Plans / 20×30 Porch Cabin
Built & hosted · Smoky Mountains
20×30 Porch Cabin
A one-bedroom rental cabin that sleeps four, with a covered porch built for the hot tub and the view.
20 × 30 FT FOUNDATION
1 BEDROOM · 1 BATH · SLEEPS 4
1 STORY ON BLOCK CRAWLSPACE
Specifications
| Heated area | 592 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Foundation | 20 × 30 ft concrete block crawlspace with interior piers |
| Bedrooms | 1, plus a sleeper sofa in the living room |
| Guests | Sleeps 4 |
| Bathrooms | 1 |
| Stories | 1 |
| Roof | Standing-seam metal over ZIP System sheathing |
| Interior | Pine tongue-and-groove walls and ceilings, stacked-stone fireplace wall with inset electric fireplace |
| Heating and cooling | Ductless mini-split |
| Outdoor | Covered porch with hot tub; gravel fire pit reached by a paver path |
Included sheets
- A-101 Floor plan
- A-201 Elevations
- A-301 Building section
- S-101 Foundation and framing
- E-101 Electrical and lighting
- STR-1 Life-safety layout
- STR-2 Evacuation map
- STR-3 Porch, hot tub and fire pit clearances
- STR-4 Furnishing and turnover plan
- G-001 Material list
- G-002 Build-order guide
- Build story photo guide
How it was built
Built by its owner over 16 months, from the first excavator scoop in November 2024 to guest-ready in March 2026. The construction edition includes the full photo record, keyed to the plan sheets.
From the builder
The owner-builder's notes on what worked, what he'd change, and what guests mention most are being added to this page.
Before you buy. This plan describes a cabin built on a fairly level graded pad in East Tennessee. Steep lots may need an engineered foundation. Your county may require local changes or a stamp, and the plan does not confirm that your land can be used as a rental. See Plan Use & Limitations.
Questions
Before you buy
Can I build these plans outside Tennessee?
Yes, but your local building department may require changes, energy documents or a local engineer's or architect's stamp. The CAD add-on lets a local professional adapt the drawings.
Are the plans stamped by an architect or engineer?
No. Tennessee generally allows one- and two-family dwellings designed to the International Residential Code without a registered architect or engineer, but other places differ. Foundations on steep or unusual lots may need site-specific engineering.
What does the license allow?
The construction edition includes one build. Each additional cabin needs an extra build license. See the Plan License.
Does buying a plan mean I can rent the cabin?
No. Zoning, HOA and short-term rental rules are separate. Check them before you buy land or build.
What's the difference between "Built & hosted" and "In design"?
"Built & hosted" plans are drawn from a cabin that has been built and rented to guests. "In design" plans are new designs that have not been built yet.