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Tree houses, treehouses, or tree forts, are buildings constructed among the branches or next to the trunk of one or more mature trees, and are raised above the ground. Tree houses can be built for recreation or permanent habitation. Generally, the term "tree fort" is used only for recreational structures and not permanent homes.

Contents 1 Shelter 2 Materials 3 Popularity 4 Tree house building companies 5 Building regulations 5.1 Exemption 5.2 Partial regulation 5.3 Full regulation 6 Protest communities 7 References 8 See also 9 External links

Tree houses are one solution for building eco-friendly facilities in remote forest areas. The wildlife, climate and illumination on ground level in areas of dense close-canopy forest is not well suited for human habitation. In some parts of the tropics, ordinary houses are built in trees or elevated on stilts to keep the living quarters above hazards at ground level to keep the occupants and any stored food out of reach of scavenging animals.

Tree houses can be built with a wide range of materials. Traditionally wood is used for the majority of the structure due to its strength and low cost. Builders of tree houses often use recycled materials or parts, such as reclaimed window frames and doors. Experimentation with new technologies and innovative fabrics has led to the development of viable temporary living structures that are more like "tree tents" than tree houses.^{[citation needed]} These have recently been used by scientists documenting the flora and fauna of the little-researched upper canopies of tropical forests.^{[citation needed]}

Since the mid-1990s, recreational tree houses have enjoyed a rise in popularity in countries such as the USA and parts of Europe.^{[citation needed]} This has been due to increased disposable income, better technology for builders, research into safe building practises and an increased interest in environmental issues, particularly sustainable living. This has in turn provided a demand for businesses which cover all the building and design work for their clients.

As of 2007, there are over 20 businesses^[1] in Europe and North America that specialize in building tree houses of various degrees of permanence and sophistication, from children's play structures to fully functioning homes.

Many areas of the world have no specific planning laws for treehouses, so the legal issues can be confusing to both the builder and the local planning departments. Treehouses can be exempt, partially regulated or fully regulated.

In some cases tree houses are given exemption from normal building regulations, as they are not considered to be a building in the normal sense of the word. An exemption may be given to a builder if the treehouse is in a remote or non-urban location.

A tree house may be included in the same category as structures such as garden sheds, sometimes called a 'temporary structure'. There may be restrictions on height, distance from boundary and privacy for nearby properties. There are various grey areas in these laws, as they were not specifically designed for tree-borne structures.

A very small number of planning departments have specific regulations for tree houses, which set out clearly what may be built and where.

Tree houses have been built by various environmental protest communities around the world. They are used as a method of defence, as it is difficult and costly to safely evict the protesters and begin work. Typical activities in which tree houses may be used as part of a protest are proposed road building or old growth forestry operations.

1. ^ Commercial treehouse builder list. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.

• Fab Tree Hab: House made of living trees at MIT
• Out'n'About: A treehouse Bed and Breakfast in Cave Junction, Oregon

The Treehouse Guide - Resource compiling links to building guides, notable treehouses, and treehouse building businesses