Todd and Morgan McKellips live and breathe tiny homes. They help others experience, build, and live tiny legally across the state of Washington. Their personal struggles with affordable housing led them on a journey to become builders. Through that experience, Todd became deeply involved in tiny house advocacy efforts across Washington state.
As newlyweds, Todd and Morgan struggled to make ends meet. He was renting a little office building at the time for his small business. The idea was born to convert the tiny loft space into an apartment. Later, they got into property management as a way to help house themselves. Sometimes, managers/caretakers of a vacation resort are offered housing as part of a work/trade arrangement.
In 2010, I was actually challenged by a mentor of mine. He said, ‘You need to do something that’s going to go and change the world; look at what the world’s biggest problem is that’s impacted your own life as well.’
-Todd McKellips of Seattle Tiny Homes, Tiny Home Hotel & Washington Tiny House Association
Ultimately, Todd began building tiny houses with a friend and later took over the Seattle Tiny Homes building company. Legal restrictions around building codes and placement became a major roadblock. Not only did these issues negatively impact protective customers, but they also made it more difficult for Todd to secure the necessary funds to support his small business. And so began his advocacy work.
Washington Tiny House State Laws
Todd made connections with local officials and Washington State Congress members. They appreciated the affordable housing opportunities that tiny homes presented but didn’t realize all the challenges. Todd often led with a joke to break the ice,” my product is more illegal than marijuana in the state, and I think that’s just absolutely wrong.” Fortunately, a couple key allies agreed and helped to push state bills to address the legal barriers to tiny house placement and full-time living.
Four statewide tiny home laws have now been approved. The first passed in 2018, which recognized movable tiny houses as a legal housing type. Additionally, it laid out regulations for them to be allowed as ADUs, on rural residential lots as single-family homes, in newly developed tiny home communities, and in manufactured home parks. However, it didn’t mandate that each municipality had to comply.
That’s where the Washington Tiny House Association stepped in—run by Todd. The group has done numerous local presentations to educate jurisdictions about tiny homes, the new law, and the provision in it that says this housing type can’t be discriminated against. Todd and other active advocates have helped to get numerous local ordinances passed. Most recently, the city of Port Townsend approved tiny houses on wheels as ADUs and in cottage communities. Join the Washington Tiny Homes and Houses Facebook group to stay updated on the latest legal news and for help finding a place to put a tiny home.
Tiny Home Hotel
Later, Todd and Morgan had the opportunity to buy the Roots Collective Farm. There, they run the Tiny Home Hotel, build houses, and support nonprofits like a local food bank. Choose from nine very different tiny houses on wheels rentals. It’s a great way to try out the lifestyle before you buy. Next, book an appointment with Todd to discuss having one built.
“The biggest thing to me is just bringing the family along and having the kids here at the farm and teach them skills to learn how to build their own tiny home.”
-Todd McKellips of Seattle Tiny Homes, Tiny Home Hotel & Washington Tiny House Association