QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Oregon: YES*
Tiny House Costs In Oregon: $35,000 – $120,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Portland, Lakeview, Eugene, Monroe
Tiny Smart House Albany, OR
PRICE RANGE
$45,000 – $95,000
In business since 2012, Tiny Smart Houses builds houses and tiny house trailers from sustainable materials. SMART stands for Sustainable construction, Modern efficiency, Affordable luxury, Residential, RV or commercial, and Towable anywhere. Each tiny house is handcrafted by carpenters from real wood and customized to meet the buyer’s needs.
121 Tiny Homes Bend, OR
PRICE RANGE
$70,000 – $120,000
121 Tiny Homes offers tiny house plans, kits, shells, education, and custom tiny homes built from steel construction. This Oregon tiny house builder also helps customers wade through the legal and practical aspects of tiny home living. They not only serve Oregon, they also deliver to Washington, California, Idaho, Montana, and Utah.
Tru Form Tiny Eugene, OR
PRICE RANGE
$45,000 – $80,000
Oregon tiny house builder Jon Carroll built his first tiny house in 1978 for his own family. After 50 years in the home building business, he decided the time had come to go back to his tiny roots and started constructing tiny homes, offices, and trailers. Tru Form’s low-cost tiny homes are sustainably built from local, green, high-end materials and customized for each customer.
Oregon Cottage Company Eugene, OR
PRICE RANGE
$45,000 – $95,000
One of the sustainability-focused tiny house builders in Oregon, Oregon Cottage Company, focuses on building quality tiny homes using locally sourced, eco-friendly materials. To ensure indoor air quality, they limit the use of toxic glues, paints, and stains, and use only low or no VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) products, and use formaldehyde-free EcoBatt insulation.
Tiny Mountain Houses Silverton, OR
PRICE RANGE
$75,000 – $120,000
A relatively new tiny house builder in Oregon, Tiny Mountain Houses offers rustic and modern home designs featuring craftsmanship, comfort, and affordability. They deliver to all 50 states, and all their homes are on wheels and considered travel trailers.
Eagle Trailers Portland, OR
PRICE RANGE
Custom $3,400 and up
If you need a wheeled foundation for your tiny house, Eagle Trailers is the top producer of high-quality professional-grade trailers for tiny houses across the Pacific Northwest. They focus on steel and aluminum construction for commercial and recreational use.
Iron Eagle Trailers Fairview, OR
PRICE RANGE
$3,800 and up
Since 2006, Iron Eagle has designed and built trailers specifically for tiny houses. This trailer manufacturer positions frames for maximum support for tiny house weight distribution. This Oregon-based tiny house trailer builder offers trailers in various sizes that can be customized to meet customer needs.
Are You Seeking Pre-Built Tiny Houses in Oregon? Explore the Tiny Homes for Sale
Ready to jump into the tiny house lifestyle, but not quite ready to build your own tiny house in Oregon? There are plenty of tiny homes for sale on Tiny House Listings, Realtor, and other real estate websites. To find the perfect tiny house, be sure to check nearby states like Washington and California. Since many tiny houses are built on wheels, you may be able to find your dream tiny house and move it to where you want to live in Oregon. Oregon is a great place to live an economical and eco-friendly life in a mobile tiny house with many diverse regions to choose from.
Oregon boasts some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the country. Oregon has it all with majestic mountain views, lush forests surrounding pristine lakes, and gorgeous Pacific shorelines. Its relatively mild climate and the citizens’ commitment to environmentalism make the state a favorite with nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s the perfect location to settle down in an environmentally-friendly tiny house.
Oregon’s relaxed tiny house building regulations have spurred the growth of tiny house communities across the state—many of them strategically situated to take full advantage of the spectacular vistas and local amenities.
Some Oregon cities are particularly friendly to tiny homes. Portland encourages tiny living by making the lifestyle affordable and accessible. Living in a tiny house community with shared utilities keeps the cost of living lower while making certain luxuries more accessible. There are many tiny house communities already in place in Portland and even tiny hotels to give you a taste of the lifestyle.
Check out some of the best tiny house communities the beaver state has to offer!
Tiny Tranquility in Waldport, OR
Located in Waldport and overlooking the Pacific coast, Tiny Tranquility is a unique experience for visitors and residents. Amenities for this Oregon tiny house community include a game and entertainment center, laundry facilities, a dog park, a covered outdoor grilling area with a fireplace, and a greenhouse where you can grow your food. Within a few miles, you can engage in dozens of area attractions, including whale watching, hiking, biking, golfing, swimming, fishing, and boating. What really sets this Oregon tiny house village apart is its kitschy, well-maintained vintage trailers.
Mt. Hood Tiny House Village in Mt. Hood, OR
Just outside Portland, overlooking the spectacular view of Mt. Hood, sits a picturesque village in the woods, filled with tiny, unique homes, each with its own personality and vibe. This Oregon tiny house community is close enough for foodie tourism in bustling Portland and far enough to feel like you’re out in the wilderness. The Mt. Hood Tiny House Village is both serene and packed with potential excitement.
My Tiny House Village in Sherwood Forest, OR
Nestled among the trees in Sherwood Forest, My Tiny House Village is a friendly tiny house community in the heart of wine country, just minutes from several of Oregon’s famous wineries. This quiet little retreat starts at just $65 per night and puts you within easy driving distance of Portland, where you can sample the coffee and crunchy lifestyle Portland residents are famous for.
The Oregon building codes that cover tiny homes are complex, and each of the 36 counties has its own set of rules. The state defines tiny homes as either permanent or temporary. In addition, there are rules for additional dwelling units, or ADUs, that pertain to tiny houses on the same property as an existing house. Each type of tiny house has specific regulations which you must meet for legal and safety reasons. Here’s a general overview of the state laws and a sampling of county and city ordinances.
Permanent Tiny House
Permanent tiny homes are attached to an approved foundation and must meet Oregon’s state building code or federal standards.
All HUD tiny home contractors, including builders, plumbers, and electricians working on any aspect of the tiny house, must be licensed by the state. Plan reviews, permits, and inspections by the local building inspection program are mandatory.
The Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) (Read the PDF here) allows one exception to the code for tiny houses of 600 square feet or less: ladder access to a low ceiling loft for sleeping, with an automatic fire sprinkler system installed.
Temporary Tiny House
If the tiny house is designed to be movable, whether or not it has its own wheels, it is considered a temporary dwelling. Some temporary tiny houses are exempt from construction regulations, but building safety requirements still must be met. Contact your local municipality to be sure you’re aware of current requirements.
Temporary tiny houses or tiny houses on wheels (THOWS) designed to move on public roads and highways must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. All usual safety conditions must be met, including wheels, tires, brakes, lights, rear impact guards, and VINs. The maximum width for a temporary tiny house intended to be moved on public roads is 8.5 feet.
It is against the law in Oregon to use a temporary tiny house on wheels as a full-time residence.
The maximum size for a tiny house in Oregon is 400 square feet for a temporary tiny house and 600 square feet for a permanent tiny house. There is no minimum size requirement in Oregon.
To be clear, if your tiny house isn’t on a permanent foundation, you may not use it as a residence for more than 30 days. Some counties do offer exceptions that extend the time to two years for hardship reasons. Check with your local municipality for an application if this applies.
Tiny House Laws in Key Oregon Counties: Local Zoning Ordinances
A 2018 amendment to the Oregon Reach Code (Read the PDF here) granted local building officials the authority to relax or waive some state requirements on tiny houses as long as they can do so safely. Lawmakers in Portland lead the way for tiny living by giving property owners the right to install a tiny house on their property and allowing some rule exemptions. Other areas are still growing in their response to the tiny living trend. Let’s look at the laws in a few popular places.
Douglas County, Oregon
Douglas County defines tiny homes as homes with 600 square feet or less of floor space built on foundations. As long as they meet Oregon building standards, there is no minimum size for dwellings. The laws allow for both permanent tiny homes and multi-family communities built on a single lot. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) can only be used as temporary housing. For Douglas County zoning laws, click here. (Read the PDF here)
Marion County, Oregon
The state capital, Salem, does not allow tiny houses within city limits. Still, the county ordinance allows tiny houses, identified as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), in rural areas outside the city limits. For Marion County tiny house ordinances, click here. (Read the PDF here)
Multnomah County, Oregon
If your tiny house is located within Multnomah County city limits, you’ll need to contact Multnomah County directly. Otherwise, you’ll need to contact the City of Portland. The areas have different zoning and set-back requirements for tiny houses, and they do allow accessory dwelling units, accessory structures, guest houses, and hardship housing.
Wasco County, Oregon
In Wasco county (Read the PDF here), there is no minimum size for dwellings, and laws do not differentiate between permanent tiny houses and traditional houses. As long as the house has water and sewer services, it qualifies as a dwelling. You may only live in temporary tiny homes on wheels for a maximum of 30 days. Manufactured tiny houses must be 18 feet wide and meet specific exterior finishing standards to be considered a dwelling.
Washington County, Oregon
Washington County (Read the PDF here) has a hardship exception to using a tiny house on wheels as a residence for up to two years if a health hardship application is approved. A permanent tiny house built on a foundation is generally allowed in unincorporated Washington County on any property zoned for residential use. It can be used as either a primary residence or an additional dwelling unit.
Tiny House Regulations in Oregon Cities
Within each county, city lawmakers have certain leeway to bend the rules. Some cities go the extra mile to welcome tiny house dwellers. Here are a few of the friendliest cities for tiny house construction.
Portland, OR
Portland lawmakers relaxed many of the rules regarding tiny home construction and living to welcome tiny home dwellers. Here are the tiny house regulations in Portland. Portland also allows for living in THOWs used as ADUs parked on private property, as long as they meet city guidelines.
Eugene, OR
Recognizing the need for more affordable housing, Eugene has embraced tiny home villages (Read the PDF here) and relaxed other state laws, allowing for tiny home neighborhoods and ADUs.
Grant’s Pass, OR
Grant’s Pass considers tiny homes the same as regular homes. As long as they pass the state building code requirements, permanent tiny homes are allowed. In addition, some certain zoning districts allow multiple homes on a single lot, making tiny home communities legal. Here are the tiny house laws in Grant’s Pass. (Read the PDF here)
Springfield, OR
As part of its affordable housing strategy, Springfield actively encourages ADU tiny home construction. To make tiny home living more affordable, Springfield will waive up to $6,000 in construction and system development fees through June 2022. Springfield also allows for cottage clusters, small detached single-family homes built around a central open space. While there are no specific size limitations on primary dwellings, new home construction must be similar to surrounding houses in the same area. See Springfield development codes here.
Tiny House Laws In Oregon:
Tiny House Building Codes In Oregon:
*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/
I am interested in putting a tiny homeon our property in Lakeside, Or. It would need to be 2 bed 1 bath. Chalet style. Interested in prices.
Thank you
Can you get a prebuilt permanent tiny home to Astoria Oregon?
This website just really rocks, that’s all I have to say. Everything about it is concise, accessible, functional. Great job guys.
Is anybody that you know of started a neighborhood of retirees in tiny houses with like a big room in the center with the sauna I’ve got some ideas on doing something like that I’m perhaps a four acre piece of land with three other investors I think we could make a nice retirement community
I would love to know more about first time tiny house builders workshops in Multnomah county.
Hello, my name is Eugene with Rogue River Transport based out of Southern Oregon. I specialize in transportation of sheds set up for over dimension. I’ll be receiving a ram 5500 this week 4 x 4 looking to get into moving of tiny homes on the West Coast. I am reliable and most of the time only a week out.
I have property in reedsport oregon a few years back i was mislead by reality stating i could park rv there…space has electric and water already in a mobile home area…after i purchased the small lot….was told there had been some new zoning regulations and now…i need a contractor to build on the lot….i have been trying to find a contractor in that area but only find commercial contractors…and i have no clue as to what type of contractor i need to get foundation for tiny home put in…
The link to Douglas County OR actually goes to Douglas County WI.