QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In New Jersey: Yes
Tiny House Costs In New Jersey: $35,000 – $85,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Atlantic City, Stockton, Montville
Big B’s Tiny Homes Atlantic City, New Jersey
Gambrick Construction Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Willowbee Tiny Homes Saugerties, New York
Pro-Line Trailers Franklin County, Virginia
Trailer Made North Brunswick, New Jersey
Tiny Houses For Sale In New Jersey
There are many reasons residents decide to move into a tiny house in the great state of New Jersey. For one, New Jersey has a super low crime rate.
If you already have kids or are thinking about starting a family in a tiny house, consider life in The Garden State. New Jersey is also known for boasting a plethora of things to do.
New Jersey is chock-full of gorgeous national parks and landscapes, exciting nightlife, invigorating museums, and historically rich sights to see. If you’re looking to get a taste of the tiny life in New Jersey but don’t want to move into a tiny house full time, look into these tiny house rentals.
Eco Village New Jersey
New Jersey’s Eco Village is a group that is currently in the process of establishing the first ecovillage in New Jersey. Their goal is to enrich the lives of its community members by prioritizes supportive social structures and a healthy relationship with nature.
Their meetup group exists so those interested in being part of this long-term project can join them in planning and discussing the future of Eco Village New Jersey. They welcome anyone to join meetings, whether you’re interested in future residence or simply helping to realize a vision of a better way to live.
There is a lot more that goes into tiny living than house size, like sustainability, off griding, homesteading, minimalism, and more. Check out some of these New Jersey groups that explore what it truly means to join the tiny movement.
Tiny House New Jersey
The Tiny House New Jersey Facebook page is a group designed to open up the discussion around tiny homes, ADUs, and other small houses in the state of New Jersey. The group welcomes all discussions surrounding design, building, resources, zoning, and living a simple life.
New Jersey Homesteaders
New Jersey Homesteaders is a Facebook group created for homesteaders in New Jersey looking to connect. Those in the group use the page to discuss things like finding land in New Jersey, raising chickens, living off grid, and more. The group is made up of those who are trying to be as self-reliant as possible. All are welcome who want to try and live a homesteading lifestyle.
New Jersey Gardeners
New Jersey Gardeners is a Facebook group for those in New Jersey who want to post conversations, techniques, experiences, articles, or anything of interest to gardeners. Members discuss many gardening topics like how to plant vegetables, preparing soil, and more.

A mobile home is a unit of housing that is built on a permanent chassis and is designed to be used, when connected to utilities, as a dwelling. In the State of New Jersey, a mobile home must be titled within 10 days of purchase or a penalty fee will apply.
The titling process for a mobile home is similar to titling a vehicle; however, mobile homes are exempt from registration and inspection. Under certain conditions, used mobile homes are also exempt from sales tax.
To acquire a title for a new or used mobile home visit a Motor Vehicle Agency with the following documents:
- Acceptable proof of identification.
- A properly completed, signed, original Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) or title.
- If the vehicle is financed, you must provide the address and Entity Identification Number (formerly corpcode) of the lien holder. The original title will be sent to the lien holder.
- $60 fee or $85 fee for a financed vehicle.
Are Tiny Houses On Foundation Legal In New Jersey?
Like many others states that are up with the current tiny home trends, New Jersey defers to Appendix Q from the 2018 International Residential Code when it comes to tiny houses on foundation. Appendix Q is applicable to tiny houses used as single-dwelling units. The appendix loosens some various requirements within the general code as they apply to houses that are 400 square feet or less.
Here are some of the regulations worth noting:
- 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 mentioned above.
- Lofts may have ceiling heights less than 6 feet 8 inches.
- Lofts shall have a floor area of not less than 35 square feet and shall not be less than 5 feet 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 lofts used as sleeping rooms, egress roof access windows shall be deemed to meet the requirements of Section R310. (Read the PDF Here).
- 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 (Read the PDF Here).
Defer to Appendix Q to parse through the additional regulations that may be applicable to your tiny home.
Tiny House Laws in Key New Jersey Cities: Local Zoning Ordinances
While some cities have specifically allowed tiny houses into their city-wide zoning codes, other cities in New Jersey have restrictions which make it illegal to live in a tiny home, especially one on wheels.
Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly, New Jersey, has its own laws for parking mobile homes. In all residential zones or on nonconforming residential premises, recreational vehicles may be parked as follows:
- Within an enclosed building.
- In a side yard if approved by the Board of Adjustment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55-D-(c).
- In a rear yard provided:
- It does not exceed thirty one feet (31′) in length and nine and one half feet in height (9.5′).
- It is located no closer than three feet (3′) to the principal structure on the lot.
- It is screened from view from adjacent lots and streets by a solid structure not to exceed six feet (6′) in height and in conformance with Borough fence regulations.
Tiny House Building Codes In New Jersey:
Tiny House Laws In New Jersey:
*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/
Good afternoon. I am interested in a tiny home to add it in my Granddaughter’s yard, like a granny pod. Is this possible? Please let me know what is required. Thank you for your time. My Granddaughter lives in Alloway Township, NJ
Hello Mary Beth
I too am seeking information, I can’t seem to anyone get back to me. Did you have any luck?