QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Washintgon: YES*
Tiny House Costs In Washington: $45,000 – $120,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Olympia, Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle
Seattle Tiny Homes Seattle, WA
PRICE RANGE
$45,000 – $135,000
With many ideas to make your tiny home a greener living experience, Seattle Tiny Homes focuses on meeting your unique needs and designing a tiny house to suit you. They have a range of basic tiny house models ready to turn into your perfect tiny house, or they will design a unique tiny dream home to turn your tiny living ideas into reality.
Pocket Mansions Seattle, WA
PRICE RANGE
$35,000 – $98,000
Pocket Mansions tiny house builders have a motto: To make tiny houses safe and accessible for everyone. They can help you with any and every stage of building your tiny house, whether you’re building it yourself or hiring someone else to do the hard work. By designing tiny house layouts to meet your lifestyle goals, Pocket Mansions help you make informed decisions, and your tiny living dreams become a sustainable reality.
Jade Tiny Houses Freeland, WA
PRICE RANGE
$55,000 – $100,000
With a strong focus on green living, environmental care, and sustainability, JADE Tiny Houses are energy efficient and built from high-quality environmentally friendly materials. These Washington tiny house builders focus on sustainable hardwood construction inside and out for simple elegance and low energy use. They custom design and build your tiny house to meet your needs, whether you’re building an office space, a guest house, or your primary home.
Eagle Trailers Portland, OR
PRICE RANGE
Custom $3,400 and up
Based in Portland, Eagle Trailers have been the top manufacturer of professional grade trailers in the Pacific Northwest. With registered dealers across Washington State, tiny house builders should have no trouble finding a store. They offer steel and aluminum options and build high-quality trailers with attention to detail and come with an excellent warranty.
Iron Eagle Trailers Fairview, OR
PRICE RANGE
$3,800 and up
Iron Eagle Trailers specialize in trailers designed and built especially for tiny houses. They’ve worked with Dee Williams and PAD (Portland Alternative Dwellings) to overcome many of the challenges faced by owners of tiny houses on wheels (THOWs). They welcome the chance to add unique customization to the trailers for no added charge, which makes them an affordable option when looking for a base for your unique tiny house.
Tiny Smart House Albany, OR
PRICE RANGE
$3,600 and up
Focusing on custom builds, Tiny Smart House guarantees that each trailer is fully road-legal and ready to license. They supply your trailer’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). You can hire them to complete the tiny house build or take the trailer and build your own house. Lightweight and designed for strength and balance. Based in Albany, they often supply to tiny house buyers in Washington State.
Looking For Pre-Built Tiny Homes In Washington? Here Are Tiny Homes For Sale in WA
If you’d like to join the tiny house lifestyle in Washington state, real estate websites like Zillow, Tiny House Listings, and Realtor have tons of ready-made tiny house listings on the west coast. Check for Washington tiny house listings and options in neighboring states. You may find what you’re looking for in Oregon or California, and it’s reasonably easy to relocate tiny homes. Some of them are already on wheels.
Washington has always been a place of great beauty, new beginnings, and a frontier lifestyle. It makes sense that Washington is a great place for tiny houses. With some of the most impressive landscapes in the world, Washington has it all—mountains, desert, beaches, and more. Year-round warm weather makes it an excellent climate for an outdoor-friendly, active lifestyle. Washington is perfect for homesteading, living on the road, or setting up a foundation and building a tiny house. Some of the best areas for living the tiny house lifestyle are Seattle, Olympia, and Spokane.
Seattle, WA
For tiny house dwellers, life in the Emerald City (also known as Seattle) offers affordable living in an expensive area. Seattle’s plumb location attracts nature lovers for its spectacular landscape, but the thriving job market, especially in the tech arena, is also a big draw. Seattle residents are notoriously laid back and invested in sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives—the perfect environment for tiny house enthusiasts.
Olympia, WA
Olympia may be the smallest capitol city in the United States, but it has got a lot going on, is tiny house friendly, and is a lot less expensive than some of the other Washington metro areas. Neighborhoods range from quiet residential areas in northeast Olympia to hip, trendy (and more expensive) Johnson Pointe near Puget Sound.
Spokane, WA
Another tiny house welcoming location, Spokane’s motto is “Near Nature, Near Perfect,” and it really lives up to the ideal. Within easy driving distance of mountains and forests, and a river running right through the middle of the city, Spokane is heaven for anyone who loves nature. Five colleges and an active cultural scene make for a city that’s fun and interesting with a high walkability score.
Washington tiny house communities are steadily growing in number. New places are cropping up that allow people to park their THOWs or build on a designated spot with access to community amenities like sewer, water, and even gardening. Here are a few of the best Washington tiny house communities to explore.
Lost Lake Resort
Lost Lake Resort’s Nisqually Valley location may feel like a remote forest on the shores of a lake, far from civilization, but in reality, you’re just 50 miles from Seattle. It’s the perfect tiny home retreat for lake-front living. Swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities are popular among residents, along with hiking and biking. Amenities include playgrounds, an exercise room, mini-golf, an indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub, and more. To live there, you purchase a lot and bring your park model or tiny house on wheels (THOWs). Annual park dues of $2,760 pay for maintenance and amenities.
Quixote Communities
Quixote Communities is on a mission to provide safe, stable housing for veterans in Orting, Olympia, and Shelton. This faith-based tiny house community is eco-friendly and offers 144 square feet tiny houses arranged around a common green area and a large community center where residents can gather, share weekly dinners, and take yoga and life skills classes.
Recently, Washington adopted new laws to make tiny house living easier and more accessible. The new laws allow local municipalities to approve multi-unit lots for tiny home communities, eliminates any single-family dwelling minimum square foot requirements, adds tiny houses and THOWs to the definition of factory-built housing so they can be included in RV and trailer parks, and clears a regulatory pathway to allow Eco-villages and tiny home communities.
Effective from Feb 2021, the State of Washington adopted Appendix Q – Tiny houses, with amendments.
Appendix Q provides standards and regulations for tiny homes with a foundation of 400 square feet or less and was adopted into the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) building code. The appendix relaxes certain code requirements for stairs leading to a loft area, reduced ceiling heights in lofts, and air leakage testing.
Here’s how Washington defines tiny houses:
Permanent Tiny Houses in Washington
There is still no official maximum size for a tiny home on permanent foundations in Washington, but they are typically less than 600 square feet in size.
If you’re building a tiny house on the site where you intend it to be occupied and used, contact your local building department. Remember to ask about electrical inspections as well as any other inspections and paperwork needed along the way.
If you’re buying a manufactured home of any size, including a tiny home, contact your local building department to find out where your home can be located. L&I oversees regulation for the construction of tiny houses that are built anywhere other than where they are intended to be used. Whether it’s constructed in a factory, a workshop, or a backyard, if you plan to use it somewhere else, you’ll need to contact L&I to arrange plan reviews, inspections, and permits.
Tiny Houses on Wheels in Washington
A tiny house on wheels (THOW) is defined as “a dwelling that may be built on wheels and is no larger than 400 square feet, including a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping/living area, and must be built to the Washington State Building Code.” Any tiny house on wheels in Washington State must have full inspections and approvals from the Department of Labor and Industries. This includes tiny homes purchased from out-of-state manufacturers. The approval process for THOWs depends on where it is built, so get in touch with L&I to be sure you’re following the regulations for your particular tiny house.
If you’re building a structure with wheels that don’t meet the tiny house definition above, you might be building a park model or recreational vehicle. These units are inspected and regulated by Labor and Industries. Contact your local building department to discover where you’re allowed to locate your structure.
Laws may vary by county, city, or town. While the laws may relax the state regulations, they may not impose additional restrictions. Here are the regulations in key counties in Washington:
Tiny House Builder Rules And Regulations in Key Washington State Cities And Counties
King County, WA
In King County, THOWs are treated like recreational vehicles. Recreational vehicles or park model RVs are not permanent dwelling units and may not be used for full-time residence. They’ll need to pass all the usual tests for vehicle licensing. RVs may be used on a temporary, “camping” basis for a maximum of 60 days in a rolling 365-day period. You must follow parking rules for large vehicles, and they can’t be stored on vacant land. A tiny house must be on a permanent foundation. For more information, click here. (Read the PDF here)
Clark County, WA
In Clark County, tiny homes may be permitted as a primary dwelling or a guest house. Clark County supplies a circumstantial hardship permit. Find out more about Clark County tiny house regulations here.
Pierce County, WA
There are specific rules regarding room sizes for tiny houses in Pierce County, so make sure you know what you need to before applying for your permit. Click here for Pierce County tiny home guidelines. (Read the PDF here)
Snohomish County, WA
Since 2005, the Cottage Housing movement has grown, and from there, tiny housing communities are gaining popularity faster than ever. The energy-efficient lifestyle and low carbon footprint of tiny living make it affordable. Click here to find out more about Snohomish County cottage housing (tiny house) regulations.
Thurston County, WA
Tiny homes built on-site without a chassis are reviewed and inspected. They are permitted as single-family dwelling units, accessory dwelling units, and guest housing. A tiny home constructed on a chassis must be approved by L&I as a modular home. A manufactured home placement permit is required if your tiny home is built anywhere other than on-site. Click here for facts about Thurston County tiny home laws. (Read the PDF here)
San Juan County, WA
In San Juan County, a tiny home is considered a recreational vehicle (RV) if it’s on a trailer designed to be pulled, requires a vehicle license, and is not anchored to a permanent slab or more than 6 months. RVs are not included in the definition of a dwelling unit and are not permitted as permanent housing. They are only allowed to be used for up to 180 days in one calendar year. Click here to download the San Juan County tiny homes information. (Read the PDF here)
Klickitat County, WA
Klickitat County will allow a THOW to be permanently occupied only if it is located in a mobile home park, hooked up to utilities, and meets the other requirements of the applicable RCW. Otherwise, even with wheels removed, you can’t convert your THOW into a permanent residence. Click here to read more about Klickitat County rules and regulations for tiny houses. (Read the PDF here)
Skamania County, WA
Most THOW are considered RVs, which in Skamania means you’re only allowed to stay in one for up to 14 days in a row and no more than 120 days in a calendar year. There are exceptions for certain situations. A structure on fixed foundations may be lived in permanently. Check out Skamania County tiny home laws here.
Seattle, WA
There are now ten tiny house villages located throughout Seattle on government, private, nonprofit, and church-owned properties. Seattle welcomes tiny homes, but there are strict criteria to follow. The city allows tiny houses registered as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) but does not allow THOWs. Find out more about Seattle tiny home regulations here. (Read the PDF here)
Woodland, WA
Woodland, WA requires accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be between 300 and 800 square feet. If you’re planning to move to Woodland, be sure you understand the city regulations found here.
Tiny House Laws In WASHINGTON:
Tiny House Building Codes In WASHINGTON:
*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/
Where is good place in Thurston county to purchase land to build two tiny homes on
we will see if it is comprehensive….
I like the extent of your information provided.
I am looking for Tiny Manufacturers who need Dealers.
Can you help
Hello. I’m moving to the Seattle area and VERY interested in a long-term rental tiny home. Do you have any recommendations on people to connect with?
Do you have any info on Lewis County? Just signed up for your email, thanks!
What about the Tiny House Builder Rules And Regulations in Walla Walla County, Yakima County and Kittitas County?
I love this blog! I’m a tiny house builder myself and I find all the information here so helpful. Keep up the good work!
You say that Olympia WA is “is tiny house friendly” yet they tell me that for us normal taxpayers tiny homes are not permitted in the city limits.
In fact, apparently, they discriminate, this is exactly what they said –
“ As we’ve discussed in the past, a tiny home village would not be permissible unless applied for as an emergency housing facility (EHF). An EHF is regulated by Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 18.50 (link). You’ll note that an EHF application is limited to a “faith-based organization, not-for-profit organization, or a unit of government.” Additionally, an EHF is a temporary, non-permanent facility. The City of Olympia plans to transition the temporary site to something permanent in the future, but those plans are not yet finalized”
I have a HDC4 acre in the city limits and want to use it for tiny homes as that is a more affordable use of the property for me. Yet right down the street from me the city bought up property and then got grants from the state they put in 50 pods to move homeless people in, and gave it to a “faith based” organization –
So, can you tell me where you got your information?