How Much Lot Does An H-Shaped House Need?
Width is the constraint, not depth. Two wings plus a connector make an H wide, and side setbacks get added to both sides.
Lot Width By Plan
| Plan | Footprint | Buildable Width Needed |
|---|---|---|
| HB-40508 | 65' × 60' | About 90 feet of buildable width |
| HB-40511 | 70' × 60' | About 90 feet of buildable width |
| HB-40509 | 72' × 60' | About 100–110 feet of buildable width |
| HB-40503 | 76' × 70' | About 100–110 feet of buildable width |
| HB-40504 | 78' × 80' | About 100–110 feet of buildable width |
| HB-40505 | 88' × 70' | About 110 feet or more of buildable width |
| HB-40506 | 111' × 60' | 130 feet or more of buildable width |
Footprints are read from each plan's drawing. HB-40501, HB-40502, HB-40507 and HB-40510 are not listed because their overall dimensions have not been read yet; check the floor plan on each plan page.
Side setbacks on rural parcels commonly run 10 to 25 feet a side, and some counties require much more. Check yours before you fall for a plan.
Which Way Should It Face?
- Front courtyard toward your approach, rear courtyard toward your view.
- Hot climates: avoid a courtyard that opens due west into afternoon sun unless it is covered.
- Cold climates: a south-facing court is a sun trap you will use in March.
- Wrong side? Any of these plans can be mirrored left to right for a small fee.
Sloped Lots
A sloped lot is hard on an H. Two long wings mean either a lot of fill or two foundation levels. If your land falls away more than a few feet across the footprint, get a site plan done before you commit to a shape.