QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In South Carolina: YES*
Tiny House Costs In South Carolina: $30,000 – $95,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Travelers Rest, Greenville, Greer
Tiny Homes of Hilton Head Hilton Head, SC
These South Carolina tiny house builders focus on upscale quality and innovative, one-of-a-kind designs. Using select hardwoods from lumber reclamation, they have their own sawmill to produce beautiful, sustainable tiny homes and custom furniture to fit their customers and the lifestyle.
Stone Canyon Cabins of Columbia Columbia, SC
This locally-owned business crafts small houses with big house features, like full-sized appliances and a full bedroom downstairs. Some even have a second bedroom upstairs. Each home has a covered porch at the front and back and plenty of windows to let in the light. These homes are larger than travel homes and need to be moved by professional movers.
Green River Cabins Campobello, SC
Since 2006, Green River Log Cabins is a family-owned business that takes pride in engineering and attention to detail. Their tiny houses offer a rustic log cabin and fieldstone exterior, with similar décor touches throughout the home. Upgrade options include a fireplace, built-in bedroom storage, and granite countertops. Materials come from sustainable forests, and cabins are well insulated and finished with water-based stains to minimize ecological impact.
Kaufman Trailers Lexington, NC
In business over 30 years, Kaufman Trailers builds all kinds of affordable trailers, including tiny house trailers, and sells them direct to the public. With factory-direct pricing and available financing, Kaufman Trailers has the tiny house trailer you need at the price you want. They will deliver anywhere in the continental United States, so tiny home builders can order a trailer no matter where they are.
East Coast Trailers Charlotte, NC
Located in nearby Charlotte, North Carolina, East Coast Trailers sells and repairs a wide range of new and used trailers built for any purpose. This family-owned South Carolina tiny house trailer seller prides itself on excellent customer service and commitment to quality. Drop in to check out their selection of semi-trailers, flatbeds, and all kinds of specialty trailers made by top manufacturers. And with a full line of parts on hand, East Coast Trailers can repair any problem you might have.
Looking For Pre-Built Tiny Homes In South Carolina? Here Are Tiny Homes For Sale in SC
Not all tiny homes are custom built. If you’re ready to buy immediately, you may find that your perfect home already exists. Search new tiny house listings in South Carolina on Tiny House Listings, Zillow, Realtor, and other real estate search websites. If you’re looking for a mobile tiny house, check neighboring states for a more extensive selection.
In South Carolina, you’ll find the legendary hospitality of the laid-back south, amazing outdoor adventures, a mild temperate climate. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that tiny home communities are becoming increasingly popular in South Carolina.
Moving into an established community means instant immersion into the laid-back tiny house lifestyle, and it often offers more than just neighbors. Some tiny house communities provide shared utilities, premium locations, conveniences like outdoor grilling and gathering spots, and community gardens. South Carolina tiny house communities are growing in popularity every day!
South Carolina tiny house builders will find ample parking opportunities in Travelers Rest, Greenville, and Greer. Located in upstate South Carolina, just a few minutes from Greenville, Traveler’s Rest is a small town with considerable southern charm. Hikers and bikers flock to trails winding among the magnificent scenery featuring pristine lakes, majestic mountains, and breathtaking waterfalls.
Greenville offers a friendly vibe and an eclectic downtown area full of unique shops, art galleries, and museums. Between the beauty of the surrounding countryside and the upscale southern cuisine, life in Greenville never gets old. Nearby Greer is known for its recreation and well-developed city parks, and it’s home to several major manufacturers. The entire upcountry South Carolina area in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains offers a mild climate and great locations for tiny house builders to put down roots.
Creek Walk South Carolina Tiny House Community
Located within walking or biking distance of Travelers Rest, SC, and not far from Greenville, Creek Walk offers tiny homes from the $80s and lot fees of $450 per month, which includes electric, water, sewer, trash pickup, maintenance, property taxes, and even WiFi! There’s always plenty to do with the walking and biking trails along Swamp Rabbit Trail, fishing, outdoor BBQ and grilling area, bonfire pits, and community garden. Traveler’s Rest, located in upstate SC, is a gorgeous little town with an upscale attitude. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains, three state parks, and just an hour from Asheville, this little town offers everything a nature lover or foodie could want.
Lake Walk Tiny Home Community
Built on the shores of beautiful Lake Cunningham, Lake Walk Tiny Home Community in Greer offers tiny homes for sale ranging in price from $70,000 to $80,000, with lot leases starting at $450 per month. Located in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greer is a charming city with a rich history and a thriving cultural arts scene. It’s also home to several plants and manufacturing businesses, including BMW and Michelin North America. If you’re looking for a lower cost of living and better quality of life, Lake Walk is a great location to live and work. Ample green areas, a nature path, and a community dock ensure plenty of outdoor activities.
West Oaks Village
Located right in the heart of Columbia, SC, West Oaks Village is a brand-new tiny house development just minutes from Columbia’s main street. The community’s tiny houses have one or two bedrooms and range in price from $65,000 to $90,000 with lot fees of $450 per month. Community amenities include a dog park and a children’s play area. Columbia is a progressive college town with a lot to offer. From a vibrant music and arts culture to some of the most enriching outdoor adventures you can find anywhere, there’s something for everything in Columbia.
In typical southern hospitality style, South Carolina’s tiny house laws are among the easiest in the US concerning tiny house builders. Naturally, county and city tiny house regulations on parking and location will vary. In most areas, South Carolina tiny houses are welcome, but local definitions and regulations that dictate where they are allowed vary.
In some South Carolina counties, tiny houses are allowed as backyard additional dwelling units (ADUs). In many county areas, you may build a tiny home on your property. Some SC counties allow for the development of tiny house communities on a single lot.
In Myrtle Beach, there is no minimum size for a house. However, the minimum size for a single house is defined. That means that, while landowners can build a tiny house on a regulation-sized lot, they can’t subdivide the lot into smaller parcels for more than one tiny house. South Carolina tiny house laws can be complicated, and local municipalities often debate the merits.
Due to the growing popularity of tiny houses and the desire for sustainable, eco-friendly housing, South Carolina tiny house laws are constantly evolving. Horry County, Aiken County, and Greenville County have all updated laws over the last few years. Since South Carolina tiny house regulations differ from place to place, be sure to check with the local municipality where you plan to park your tiny house and start your tiny home life.
State-Wide
South Carolina state adopted the (ICCBC) International Code Council Building Codes. Here are some of the basics for potential South Carolina tiny house builders:
- No habitable room except the kitchen may be less than 7 feet length and width in floor space.
- The ceiling must be at least 7 feet high, except the bathroom, which can be 6 feet, 8 inches.
- Bedrooms or lofts must have a window large enough to escape in case of fire and a smoke alarm.
- Unit must have one bathroom with a toilet, bathtub or shower, plus a kitchen with a sink.
- Homes must have hot and cold water and a heating system.
- Lofts must have a ramp or stairs.
There’s no minimum size for tiny houses, and the maximum size to be considered a tiny house in South Carolina is 900 square feet. Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs) are registered as RVs and can be up to 400 square feet.
Here are samples of tiny home laws in a few key South Carolina counties:
Aiken County, SC
Aiken County is home to some of the nicest tiny home communities in South Carolina. County ordinances also allow landowners to build a tiny home on their property, provided it is at least 2.5 acres in size. Find Aiken County municipal codes here.
Horry County, SC
In Horry County, tiny homes are defined as detached single-family dwellings less than 750 square feet in size and not more than 25 feet high and may be included in multi-residential districts (MRDs) throughout the county. Read more about Horry County tiny home regulations here.
Greenville County
Greenville County is in the same general area as Traveler’s Rest and Greer, where South Carolina tiny house builders already have an established toehold on the in-demand tiny house market. Because the county areas have no zoning regulations, tiny house builders are already progressing with plans and asking for more legislation concerning tiny house size. While the council debated the matter, Farmer’s Cove on the shores of Lake Sam Rayburn forged ahead. Read about Greenville County tiny house regulations here. (Read the PDF here)
Tiny House Laws In South Carolina:
Tiny House Building Codes In South Carolina:
*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 live in Summerville SC and hoping to transition to tiny house on wheels living in the near future.
Do you know any laws that pertain to tiny houses in Beaufort SC? Around the Daufuskie Island SC?
Looking to buy land with utilities on land to put my new tiny house in South Carolina
Where can you build a tiny home in Sumter South Carolina ?
Hi, I am planning to buy a tiny home near Charleston SC. Do you have any community that I could visit? Do you have any models that I can visit at the factory or store? Thank you
What’s the minimum piece of land that you can have to put a tiny house on and we’re would that be in South Carolina
Need help completing interior of my tiny home. ISO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION HELP.