QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Virginia: YES*
Tiny House Costs In Virginia: $40,000 – $99,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Virginia Beach, Berryville, Richmond, Ashland, Norfolk, Arlington
Build Tiny Berryville, VA
PRICE RANGE
$35,000 – $85,000
A Green Advantage Certified Builder, Robin Hayes has a passion for sustainability. She has more than 35 years of construction and educational experience and can either build your tiny home for you or train you and teach you to do it for yourself. Build Tiny offers custom workshops, building guidance, and ready-built tiny homes.
Tiny House Building Company Fredericksburg, VA
PRICE RANGE
$35,000 – $85,000
The Tiny House Building Company has a wide range of tiny house models available to choose from. This Virginia tiny house builder makes tiny houses to order, and you can request special customization plans and specs for $75, which is credited toward your purchase. They provide a range of high-quality choices for all customizable features, so you can truly make your tiny house dream a reality.
Bayside Tiny Homes Dutton, VA
PRICE RANGE
$15,000 – $115,000
With over 30 years of experience in tiny home design, Bayside Tiny Homes pride themselves on their custom interior woodwork, including exposed beams, custom trim, custom cabinets, and built-in furniture. These Virginia tiny house builders ensure that all standard tiny home models are fully customizable, and bespoke designs are welcome.
Tiny House Building Company Fredericksburg, VA
PRICE RANGE
$3,000 and up
As mentioned above, Virginia’s Tiny House Building Company also builds custom trailers for tiny homes. Their selection of tiny house models come pre-built on trailers, but they also sell trailers separately as needed for your own tiny house build. Familiar with the unique needs of tiny house builders, this Virginia tiny house trailer seller is a great resource.
Kaufman Trailers Nationwide
PRICE RANGE
$3,400 and up
Kaufman Trailers sell custom and standard trailers throughout the United States, including availability in Virginia. The Kaufman brand is trusted amongst tiny homeowners for its durability, strength, and compatibility with the needs of tiny house builders. If you’re seeking a tiny house trailer, Kaufman trailers are an excellent option to explore.
Looking For Pre-Built Tiny Homes In Virginia? Here Are Tiny Homes For Sale in VA
Not quite ready to commit to a from-scratch tiny house build? Your dream tiny home might already be waiting for you. There are plenty of pre-built tiny house options for sale and rent on websites like Tiny House Listings, Realtor, Zillow, or Airbnb. Check neighboring states, tiny house-friendly communities, and locally for your perfect pre-build tiny house.
You’ll find the legendary laid-back southern hospitality, incredible outdoor adventures, and a mild, pleasant climate in Virginia. It’s easy to understand why tiny home communities are becoming increasingly popular.
Established tiny house communities provide instant immersion into relaxed tiny house living, and they offer more than just prime locations with like-minded neighbors. Many communities offer shared utilities and conveniences like outdoor grilling, gathering spots, and community gardens. And because shared amenities lower the cost, you can live tiny and still have all the luxuries. The affordable lifestyle means demand for Virginia tiny house communities grows every day.
Virginia has it all, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, stunning beaches, mountain views, small towns with fantastic eateries, and all the quaint charm of the southern hospitality.
Autumn Sun Farm
About half an hour from downtown Richmond, Autumn Sun Farm is built on five acres outside Ashland. The intentional, multi-generational community features shared community areas and a large garden, studio spaces, and a warehouse. The laid-back community living is designed around people who enjoy art, music, exercise, and outdoor living. Entrepreneurship is encouraged and supported.
Surfside at Sandbridge
Located in Virginia Beach, Surfside at Sandbridge is steps away from the beach. The resort has short-term or long-term lot rentals and plenty of amenities. You’ll find two pools, a hot tub, sauna, fitness room, playground, tennis and basketball courts, and more.
Piedmont Ecovillage
Piedmont Ecovillage is an intentional community currently in the forming stage in the Richmond, Virginia, area.Their intention is to create a healthy environment where children can play together in safety and where neighbors work collaboratively towards the good of the community while respecting each other’s independence.
The neighborhood will include a shared common house and will maximize green space for a variety of purposes, including recreation and community gardens. They expect to build several types of homes, including detached single-family homes, townhome-style homes, mini homes, and tiny homes. All structures will employ green building practices such as passive solar design to minimize our community’s carbon footprint.
Piedmont Ecovillage will serve as an education center to promote green building practices, renewable energy use, and other principles of sustainable design.
Virginia’s Tiny House laws and building codes are still developing in some areas. THOW parking regulations vary throughout the state according to county or city mandates. Most regions of Virginia welcome tiny houses with local definitions and regulations stating where they are allowed to be parked.
In some Virginia counties, tiny houses are only allowed as backyard additional dwelling units (ADUs). You may build a tiny home on your property in many county areas if you have the correct connections and permits. Some VA counties allow for the development of tiny house communities on a single lot.
Virginia tiny house laws are constantly evolving. Depending on the area where you hope to set up your home, you’ll need to check with the city and county regulations too.
State-Wide Tiny House Building Codes
Virginia, like many other states, follows the (ICCBC) International Code Council Building Codes. There are some universal basics on these codes for potential Virginia tiny house builders:
- Habitable rooms (except the kitchen) must have a minimum of 7 square feet of floor splace in both length and width.
- Ceilings must be 7 feet high at miniumum, except the bathroom, which can be slightly lower, at 6 feet, 8 inches.
- Bedrooms and sleeping lofts must have smoke alarms and a window large enough to escape in the case of a fire.
- The unit must have at least one bathroom with a toilet and bathtub or shower with required space between fixtures. The kitchen must have a sink.
- Homes need both hot and cold water and a heating system.
- Lofts must feature a ramp or stairs.
- Must have an approved treatment system for all sewage, including gray water (i.e., water run-off from taps and showers).
There’s no minimum size for tiny houses (except in Staunton County), and the maximum size to be considered a tiny house in Virginia is 500 square feet. Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs) are registered as RVs and can be up to 400 square feet.
Tiny House Building Codes in Buckingham County
Buckingham county allows THOWs in backyards and on private property. You’re allowed to rent or buy land to park your THOW on, and if you request a variance, you’ll usually be granted the right to use off-grid toilets such as composters. No inspections are required, but you must connect to the town sewer. You’re not required to remove the wheels from your tiny house when parked for dwelling purposes. Here is the Buckingham County Zoning Ordinance. (Read the PDF here)
Tiny House Building Codes in Fauquier County
As long as your tiny house meets state building codes, Fauquier County allows it to be used as a primary dwelling or an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). THOWs are not allowed anywhere in the county, however. You must build the tiny home on a foundation as a permanent structure with a permanent utility connection. A septic system and a well are also required. Click here for Fauquier County Municipal Codes.
Tiny House Building Codes in Prince William County
The short answer on the Prince William County tiny house building codes is “it’s complicated.” While there is no minimum square footage requirement for dwellings in Prince William County, VA, there are still regulations that must be met by any tiny house builder (or standard house builder, for that matter). The regulations are in the process of changing, thanks to a group of folks interested in living the tiny life in Virginia. Keep an eye on the rules if you’re ready to join them.
Tiny House Building Codes in Augusta County
Augusta County, VA requires that residential homes meet a minimum of 900 square feet. However, there are exceptions, particularly in the large portion (90%) of the county that’s zoned for agriculture. Permits must be presented to the County Board and all building departments for approval. Tiny homes must have hookups for county water systems or have their own septic system set up. Like other areas of Virginia, Augusta County is still feeling out the zoning for tiny houses, and the regulations are changing to meet the demand. You can explore Augusta County building codes here.
Tiny House Building Codes in Staunton City
Staunton City, VA, is somewhat tiny house friendly. The city allows tiny homes at a minimum of 200 square feet and has zoning laws to specify how far back the house should be from the property line, the space between the end of the property line and the home. The city is also amenable to ADUs, as they fall under the definition of tiny homes and have access to water, sewerage, and electricity. The city is home to several tiny homes, including two yurts, so the rules are changing and becoming more accommodating for tiny house dwellers. For the Staunton Code of Ordinances, click here. (Read the PDF here)
Tiny House Building Codes in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach treats tiny homes like any other residential building with no specific tiny home ordinances as long as they meet the state building codes. Click here for the Virginia Beach Code of Ordinances.
Tiny House Building Codes in Norfolk
In general, Norfolk is ADU-friendly. The city council regularly approves ADUs as long as they follow certain rules:
- No more than 1 ADU on a property.
- ADUs must be smaller than 500 square feet or 25% of the size of the main building, whichever is less.
- ADU design must be built in the same architectural style and colors as the main house.
- An ADU must use the same address and utilities as the main house.
- The property owner must reside on the property, either in the main house or in the ADU.
Find Norfolk City Council ADU legislation here.
Tiny House Building Codes in Arlington
Arlington allows ADUs as long as they comply with setback rules and are less than 560 square feet or 650 square feet, depending on the district. ADUs must match the architectural style of the surrounding neighborhood. Click here for Arlington Zoning Ordinance.
Tiny House Laws In Virginia:
Tiny House Building Codes In Virginia:
*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/
Hi. Interested in places to build or place a tiny house in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area. Thank you for your time.- Dolores McMillon
I am reaching out to you from encore by veterans next mission. We build homes as well as refurbish. We have hand me down major appliances from Viking stove top range built-ins worth thousands for sale for $400. Two medicine cabinets $20. I have a warehouse full that we need to liquidate. Please reach out to me at your earliest convenience if at all interested at 540-550-5702 my name is Tevya you could also reach us at our store location at 703-340-8990.
Tiny house for sale on this website….
I am interested in the 1 house this is for sale on this website.
How do I contact them?
Can you please add the Richmond building codes as well.
Where in Arlington can I find tiny home community? Thanks
“In some Virginia counties, tiny houses are only allowed as backyard additional dwelling units (ADUs). You may build a tiny home on your property in many county areas if you have the correct connections and permits. Some VA counties allow for the development of tiny house communities on a single lot”
Happen to know of any counties in northern Virginia around Fredericksburg? And how would one go about getting the proper connections and permits? Thank you so much for this article
I am interested in Tiny Home communities/villages in or near Bedford, Virginia. Preferably 55+ or varied ages. Please let me know if anyone has any info ….
Do you know the tiny house building requirements for homes with a foundation in Nelson County, VA?