Tiny Houses Outside the United States: Where to Start

Reset A− A+ Tiny House Talk has wonderful readers around the world, and several wrote about this exact problem.

“Building regulations and land laws are very complicated, and unless you own your own land it is difficult to find someone to put up with it, especially in the UK.”

— Hannah, Tiny House Talk reader

Every country’s system is different, and I can’t cover them in detail, but the core approach in this guide works everywhere: figure out what your home is legally, find out which office controls land use where you want to live, read the rules, and ask in writing. Here’s where to start.

United Kingdom

Land use is controlled through the planning system, run by your local planning authority (usually your local council). A tiny house on wheels is generally treated as a “caravan,” and stationing a caravan for residential use typically needs planning permission for that use of the land. Residential caravan and mobile home sites also generally need a site licence from the local authority, which can only be granted once planning permission is in place. Building regulations apply separately to permanent buildings. Many councils offer pre-application advice. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check the right one.

Canada

Land use is mainly controlled by your municipality through its zoning bylaw, while building codes are set at the provincial or territorial level (largely based on the National Building Code of Canada). Rules for RVs, park models, and secondary suites or garden suites vary widely by municipality and province, and several provinces and cities have been encouraging secondary units. Start with your municipal planning department; in rural areas, it may be a regional district or county.

Australia

Land use is controlled by your local council under state or territory planning laws. Tiny houses on wheels are often treated as caravans, and councils commonly limit how long one can be lived in on private land without approval. Permanent buildings fall under the National Construction Code. Several states and councils have published fact sheets on tiny houses and secondary dwellings (“granny flats”). Search your council’s website for “tiny house” or “secondary dwelling.”

Everywhere else

Look for the office that handles planning, zoning, or land use for your town or district, and the office that handles building permits. The vocabulary will differ, but the questions in Part 14 translate well. Many readers outside the U.S. have also found local tiny house associations and online groups helpful for learning what has actually worked in their area.

Resources for Where Can I Put It?: Resources

These resources are general and durable. Websites change, so if a link moves, search for the name.

Offices to contact (U.S.)

• City or county planning / zoning department (sometimes “community development” or “land use”): zoning questions, ADUs, variances, conditional use permits, zoning verification letters.
• Building department: permits, inspections, which building code edition and appendices are adopted.
• County or district environmental health department: septic, perc tests, wells, composting toilets.
• County recorder or register of deeds: recorded deeds, covenants, easements.
• County assessor / GIS office: parcel maps, zoning layers, ownership.
• Floodplain administrator (often within planning): flood zone questions.
• Your state’s manufactured housing office: installation and titling of manufactured homes.
• Local land-use or real estate attorney: contracts, land purchases, variances, and compliance questions.

Online tools

• Municode, eCode360 (General Code), and American Legal Publishing: free online libraries of thousands of local codes.
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov): flood maps by address.
• Your county’s GIS or parcel viewer: search “[county name] GIS parcel map.”
• 711 relay services: text-to-voice and video relay for calling offices that only answer the phone.

Search terms that work

• “[county] zoning ordinance minimum dwelling size”
• “[city] accessory dwelling unit ordinance”
• “[state] ADU law”
• “[county] recreational vehicle permanent residence”
• “[county] temporary dwelling permit” or “medical hardship dwelling”
• “tiny house community [state]” or “pocket neighborhood [region]”
• “resident-owned manufactured home community [state]”
• “[county] environmental health septic permit”

Standards and terms to know

• International Residential Code (IRC), and its tiny house appendix: Appendix Q (2018), AQ (2021), BB (2024), for houses of 400 square feet or less.
• NFPA 1192: the standard for recreational vehicles. RVIA: the RV Industry Association, whose seal indicates RV-standard construction.
• ANSI A119.5: the standard for park model RVs (400 square feet or less in set-up mode).
• HUD code: the federal standard for manufactured homes. Note the July 2026 ROAD to Housing Act changes allowing homes built without a permanent chassis, with HUD standards to follow.
• NOAH: a third-party inspection program for tiny houses on wheels.
• ADU, variance, conditional use permit, zoning verification letter, perc test, easement, covenant: all explained in this guide.

From Tiny House Talk

• Browse tiny house communities, ADUs, park models, and small homes for sale at tinyhousetalk.com.
• Guide 1, The Tiny House Money Plan: price your full path, including land and site work.
• Guide 3, Tiny Without the Ladder: plan a one-level, age-friendly small home.
• Guide 4, Bringing Them On Board: talk with family about backyard and shared-land arrangements.
• Guide 5, Your First Tiny Steps: decide what size, type, and path fits you.

More to read on Tiny House Talk

• Best Tiny House Communities in the US: 15 Real Places You Can Live Tiny Right Now: A starting list of real communities to research and call about full-time living.
• Where to Park Your Tiny Home: Communities and Land Across the U.S. and Beyond: More places to look when you need a legal spot to park.
• Tiny House Communities in Georgia: Where to Live Small in the Peach State: One of our state community roundups; a model for researching your own state.
• No Rent, No HOA: 5 Tiny Home Owners Who Cracked the Code on Land: Five owners who bought land, including one who searched for no minimum size and no HOA.
• Virginia's New ADU Law: Backyard Tiny Houses Get Easier to Build in 2027: A recent state ADU law explained, showing how backyard rules are loosening.
• Can You Legally Live in a Tiny House in Florida?: A state-level walk-through of the legal questions this guide teaches you to ask.

Your turn

Where are you hoping to put your tiny or small home? Share your state or country in the comments.

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Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.

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