Tiny home living is all the rage these days.

But it’s best to have a plan, know where you want to build or park, and consult with your town planning department. Tiny homes comes in various sizes and can be built onsite locally, manufactured in a warehouse, built on wheels, and delivered to the site.
Always consult first with your town Building Department; they are the gatekeepers to affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing.

Types of “Tiny Homes”
  • Tiny Home on Wheels, THOW, Norway

    Tiny Home on Wheels

    Definition: Custom-built small dwellings on trailers, often under 400 sq ft.
    Purpose: Full or part-time living, often off-grid or as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
    Construction: Built with residential materials (framing, insulation, roofing), often to meet local codes or IRC Appendix Q.
    Mobility: Road-legal, but heavier and less aerodynamic than RVs.
    Aesthetic: Designed to look and feel like a traditional home, with lofts, wood finishes, and real home appliances.
    Regulations: Zoning can be restrictive; may be classified as an RV or ADU depending on town and state law.

    Tiny Home Industry Association
  • Recreational vehicle

    Traditional RVs or 5th Wheels

    Definition: Factory-built motorhomes, travel trailers, or campers used mainly for travel or temporary stays.
    Purpose: Recreational use—camping, road trips, seasonal living.
    Construction: Lightweight, manufactured with materials like fiberglass, plastic, and aluminum.
    Mobility: Highly mobile, designed for frequent towing and travel.
    Aesthetic: Utilitarian, built for functionality and efficiency over home-like comfort.
    Regulations: Certified by RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association); can be parked seasonally in campgrounds and RV parks.

    Read More on RVIA

  • Modular Homes

    Definition: Homes built in factory sections (modules) and assembled on a permanent foundation.
    Purpose: Permanent residences.
    Construction: Built to local/state residential building codes (IRC or state-specific); high-quality materials and customization options.
    Mobility: Not mobile after installation.
    Aesthetic: Indistinguishable from traditional site-built homes once completed.
    Regulations: Treated like site-built homes in terms of financing, appraisals, and zoning.

    Read More on Modular Homes

  • Manufactured Homes (formerly Mobile Homes)

    Definition: Homes built entirely in a factory on a permanent chassis, then transported to a site.
    Purpose: Permanent or semi-permanent living.
    Construction: Built to HUD Code, not local building codes.
    Mobility: Technically mobile, but typically placed permanently on-site.
    Aesthetic: Can resemble traditional homes, but often more standardized.
    Regulations: Classified as personal or real property depending on placement and title conversion.

    Manufactured Housing Institute
  • ADU or Primary dwelling units

    Accessory or Primary Dwelling Units

    Definition: Custom-built small homes on a foundation, often under 900 sq ft.
    Purpose: Full or part-time living, can be used as long or short term rental type housing
    Construction: Built with residential materials (framing, insulation, roofing), often to meet local codes or IRC Appendix Q.
    Mobility: Not moveable, built on a foundation
    Aesthetic: Designed to look and match the primary dwelling styles
    Regulations: Zoning can be restrictive and regulations vary by town and state

    AARPs Take on ADUS
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