QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Alaska: YES*
Tiny House Costs In Alaska: $30,000 – $150,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Big Lake, Sitka
Tiny Timber Homes Big Lake, Alaska
PRICE RANGE
$50,000-$90,000
These humble beginnings led Jason to start his own construction company, then eventually move on to tiny homes. Tiny Timber Homes are built in Big Lake, Alaska. They are insulated and tough enough to handle Alaskan summers and winters. There are several standard floor plans and designs available but you can also customize the floor plan, appliances, insulation, and wood. The company also offers design and planning assistance.
Farrell Homebuilding Anchorage, Alaska
PRICE RANGE
$200,000+
Based in Anchorage, Alaska, Farrell Homebuilding is a design and build company founded by designer and carpenter Patrick Farrell. The company specializes in creative, thoughtful design of many different types of housing, including tiny houses, park strips, off-grid homes, multi-family homes, and country houses. They work closely with clients in all stages of the construction process, from concept through completion.
Tundra Tiny Houses Big Lake, Alaska
PRICE RANGE
Contact Seller
Based in Big Lake, Tundra Tiny Houses was the first Tiny House Company in Alaska. With four prefabricated models of various sizes, many floor plans, and the ability to build a custom tiny house, Tundra Tiny Houses has many options to accommodate your tiny living dreams.
White Spruce Trailer Sales Anchorage, Alaska
PRICE RANGE
$2,000-$5,000
White Spruce Trailer Sales is a locally owned company with three partners who have lived in Alaska for 92 collective years. What began as a mom-and-pop owned and run business has now become the leading trailer dealership in Alaska since 1999.
White Spruce has car and equipment, utility, tilts, snow, deck over, and several other types of trailers available for purchase. The company also sells individual trailer parts, rents hauling products, and performs repair services.
Big Bubba’s Trailer And Auto Sales Wasilla, Alaska
PRICE RANGE
$3,000-$17,000
With eight brands and 12 styles of hauling products, Big Bubba’s has a lot of variety to offer. It provides deck over, utility, tilt, snowmachine, gooseneck, and ATVs for all of your trailer needs, along with appraisals and repair services. I’d recommend their gooseneck design for tiny house living in Alaska.
Alaska Trailer Sales & Rentals Anchorage, Alaska
PRICE RANGE
$3,000-$26,000
Alaska Trailer Sales & Rentals was founded in 2014 and offers a full range of enclosed, flatbed, and equipment trailers as well as trucks fit for any hauling needs. The fleet ranges from a small tow dolly to 20’+ enclosed and flatbed sizes. The company offers daily, weekly, and special weekend rates as well as long-term rental leases.
Tiny Houses For Sale In Alaska
Living in Alaska long term is an entirely different experience than living in any other state. Locals and travelers alike say that Alaska has a certain magic about it that reminds you of your small existence in our vast world.
More than half of the population lives in Anchorage, the state’s largest urban city. However, Alaska’s whimsy comes mostly from its desolate spaces. Being twice the size of Texas yet having one of the lowest populations in the U.S. means it is primarily made up of uninhabited land.
The standalone state is filled to the brim with beautiful, untouched natural wonders. From Denali National Park to the Kenai Fjords to the Iditarod National Historic Trail, there is an extensive winter wonderland to explore. Many say that a drive down the more than 400-mile-long Dalton Highway and through the Arctic Circle can provide you with a lifechanging view of the Northern Lights.
Living in Alaska is not for the faint of heart. The brisk temperatures, rugged lifestyle, and remote location can make life in the state a challenge. But for those free spirits with the courage to learn a new way of living, it’s a wonderous place.
Tiny house culture is just beginning to find footing in the state, and good thing, too! The tiny house lifestyle truly embodies the unbridled adventure that life in Alaska is all about.
I’ve linked some tiny homes for sale in Alaska, but the pool is a little scarce for the time being. I’ve also linked some of the tiny house listings along the western border of Canada that aren’t too far from the southernmost Alaskan cities.
For those who want to see the natural beauty Alaska has to offer without making it a permanent home, consider taking a trip to a tiny home up north. Families, couples, and friends love Alaskan vacations because of the jaw-dropping natural beauty and eight national parks to explore.
Check out these cozy tiny houses on Airbnb to book your next family trip in Alaska.
The gorgeous natural landscapes and outdoor living gurus that populate Alaska make it idyllic for adopting a slower, simpler, off-grid life. Alaskans are known for their relaxed, peaceful, back-to-the-land attitude. This agrarian, simplistic philosophy has thus brought tiny house villages and intentional living communities to fruition throughout the state.
Living in a tiny house community is beneficial for a myriad of reasons. It produces a heightened sense of companionship with others, gives you access to shared resources, and reduces your bills.
Check out some of the tiny house communities scattered throughout The Last Frontier:
Tongass Tiny Home Village
Located in the middle of the Alaskan rainforest, Tongass Tiny Home Village is an up-and-coming tiny house community, developed by Bit of Alaska founder Amanda Pierce. The goal for this community is to create a harmonious space where all community members can thrive together, be life partners, own their own land, and have a say in community happenings.
The tiny village will be located in the middle of the temperate rainforest of Tongass National Forest, with lush state parks, the Ketchikan Rainforest Sanctuary, and peaceful beaches within walking distance. Additionally, the community is not far from the Misty Fjords National Monument that is characterized by deep sea cliffs, steep fjords, and rock walls jutting 3,000 feet straight out of the shimmering blue ocean.
The Tongass community is currently in search of its 20 founding members. There are three levels of ownership which range from $25,000 to $100,000 packages. Some packages include full ownership of your land, tiny house, part of the Tiny Home Hotel that is underway, and capital from investing in the community startup. Other packages are simpler and include the land and tiny house only.
The following types of tiny houses will be available for families, couples, or single adults to own at Tongass:
- Movable Tiny Homes
- Park Models
- Modular Homes
- Site Built Homes
- Duplexes
Use the Bit of Alaska website to contact Amanda if you are interested in being one of the first members of the Tongass Tiny Home Village.
Tamarack Knoll Intentional Living Community
Tamarack Knoll is an intentional living community located 8 miles west of Fairbanks, Alaska. This community has been around for over a decade and is not currently accepting more members. However, who knows if they’ll be open to more newcomers in the future!
Members of Tamarack Knoll live in tiny houses and small cabins, each of which are privately owned. The land, commons building, and community improvements are funded by a nonprofit corporation. Residents share evening meals and have a water source in the commons building with a shower, tub, washing machine, and communal kitchen.
The community is very rural, though not entirely remote. Several members are involved in research through the University of Alaska, Fairbanks while others work in public service. You can learn more about Tamarack Knoll by reading the Alaska Company Directory.
The Dragonfly Eco-Community
The Dragonfly Eco-Community is an eco-conscious prepper community of like-minded individuals. They have come together to prepare for future times or cataclysmic events that could challenge our modern way of life.
Members live in miniature domicile suites and share resources with one another. The community has its own slew of amenities from gardens to sports facilities to worship spaces and much more.
- Aquaponics garden
- Greenhouse
- Library
- Medical/dental center
- Workshop
- Food storage
- Storm cellar
- Swimming pool
- Media room
- Communal cafe
- Stage
- Chapel
- Family Park
- Weight Gym
- Roller rink
- Ice rink
- Rock climbing wall
- Game room
- Children’s playground
- Sports courts
- Youth center
- Childcare
Residents of the Dragonfly Eco-Community share knowledge, skills, resources, and labor with one another to ensure the protection of their fellow community members. Most members perform trade work within the community, like maintenance, farm work, teaching, medical care, permaculture, mechanical engineering, dentistry, security, and other trades.
The Dragonfly Eco-Community is currently accepting new members who want a group to ensure their future safety. You can reach out to them through the website.
If you want to connect with people who share a passion for tiny living in Alaska, consider joining a social group centered on the tiny house lifestyle. These groups are awesome for people who want to connect with other tiny housers. I’ve also linked groups about other aspects of simple living like prepping and off gridding.
I encourage you to look for your own social groups and comment your findings at the bottom of our page. Or better yet, start your own group and tell us about it!
Tiny Home Alaska Facebook Page
The Tiny Home Alaska Facebook page is a community where tiny house lovers in Alaska can share ideas, post tiny houses for sale, give tips for design and building information, present group fundraisers, share tiny house news in Alaska, and converse with like-minded individuals about what it means to live tiny. Anyone is welcome to join the page.
Off Grid In Alaska Facebook Page
Alaskan are fans of living off the land and being good stewards of the earth. This Facebook page is a group for Alaskans to share their ideas, successes, and struggles with off-grid living. The hope is that members will learn from each other, and maybe those outside Alaska who are considering moving to the state can see how Alaskan off griders live and survive. Topics that are frequently discussed include off-grid power sources, prepping and food storage, fishing and hunting, landscaping, composting, water sources, homeschooling, managing livestock, and much more. There are currently over 6,000 members on the page and anyone can join at any time.
Alaska Preppers Network Facebook Page
The tiny house world and the prepper community sometimes overlap. The Alaska Preppers Network is an extension of the American Preppers Network, which is a nonprofit that supports the international prepper movement. You can join the Alaskan Preppers Network on Facebook to connect with those in Alaska who have adopted the prepper mindset and make changes to their consumption, environment, and lifestyle to be ready for an unforeseen future.
Like many other states, Alaska has joined the tiny house movement by adopting Appendix Q in the 2018 version of the International Residential Code.
However, Appendix Q is formatted specifically for tiny houses on foundation, so tiny homes on wheels or other mobile homes and trailers follow separate guidelines. Let’s dive into what’s legal in Alaska.
Like many other states, Alaska has joined the tiny house movement by adopting Appendix Q in the 2018 version of the International Residential Code.
However, Appendix Q is formatted specifically for tiny houses on foundation, so tiny homes on wheels or other mobile homes and trailers follow separate guidelines. Let’s dive into what’s legal in Alaska.
Are Tiny Houses On Foundation Legal In Alaska?
Yes! In 2018, the International Residential Code (IRC) added Appendix Q to specifically to define a tiny house on foundation and loosen up most of the building code regulations that were preventing their construction.
It’s important to note that Alaska generally is a pretty hands-off state when it comes to homes in the Alaskan frontier. Hunting cabins, off-grid homesteads, and other dwellings dot the landscape largely without building code oversight. There is a distinction between what the law is and how it’s practically enforced, but just know that while codes should be followed, Alaska is a place were people have a bit more freedom than most.
Appendix Q legalizes lofts, lowers the minimum ceiling height for traditional dwellings, creates egress requirements specifically for lofts, and allows the building of stairs and ladders in small spaces. It applies to tiny houses used as single-dwelling units.
- Here are some of the regulations worth noting that apply to tiny houses on foundation in Alaska:
- Habitable space and hallways in tiny houses shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet, 8 inches.
- Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and kitchens shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 4 inches.
- Obstructions such as beams, girders, ducts, and lighting shall not extend below the minimum ceiling heights.
- Lofts may have ceiling heights less than 6 feet, 8 inches.
- Lofts shall have a floor area of not less than 35 sq. ft. and shall not be less than 5 ft. in any horizontal dimension.
- The loft guards shall be located along the open side of the lofts.
- Loft guards shall not be less than 36 inches in height or one-half of the clear height to the ceiling, whichever is less.
- Tiny houses shall meet the requirements of Section R310 in the One-and-Two-Family Dwelling Building Code for Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (Read the PDF here).
- In sleeping lofts, egress roof access windows shall be deemed to meet the requirements of Section R310.
- Windows shall be installed such that the bottom of the opening is not more than 44 inches above the loft floor, provided the egress roof access window complies with the minimum opening area requirements of Section R310.2.1.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that tiny homes on a chassis are limited to a maximum of 400 square feet including all additions and appurtenances, but not including lofts.
Are Tiny Houses On Wheels Legal In Alaska?
Yes they are! In most cities and counties in Alaska, tiny houses on wheels don’t get their own classification. Tiny homes on wheels are typically classified as recreational vehicles by the state.
Laws for recreational vehicles are run by the State of Alaska Department of Transportation. The following rules along with many others can be found in Chapter 25 of the Measurement Standards for Commercial Vehicles (Read the PDF here):
The width of a vehicle, including load, may not exceed 102 inches.
Equipment may extend no more than three inches beyond the 102-inch width limitation.
A vehicle, including load, may not exceed a height of 15 feet, except that a vehicle operating between the Fox Weigh Station and Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton and Elliott Highways may have a height, including load, of 17 feet.
The overall length of a combination of vehicles, consisting of a truck and one cargo-carrying vehicle or a truck tractor and two cargo-carrying vehicles, may not exceed 75 feet.
Look into the list of RV parks in Alaska to see where you can legally park your tiny house on wheels while your tour the beautiful, natural landscapes in the state.
Tiny House Building Codes In Key Cities Of Alaska
Some Alaskan cities have their own rules about tiny homes that are separate from the state. Let’s look at the legality of tiny houses in key cities in Alaska:
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is the most populated city in the state of Alaska, and the desire for tiny homes is growing in the city. At this time, tiny houses aren’t officially allowed in the city of Anchorage, but they are not prohibited either. They have yet to be addressed by the city.
However, the use of a conditional permit makes tiny living possible in Anchorage. Areas around the cities are slightly more flexible, but no specific tiny house building codes exist yet.
The following rules regarding tiny houses are observed in Anchorage based on their laws for traditional dwellings and recreational vehicles:
- Tiny houses on wheels are treated as RVs and restricted to R-5 zones.
- Tiny houses on foundations or manufactured homes face fewer location restrictions.
- Tiny houses on foundation require a conditional use permit.
- Tiny homes on municipal property must be connected to water and sewage.
Sitka, Alaska
Sitka is famous for being especially friendly to tiny homeowners in Alaska. The City has done something revolutionary by writing its own an ordinance that amends Appendix Q in the International Residential Code and applies it to movable tiny homes.
This is amazing news for those who own tiny houses on wheels in Alaska that would be required to fit recreational vehicle standards in other cities. The tiny homes on foundation and on wheels can be built to the IRC Appendix Q standards in Sitka!
Tiny House Building Codes In Alaska:
Tiny House Laws In Alaska:
*Disclaimer: The information provided on this website should not be taken as an expert opinion, consultation, or advisement of any kind. Building codes, home building, zoning, local laws etc are complicated and ultimately your responsibility to execute legally and safely. You must do your own research, consult with and verify with all applicable authorities, local officials, regulatory bodies, code and zoning officials, and city/state/federal governments. See our full legal page for further information here: https://thetinylife.com/about-us/legal/
Where is the information about each tiny home community discussed on this site?