8 Most Yurt Friendly States
Yurts are rising in popularity for use on campgrounds, corporate retreats, and even as affordable tiny homes. They’re an awesome alternative to cabins and other types of temporary structures due to the fact they’re typically built on a platform and can have plumbing and electrical added to them. At Yurts of America, we make yurts to meet your needs for shelter and want to help you find a place to put up your yurt. Here’s a look at the best places in the United States to have a yurt:
Alaska
Yurts are popular in Alaska, and it is one of the states that doesn’t require a permit for a yurt in most regions. You’re allowed to build a proper load-bearing platform as you please and put up your yurt for as long as you like. If you intend to install electrical and plumbing, you need to get the proper permits. Otherwise, there are no state regulations that require permits.
California
California is arguably one of the best places in the U.S. to have a yurt with geography that ranges from desert to mountainous and wide-open vistas in between. It’s also a yurt-friendly state, but the regulations on building a yurt in California can vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You may find yourself needing a permit to build the platform to meet codes for a deck, or you may have none at all.
Colorado
When looking at what states are yurt-friendly, Colorado seems like one of the more yurt-friendly states as there are many campgrounds and retreats with yurts. The key to building a yurt in Colorado comes down to how you intend to use the yurt. Yurts used for temporary lodging are allowed throughout the state, but if you intend to live in one year-round, you’ll have to go straight to the town’s planning board to discuss your plans and get permission.
Maryland
Maryland is another state that allows the construction of yurts for temporary lodgings but doesn’t have specific laws for the construction of yurts. That’s not to say this isn’t one of the best places in the United States to have a yurt, but you need to plan accordingly for building a yurt in Maryland. It’s easier to build a yurt for short-term stays, use them as a yoga or meditation retreat, or glamping than it is to build them as a tiny home. Many local governments in Maryland require you to present plans and specifications before building a yurt as a residence.
New York
New York state is another one of the states that don’t need a permit for a yurt, but you do need to make sure that the platform is built to local codes for decking structures. Yurts are classified as a temporary structure which means there is no permit needed to put one up. However, local codes can affect the surrounding structures and installation of plumbing and electricity as the addition of these conveniences makes the structure less temporary.
North Carolina
North Carolina is one of the best states for yurts in America due to its positive attitude towards yurts. The yurt doesn’t typically meet building codes in the counties across the state because they’re not constructed to the same specs as a home. But many counties have allowed people to put up yurts as residences as long as the platform is permitted as a deck and constructed to code. Decks bear the load of what’s on top, but the yurt as a surrounding structure doesn’t rely on the deck for support. Local authorities tend to look the other way on yurts as long as all other permits are obtained and properly observed.
Oregon
Oregon is another one of the yurt-friendly states, but many municipalities don’t have a lot of experience dealing with the construction of yurts. One of the land options for yurts comes in the form of agriculturally zoned land. Farmers are sometimes amenable to renting or leasing unused ground, and the most work that needs to be done for a yurt is installing the platform to hold the weight.
Texas
When looking at which states do not need a permit for a yurt, you’ll find Texas to be very accommodating. Texas does not allow its counties to enforce zoning regulations which means counties have little to no zoning authority. However, you do need to research to find out if there are regulations that will affect your ability to use your land including access, wildlife protections, setbacks, and more. If you’re intending to live in a yurt as a tiny home, you’ll most likely need permits to install the infrastructure.
No state in the U.S. has outright banned the construction of yurts, but finding which states do and do not need a permit for a yurt requires research. Permitting yurt construction comes down to the discretion of local governments, and rural areas may not require permits at all to build a yurt. Always check local laws before beginning the construction of a yurt.
Contact Yurts of America to Purchase a Yurt
Yurts of America is a stop shop for all yurt lovers. We create yurts customized to all of your wants and needs. Not only does this provide a great vacation for you and your family, but it can easily be rented out to get your return on investment back faster. Call us or fill out the contact form below to get a free quote today!