What is considered a narrow lot?

A narrow lot is generally 40 to 50 ft. wide (12 to 15 meters), and it differs from one neighborhood or region to the next.

How wide is a narrow lot?

As stated above, there’s not 100% agreement on the exact width of a narrow lot, but the acceptable range is between 40-50 feet wide. Check local lot sizes before looking at shotgun house plans to ensure you’re looking at the correct width from the beginning.

How do you build a luxurious home on a narrow lot?

Build vertically, using multiple stories to create ample living space. Leverage an open concept layout, so that walls don’t make an already narrow home feel constricting. Keep ceilings high to give the illusion of additional horizontal space, which makes rooms feel bigger. Opt for skylights and larger windows that let in more natural light to ensure the middle of the house doesn’t get too dark.

Are narrow houses cheaper to build?

It depends. If you’re building a small narrow lot home, then it’s typically cheaper. However, building a standard-size or luxury house will cost the same as any other, since the labor and materials go toward building up instead of out.

What are the key characteristics of narrow lots?

Since narrow lots are generally under 50 ft wide (15 meters), they often stretch back as far as 100 to 150 ft (30-45 meters). This presents unique design constraints that lead to longer homes, often featuring multiple stories to create more living space.

What are the benefits of a narrow lot?

Narrow lots make land more affordable in densely populated cities where wider lots would be more expensive. They’re a good choice for those who don’t want as much landscape to maintain. Narrow-lot-house floor plans often feature creative designs and unique architectural elements such as rooftop patios. In a row of narrow lots, the reduced space between homes reduces the exposure of their exterior walls to weather, wear, and tear.

What are the challenges of narrow lot plans?

Narrow home plans have to combine creativity and unique architecture to offer all of the amenities that families need despite the width constraints of the home. Since structures are longer and often multi-story, rooms in the middle of the house are prone to less natural light, especially on lower floors where skylights aren’t an option. A garage of more than one car will generally take much of the width of the front of the house, and adding a driveway can take away valuable length that could otherwise have been built on. Narrow plans may require thoughtful problem-solving to make moving from one room to the next easy and intuitive, given there is limited space for hallways and rooms are often one behind the other.

What are narrow homes called?

You might hear narrow houses referred to as… Inlet houses when the house is built on a vacant lot in a neighborhood that has long been developed. Skinny houses , which is a more modern term. Shotgun houses, an older name - popularized in New Orleans and the South - that refers to the idea a bullet could pass through the long house from front to back without hitting any rooms.

Narrow lot house plans & floor plans up to 40 ft. wide

Narrow house plans offer the living and storage space of broader builds, but at a width of under 40 ft. Our collection of beautiful designs features purposeful, narrow-lot floor plans, complete with all the modern amenities that families need to thrive. Home ... Read More

Home plans for narrow lots are sometimes known as shotgun houses due to their straight path from the front entry to the back door, thus theoretically allowing a bullet to pass straight through without hitting any rooms. Though slim, narrow home plans maximize living space without sacrificing desirable features. Many of our shotgun house plans include a primary bedroom on the main floor, an open floor plan, and an additional dedicated space, such as a loft or study.

Building up and not out is the most obvious solution when constructing a home on a narrow property lot. These slim, narrow plans maximize space in creative ways with varying height and width. Whether a one, two, or even a three-story house design, these quality homes feature modern amenities without sacrificing space or lifestyle choices. Plans can typically include porches, balconies, and other outdoor spaces, along with a garage, whether rear-loading, courtyard entry, or front-entry. An adequately designed narrow lot house plan functions like any other home, perhaps even more so as a purposeful solution to challenging living spaces and modest property lots.

Although narrower, these beautiful home designs pack a big punch in living space, storage, and room design, with great style and functionality.

There is no compromise or sacrifice regarding modern amenities, interior living space, or everyday conveniences homeowners have come to expect. Our narrow house plans range from 414 to 5,764 square feet of living space, with most falling in the 1,800-2,000 square foot range.

Enjoy browsing our selection of narrow lot house plans, emphasizing high-quality architectural designs drawn in unique and innovative ways.

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