, living small BIG RENTS. population pushing to
    9 billion,the global elites want OUR property. democrat party is rushing to
    extinguist Individual rights in favor of collectivism communal ( communist
    ) “good of the whole” ideology where non producers live on the backs of
    producers. NOT a world i want to be a part of

  45. I relate a lot to this guy. I’m a ” fine artist ” with an interest in
    turning my creative bent towards making a place for myself to live. Art is
    about meaning, homes absolutely have meaning, so it just seems natural. So
    cool how this is part a whole life philosophy.

  46. I agree with Jay. We need codes that will allow us to live In smaller
    dwellings. We’re frustrated with subdivisions that require homes to be a
    certain size. Small homes can be quality homes. And nearing retirement age,
    we do not want all that interior/exterior area to take care of. Give us
    communities that will allow us to build small homes under 1,000 sq ft.!

  47. Makes perfect sense to me. I live on the East Coast and I am doing
    this..maybe not tiny or micro..but def under 1k sq ft…for sure. I am DONE
    paying for a mortgage or renting. I can’t even imagine the freedom.

  48. lol…nutjob. I won’t comment..because it’s not germaine….but suffice it
    to say…ONE sentence….both parties are whores of the corporate oligarchy
    that runs this nation. Done. Oh..and respectful apologies George.

  49. I like the concept of a small house much better than a conventional home
    because its better to be free from a Mortgage than to catch a 30 to life
    sentence,,,, Give me a small house paid for. a couple of kitcars and debt
    freedom and I can die happy.

  50. The codes per se are not the problem. They probably do have a lot of good
    information in them. The real problem is that they are backed by violence.
    There is no legitimate use of violence against a person who is harming
    nobody else. If they were converted into voluntary guidelines, they would
    immediately become legitimate and reasonable. Keep in mind that all the
    communities we consider charming and desireable were built in a time of
    essentially no codes. Let people control their own lives!

  51. Amen to that. Whether you agree with the tiny trailer house or not, the
    government laws restrict the basic rights we should have as people.

  52. My 675 square foot house is much larger than Mr. Shafer’s home. However,
    what I love about my house is that I use every room every day. Prior to
    this, I lived in a much larger rental house. There were some rooms in that
    house that I didn’t see for months at a time. To me, the larger takeaway is
    that houses should be scaled to a size we will actually use, and dual
    purposing or triple purposing rooms can make this size surprisingly small.

  53. Re:unsanitary– while I believe it’s true that the outcome was as Jay says:
    working in NGO work in the international sphere, and looking to immigrant
    housing of the early Americas that folks would pile into a house or
    apartment, and it does create public health issues, from TB to pneumonia,
    as a function of class and poverty. So creating space (destroying
    community) created some public health benefits over decades that make a
    Return to the small possible.

  54. AMEN GOOD HUMAN! I wish everyone were good like you instead of relying on
    aggressive violence to force others around them into their own f_cked up
    ideas of how people should act. Statists, change your mind for a peaceful
    world!

  55. The Govt. is sleeping with the housing industry, they want us to buy bigger
    houses so they can make money off of us in many ways. I say fuck them !! If
    everyone starts living in tiny houses they wont be able to do anything.
    Cant jail the entire city or state.

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