5 Tiny House-Friendly Cities in America

Ready to build your dream tiny house? You’ll need to find a place to park it first. Unfortunately, many U.S. cities, counties and states have strict zoning regulations and building codes in residential areas. In fact, it’s rare to find a residential neighborhood that is zoned for the construction of a house less than 1,000 square feet. This can make it hard to locate a tiny house-friendly city that also happens to be a great place to live.

For the most part, tiny house owners have two options when it comes to parking their 400 square foot (or less) abodes. For one, they can choose to park their tiny house on a friend or family member’s lot. Zoning regulations may require that these accessory dwelling units (ADU) be secondary to a primary home – and that they be parked behind the house (away from the street). Another option for those who wish to be tiny house owners is to buy a lot in an official tiny house community. These lots usually cost somewhere around $60,000 and are located in various cities around the country. For a quick look at the best places to buy or build a tiny house, check out these 5 tiny house-friendly cities below.

Brevard, NC

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard offers residents a drop dead gorgeous setting for parking their tiny houses. Downtown Brevard is a hot spot for families and retirees due to its annual festivals and events, as well as its scenic surroundings. The city is a short distance from a number of beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails and other outdoor recreational opportunities.

According to the Tiny House Initiative for Brevard, the North Carolina city classifies a tiny house as a secondary dwelling that is smaller than 800 square feet. This means the tiny house must be parked on the same property as the owner’s primary residence. The document also states that Brevard’s City Zoning and North Carolina Building Codes require that all tiny homes be built on a solid foundation, as opposed to being built on wheels. For more information on building a tiny house in Brevard, check here.

Green Bridge Farm in Guyton, GA

Guyton, Georgia is home to one of the most popular and ecologically-friendly tiny house communities in the country. This community, known as Green Bridge Farm, offers residents 25 wooded acres in Effingham County, Georgia – all centered around an organic farm. According to Mother Earth News, the community’s farm features “organic fruit trees and a large market garden.”

According to Green Bridge Farm’s website, lots in the community sell for $50,000 each. The setting is a popular choice for tiny house owners looking for a simpler way of life. According to the latest blog post from Green Bridge Farm, the community recently won the official approval for tiny houses to be used as permanent residences on the farm. Like many tiny house communities, any tiny home built on Green Bridge Farm must be secured to the ground on solid foundation.

Spur, TX

Declaring itself “the nation’s first tiny house-friendly town,” Spur has quickly become a popular choice among those looking to go tiny. Located outside Lubbock, the town of Spur is small (roughly 1,000 people) and is a tight-knit community. The city offers plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities, with walking trails, sports venues, golf courses, and parks for residents.

In order to attract more residents, Spur became the first town in America to allow people to build tiny homes on solid foundation (not wheels) with very little restrictions or guidelines. According to SpurFreedom, over 70 lots were sold to people planning to bring or build a tiny house to the Texas town. However, in 2016, Spur’s town council passed an ordinance that required tiny house designs to be submitted for approval before being built, as reported by inhabitat.com.

Fresno, CA

In addition to being exceptionally tiny house-friendly, Fresno is one of the most populous cities in California. Located in California’s Central Valley, the City of Fresno offers a strong economy, vibrant arts scene and affordable neighborhoods. It is also surrounded by a number of farms – all producing many of our country’s organic staples.

In 2016, Fresno, California became the first city in the country to approve tiny houses on wheels as backyard cottages in residential neighborhoods. While some California towns already allowed tiny houses on wheels in residential areas, zoning regulations required that these homes be used as “caregiver cottages.” Therefore, Fresno was the first city to allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as secondary dwelling units without requiring them to also be “caregiver cottages.” For more information on tiny houses in Fresno, check here.

River View at Cleora in Salida, CO

Those looking for a tiny house community should consider moving to Salida, Colorado. Just last year, the mountain town approved a plan to build 200 tiny houses in a community known as “River View at Cleora.” This planned development is set to become the country’s largest tiny home community. In addition to these groundbreaking developments, Salida happens to be a fantastic place to live as well. The city offers some of the best outdoor activities in the nation, top eats and a vibrant arts scene.

According to Sprout Tiny Home, the planned development also offers a community building with a kitchen, exercise facility, restaurant and 96 storage units. Plans for walking trails and parks are also in the works. For more information on purchasing a tiny home in this community, check here.

Ready to move to a tiny house?

For more details on state regulations and tiny homes, check out the American Tiny House Association’s informative website.

Before downsizing to a tiny house, make sure you rent a storage unit first. To locate self-storage facilities in your area, use Moving.com’s ‘Find Storage Now‘ tool. All you have to do is type in the zip code or your city and state, and click the ‘find storage’ button. Moving.com will pull quotes from the closest self storage unit facilities near your new tiny house, so that you can compare costs and offerings. Best of luck and happy moving!

Where to Buy a Tiny House on Wheels

Ready to go tiny? You’re not alone. Thousands of Americans are choosing to embrace a less materialistic lifestyle by purchasing a tiny house on wheels. While small, these tiny houses pack plenty of punch for 400 square feet of space. They also provide an affordable path to homeownership and the convenience of mobility. If you’re interested in purchasing a pre-owned tiny house or a new build, check out these six online marketplaces for finding your dream tiny house on wheels.

Amazon

Believe it or not, you can purchase a prefabricated tiny house on Amazon. These tiny house kits typically come with all materials (with the exception of the roof and foundation) including floor and ceiling boards, wall, doors, windows, hardware and assembly instructions. If you do decide to order yourself a prefab tiny house, just be sure to do your homework and read all reviews first. You’ll also want to enlist help either from professionals or friends with tiny house experience to assist with assembling the tiny house. For more information, check here.

Realtor.com

Of course, you can always check Realtor.com’s online listings for pre-owned tiny houses in your area. The real estate listings website is one of the best ways to find properties for sale and rent. Realtor.com also makes it easy to connect with the best Realtors and listing agents in your area. For more information on Realtor.com, check here.

Sprout Tiny Homes

Looking to move to Colorado? You could join one of the Sprout Tiny Homes communities in Salida, CO or Walsenburg, CO. These planned communities come outfitted with Sprout Tiny Homes, a leading designer and manufacturer of tiny houses. According to Sprout Tiny Homes, all tiny houses are “built with structural insulated panels (SIP’s) resulting in stronger, greener and straighter homes that are highly energy efficient and feature chemical free interiors to encourage healthy living lifestyles.” If you’re interested in learning more about Sprout Tiny Homes, you can read more about Sprout Communities here.

Tiny House Listings

For the most recent and up-to-date listings, check TinyHouseListings.com. The online marketplace allows sellers to list their own tiny homes for sale with photos and basic information about the home. Potential buyers can search for tiny houses for sale and rent by location. The website also allows potential buyers to contact the person listing the tiny house directly. For more information about Tiny House Listings, check here.

Tiny House Marketplace

Tiny Home Builders’ Tiny House Marketplace is one of the most well-known online marketplaces for buying and selling pre-owned or new tiny houses. The marketplace includes thousands of listings all over the country. Tiny house listings include photos, location, home features and basic information. Depending on the square footage and finishes, these tiny house listings tend to run between $25,000 and $100,000. For more information on Tiny House Marketplace, check here.

Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

Whether you’re looking to purchase an existing tiny house on wheels or design your own, consider looking at Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. The tiny house builder is the largest manufacturer of Tiny House RVs in the U.S. and offers finished Tumbleweed tiny houses in multiple models and floor plans. Currently, Tumbleweed offers four models: Elm, Cypress, Farallon and Roanoke. Most tiny houses offered by Tumbleweed are more than 200 square feet and capable of sleeping up to four people. For more information on Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, check here.

Want to build your own tiny house instead?

Purchasing a pre-owned tiny house on wheels can come with its disadvantages. For one, you won’t get to design or customize the tiny house to meet your needs and aesthetic. You’ll also have to take whatever is available, and if inventory is low, that could mean making serious compromises. Finally, you may have to transport your tiny house from its old location to your current city, which could cost thousands of dollars.

Fortunately, you have the option to build your own brand new tiny house instead of purchasing a pre-owned one. Here are a few ways to accomplish this:

• Hire professionals to build it for you – If you’re looking for a low maintenance, low stress way to go about building your tiny house, I recommend hiring professionals for the job. While a custom-built tiny house certainly comes with a high price tag, tiny home owners will tell you that it’s well-worth the cost. If you decide to go this route, you’ll need to contact a local contractor who specializes in constructing tiny houses. You can find a tiny house builder in your area, by checking Tiny House Listings. An experienced tiny house contractor should also be able to help you obtain the correct permits, follow city zoning regulations and share their knowledge of the tiny house market.
• Build it yourself – The best way to save money when purchasing a tiny house is by building it yourself. If you’re prepared to roll up those sleeves and get to work, you’ll need to find friends and family to help out – preferably those with construction or handyman experience. If you can’t find friends to help, you’ll need to hire professionals to help with labor. You’ll also have to source all tiny house materials yourself. However, if you’re able and willing to do this, you are sure to save some serious money. You’ll also be involved at every level of the design and construction process. Lacking the experience? You can opt to purchase a tiny house kit online, complete with blueprints, materials and instructions for building a tiny house on wheels.

Ready to move to a tiny house?

Before downsizing to a tiny house, you may need to rent a storage unit first. To locate self-storage facilities in your area, use Moving.com’s ‘Find Storage Now‘ tool. All you have to do is type in the zip code or your city and state, and click the ‘find storage’ button. Moving.com will pull quotes from the closest self storage unit facilities near your new tiny house, so that you can compare costs and offerings.

Ready to move? To find the best moving company to handle the job, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Best of luck and happy moving!

Stay Organized During your Move

When you’re getting ready to move, having a plan of action will help you keep your sanity. There are a ton of things that you’ll need to keep in mind from new addresses to items you need to move. We’ve been involved in the moving industry for years now, and here’s a few tips we’ve got to stay organized during your move.

Color Code your Boxes
Use colored markers or tape and designate one color for each room. This will allow you to easily keep all your stuff together so you don’t end up with the toaster in the bathroom or your kids stuffed animals in the basement.

Keep an Inventory List Handy

Make sure that you know what all you’re moving, and print out a list of your inventory so you have it handy. This will be extremely useful to keep track of all your boxes, and ensure that everything makes it to the final destination.

Keep Phone Numbers and Addresses Close

Be sure to save all the important numbers of the folks that will be helping you move. Provide them all with the address on paper so that they have a tangible reference during the move. Small map print outs can also come in very handy from Google or Mapquest.

Find out more about all of our moving resources by delving deeper into our website. If you need help with your move, we can put you in contact with several local movers and provide you with quotes from each. Stay organized, and your move will go quickly and easily.