Modular houses typically referred to as tiny homes could be a quick, relatively cheap living option for residents recovering from Hurricane Michael.
Some area officials say that, as long as it adheres to basic Florida building codes, a tiny home can be erected in the county in residential zones. Interest in the topic has ignited on local social media sites in recent weeks after at least one out-of-state tiny home manufacturer started advertising its product in the area to help address the housing shortage since the hurricane.
Ian Crelling, community development director for Bay County, Fla., said tiny homes are allowed in the unincorporated areas.
"They're allowed, they just need to meet Florida building code on things like wind load designs, and meet certain requirements for foundations, room height, energy codes and of course flood zone requirements," Crelling said.
Crelling said that for instance, any home built in the county must have at least one 70-square-foot room. Also, ceilings must be at least 7 feet high.
According to current county records, there have been no permit requests for tiny homes since the Oct. 10 hurricane, which damaged or destroyed hundreds of houses in the area.
Crelling said the only questions he's really gotten from residents on the issue are if they can buy storage units and convert them into tiny homes. Again, such a structure must still meet all state codes and the building would need proper permitting, Crelling said.
Bo Creel, president of EPCI Code Administration Services, which provides building department services for Panama City, said that like the county, residents must meet standard state code requirements to build a tiny home in the city.
"According to the code it's got to at least have a kitchen and the kitchen has to be a minimum of 150 square feet," Creel said.
Creel said he didn't think EPCI had issued any permits for tiny homes in the city since the hurricane.
"A lot of people have talked about them, but nobody has pulled the trigger," Creel said of tiny homes.
Allen Childs, owner of Tiny Houses of Georgia, hopes to end that hesitation.
Childs said he started advertising his company in the county a few weeks ago as an option for residents struggling to recover from the hurricane. Childs said he doesn't normally buy advertising in disaster areas.
"It was just my idea to do it because a friend of mine drove through the area and saw all the devastation," Childs said. "I wanted to help get in affordable housing down there."
Childs said his homes, which are pre-made and then delivered, are typically 400 square feet and cost between $50,000 and $60,000 each.
"This is very affordable housing and doesn't look like a mobile home," Childs said. "If you ordered now, I could deliver it in a week and then we'd just need to hook up utilities ... and we work with people on money and financing."
The area's interest in Childs' tiny homes appears to be significant.
Childs said that he received between 300 and 400 calls about his services within a week after advertising in the area.
"I heard such heartbreaking stories," Childs said.
Childs said he installed his first home the county in Lynn Haven about 30 days ago.
"And I'm working on other orders," he said of the area. "I've got a guy wanting to buy five homes to rent out to low-income families."
