New Jersey Tiny House Builders

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.