QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Ohio: YES*
Tiny House Costs In Ohio: $40,000 – $130,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Dayton, Akron, New Paris
Ohio Tiny Houses Builders
Ohio is still growing in terms of its tiny house community. Due to stricter building laws, tiny housing isn’t as accessible as it is in many other states. Yet, many tiny homeowners have still found ways to make the tiny life work for them in Ohio.
The Buckeye State does have more tiny house builders popping up throughout the state each year, making it a more tiny-house friendly place to live. I’ve linked some local tiny house builders to help you build the tiny house of your dreams.
Modern Tiny Living Columbus, OH
PRICE RANGE
$55,000 – $99,000
Modern Tiny Living offers four prefabricated designs, as well as an option to customize your own tiny house. The designs include an array of features in the kitchen, closets, and lofts that compliment your tiny home.
Maverick Tiny Homes New Paris, OH
PRICE RANGE
$45,000 – $110,000
Located in New Paris, Ohio, Maverick Tiny Homes has many options when it comes to tiny house designs. The company offers three prefabricated designs as well as an option to work with builders to customize your own tiny house. It provides turn-key tiny houses, but also allows you to be part of the build process. Check out the website to view models and get financing tips.
Tiny Homes Of Ohio Dundee, OH
PRICE RANGE
$30,000 – $100,000
Tiny Homes of Ohio is an Amish-owned and -operated builder that is an extension of Whistling Pines Homes. Norman Yoder’s journey with tiny houses began in 2016 when he decided to branch out from his typical houses and create tiny houses. Norman and his family build their tiny homes in an old barn on their property near Sugarcreek, Ohio.
Tiny Homes of Ohio offers customers tiny houses in many sizes and styles with an option to customize your own floorplan.
Majestic Trailer Akron, OH
PRICE RANGE
$2,000-$8,000
Majestic Trailers has many options that can work well for mounting a tiny house, like open car hauler trailers. This trailer dealer in Akron, Ohio, manufactures other kinds as well, like dump, enclosed, open utility, equipment hauler, and open car hauler trailers for purchase. It also provides services to customize your own trailer or purchase individual trailer parts.
Rocks Trailer Sales Grove City, OH
PRICE RANGE
$4,000-$14,000
Located in Grove City, Ohio, Rocks Trailer Sales offers many types of trailers for the tiny homeowner. With equipment, cargo, car hauler, dump, utility, and several other kinds of trailers for sale, Rocks Trailer can aid you in filling all your trailer needs.
Midway Trailers Dayton and St. Mary’s, OH
PRICE RANGE
$2,000-$15,000
Midway Trailers has been serving western Ohio since 1995. The company’s two locations carry many types of trailers including car haulers, cargo trailers, deck overs, dump trailers, equipment, utility, watercraft, and more. Additionally, Midway Trailers sells snow plows, offers rental services, and provides repair services.
For seventeen years, Midway Trailers has served the following twenty-four counties in Ohio:
Anna, OH
Auglaize, OH
Celina, OH
Coldwater, OH
Delphos, OH
Fort Recovery, OH
Hancock, OH
Hardin, OH
Lima, OH
Logan, OH
Miami, OH
Minster, OH
New Knoxville, OH
New Bremen, OH
Putnam, OH
Saint Marys, OH
Shelby, OH
Sidney, OH
Van Wert, OH
Wapakoneta, OH
Tiny Houses For Sale Near Ohio
People like living in Ohio for many reasons including a low cost of living, excellent schools, and many activities to participate in. The most popular places to live in the state of Ohio include Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Dublin.
One reason tiny housers like the state is for diversity in geography. You can find rural farmland, sprawling Lake Erie shores, and bustling urban cities around the state, making it optimal for those who want a little bit of everything. I’ve linked some tiny homes for sale throughout the state; maybe you’ll find the home that speaks to you.
Vacation in Ohio can look however you want it to! If you’re seeking an urban uptown experience, a small-town retreat, or a full-on escape to the great outdoors, there’s a place in Ohio for you to explore.
If you’re feeling inspired to try the tiny life but don’t feel ready to buy your own tiny house, check out the above Airbnb listings.
Cedar Springs Tiny Village
Cedar Springs Tiny Village is the first tiny living community in the state of Ohio! The community is made up of tiny homes owned by the residents — BYOTH (bring your own tiny house) style. However, the plots are rented or leased out to tiny homeowners by Cedar Springs.
Lakefront sites are $441 per month for periods of 13 months or longer, while shorter term rentals run slightly higher. This fee includes water, sewer, trash and recycling services, and grounds maintenance including mowing! Cedar Springs is happy to accommodate pets (upon approval) providing they reside within your tiny house. They accept all certified THOW builds (certifications by NOAH, RVAH, RVIA, or Pacific West).
Living in Cedar Springs Tiny Village brings with it many privileges to increase your quality of life. New Paris, Ohio, has all the seasons — warm summers, seasonal farmers markets in the fall, beautiful springs, and gorgeous, snowy winters with activities like sledding and snow tubing.
The rental plots are a quick walk from Natural Springs Resort, which offers day and seasonal passes to access the pool, beach, fishing, scuba diving, and other fun activities. Additionally, The Cedar, a local coffee shop, is conveniently located at the north end of the tiny home community within walking distance.
Check out Cedar Springs’ website to see what plots are available for lease and how you can join this tiny village!
Ohioans for Sustainable Energy is a Facebook group for those in Ohio who want to use alternative energy sources and fight for a greener life.
The group serves as an educational and informational online community for Ohioans to learn, connect, share, ask questions, and get involved with the sustainable living community around them and set goals to go green. Anyone is able to join the group to learn more.
The Midwest Virtual Stoa Meetup Group
Minimalism is a huge aspect of The Tiny Life and is a lifestyle I believe goes hand in hand with tiny houses. Born out of stoicism and essentialism, minimalist philosophy is about analyzing what is truly crucial in our lives, and what is merely filler.
The Midwest Virtual Stoa Meetup group connects virtually on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST to study the modern practice of Stoicism, gain knowledge on minimalism and stoicism, and talk about ways to live a more intentional life.
When it comes to tiny house building laws, Ohio is one of those states with stricter regulations. However, just because zoning and building laws might be more restrictive, that does not mean building a tiny house you love is impossible!
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Ohio?
Tiny houses aren’t illegal in Ohio. However, the building laws do not necessarily make it easy to go tiny. They require a minimum of 950 square feet, which is not typical of tiny homes.
Ohio has its own building code established in 2017. This building code is based on the International Building Code of 2015, which is the second most updated version of the IBC. This document does not include the appendix the 2018 version does, which includes tiny home-specific allowances.
However, tiny houses on wheels are sometimes exceptions to these limitations. This is because tiny houses on wheels are often classified as recreational vehicles as opposed to single-family, traditional dwellings.
Tiny houses on wheels often fall under the classification “travel trailer” or “house vehicle,” defined by section 4517.01 of the revised motor vehicle code as “a non-self-propelled recreational vehicle that does not exceed an overall length of forty feet.”
However, the specifications of the vehicle will be the deciding factor as to what classification your THOW receives in the motor vehicle laws for the State of Ohio. A tiny home on wheels can also be classified as a motor home, mobile home, or park trailer, which each have different sets of regulations. Knowing the regulations for your tiny house on wheels can get a little muddy.
The general confusion among Ohio residents about whether their tiny home is permitted and where they can be built is a key cause for tiny house life not being as popular in the state as it is elsewhere.
Tiny House Laws in Key Ohio Counties: Local Zoning Ordinances
Each county has the freedom to amend the statewide building laws in order to accommodate the needs of their specific county.
Several of Ohio’s 88 counties have acted on the chance to amend the vague state building laws and be more accommodating to non-traditional housing like tiny houses. I’ve explored some of the counties and the laws they’ve set out below.
Preble County, Ohio
To accommodate renters at Cedar Hill Tiny Village, Preble County has taken the initiative to clarify statewide regulations and specifically define a tiny house. Their ordinance defines a tiny house as a recreational vehicle that covers 500 square feet or less. This helps those who rent land in the village as well as others who live in the area and want to go tiny.
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Unlike other counties in Ohio, Cuyahoga County has specifically allowed accessory dwelling units with proof of the right permits. However, these ADUs cannot be used as a primary residence and must only be used as secondary homes.
Tiny House Laws in Key Ohio Cities: Local Zoning Ordinances
Independent cities also have the power to create their own laws and addendums to the statewide laws. Many cities in Ohio have laws that restrict tiny house living, while others are more inclusive — let’s take a look at some specific examples.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus outlaws the use of tiny homes as permanent dwellings altogether. The city of Columbus and adjacent suburbs maintain building codes and or zoning regulations that exclude tiny houses from being considered legal living spaces. This is due to the fact that tiny houses are typically built smaller than the size allotted by Ohio.
New Paris, Ohio
New Paris is one of the most tiny house-friendly cities in Ohio. In 2021, Mayor Kathy Smallwood suggested that council enact a zoning ordinance to define tiny houses and allow them within city limits.
Under the proposed ordinance, a tiny home would be defined as a recreational vehicle covering an area of 500 square foot or less, and can be used as a permanent single-family dwelling.
Cleveland, Ohio
Unfortunately, laws in Cleveland restrict tiny homeowners. The minimum square footage for a residential home of any kind is 950 square feet, and tiny houses are no exception.
Local ordinances have not been created to combat this rule and account for the smaller size of tiny homes and their unique construction requirements.
Tiny House Building Codes In Ohio:
Tiny House Laws In Ohio:
*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/
We are looking to build a tiny home through you guys but we are looking to place it somewhere around columbus. Do you know a tiny home area around columbus ohio we can place our tiny home? Thanks…
I think it’s so wrong to limit sq ft on building a tiny house YET you can have a studio apartment that’s under 500 sq ft and be completely legal!
who builds tiny homes around massillon ohio