The regulations governing tiny houses in Arizona greatly vary among different counties. No matter whether you are moving your tiny house from another state, or want to set up one on-site in Arizona, make sure that you get it thoroughly inspected by the local county officials. However, the good news is that, unlike many U.S. states, Arizona has no stringent tiny house restrictions.
Arizona has become a favorite tourist destination in the last couple of years by virtue of the vast desert wildlife, the Colorado River, the Great Canyon, and now, the tiny houses. The boom in housing costs in the last few years has forced a lot of Arizonians to go tiny and embrace the minimalist lifestyle. This is a great opportunity for them to get out of the crowded jungle of cities and suburbs and lose themselves in the beautiful natural landscape surrounding them.
However, you cannot throw together a small shack and call it a day. If you are serious about embracing the minimalist lifestyle in Arizona, you must ensure compliance with the local building codes in place. And if you want to procure a tiny house on wheels, that’s a different ball game altogether.
Here, we will be discussing the various nitty-gritty of tiny house laws in Arizona, the places in Arizona where you can build a tiny house, the things you should know beforehand before purchasing tiny cabins for sale, and the burning questions paramount for shrinking tiny. So, let’s start.
Are Tiny Houses Legal in Arizona?
There is no reference to tiny houses in Arizona zoning codes or state statutes. Although some regulations might differ from one county to another, building codes for permanent tiny houses more or less have the same restrictions as single-family houses.
Yes, since a tiny house is smaller than a standard single-family house, it goes without saying that there would be some dimension-related differences regarding building codes. In sharp contrast to a traditional house, a tiny house has some unique features, as mentioned below:
- Do not require much insulation
- Smaller room dimensions
- Set up on a foundation
- A reduced ceiling height of 6’4″
- Reduced electrical circuits
Once you are done with building or moving your tiny house to your preferred location in Arizona, you must get it inspected by the specific county, post which you will receive a Certificate of Occupancy. This certificate is essential for residing in your tiny abode.
Arizona Cities Where Tiny Homes are Permitted
Do you want to set up your tiny house in an open area? Then, you should consider tiny cabins for sale, and Arizona will never disappoint you. And if you want to stay near cosmopolitan living, here are some tiny-house-friendly cities especially for you:
- Phoenix
- Tucson
- Sedona
- Lakeside
Pima County and Coconino County are the two primary tiny-house-friendly places in Arizona.
Which Types of Tiny Houses Are Permitted in Arizona?
Houses that are less than 400 square feet in size are considered to be tiny houses in Arizona. There are mainly two types of tiny houses: tiny houses on foundation and tiny houses on wheels. Tiny houses on wheels are considered mobile homes and thus must cater to the specific standards of a mobile house. On the other side of the spectrum, tiny houses on foundations must follow 2018 IRC Appendix Q compliance.
What Are the Prerequisites for a Tiny House to Cater to Arizona Building Code?
Tiny houses in Arizona should be more than 200 square feet in size. They must adhere to the same building codes as applies to regular single-family homes but with certain space-specific tweaks:
- The ceiling height should be 6’4″
- Electrical Circuits: The exact number of electrical circuits largely depends on the specific load size of your tiny house.
- Skylight or Roof Access Window: This is not just to boost the aesthetic appeal of your adobe but serves as a good emergency escape.
- Reduced insulation compared to an average-sized house.
- The electrical circuit panel should be a minimum of 60 Amp.
- A Bedroom: Lofts meant for storage space cannot be considered a bedroom unless they comply with the ceiling height requirement.
Besides the prerequisites mentioned above, a tiny house should also cater to the general requirements of an average-sized house, like smoke, carbon monoxide, light detectors, and plumbing and ventilation.
What About THOWs?
Tiny houses on wheels in Arizona are considered mobile houses and thus must adhere to the mobile home requirements. You must obtain a building permit and an approved trailer before you build or buy a tiny house on wheels in Arizona. Once you are done with the construction of your THOW, get it inspected by the concerned authorities before moving in.
Tiny houses on wheels must occupy a minimum of 160 square feet of area in Arizona. Well, now it might seem counterintuitive and nonsensical to know that in Arizona, tiny houses on wheels must be set up on approved foundation sites, like a mobile house pier-jack foundation. And if your tiny house is licensed as a travel vehicle, then the state considers it a non-permanent house.
So, as you can well understand, though you are allowed to build a tiny house on wheels in Arizona, you are not allowed to drive it all over the Great Canyon State. In that case, you can consider an R.V. or a trailer.
Where Can You Build or Park a Tiny House in Arizona?
There is a lot of flexibility when building a tiny house in Arizona. They can be set up on a wide plethora of different zone types, like:
- Isolated single-family zones
- ADU zones
- Multifamily zones
Here, you should note that tiny houses on wheels are considered non-permanent structures in Arizona and, thus, must be parked in zones permitting R.V.s or mobile homes. The good news is that you can park your R.V. or a mobile house in a state park, and you will find ample state parks around Arizona.
Final Take: –
We hope, by now, you have a thorough idea of the various rules and regulations governing Arizona tiny houses. For anyone looking for top-notch tiny houses on foundation, tiny houses on wheels, tiny cabins for sale, or structures of a similar kind in Arizona, then TinyHouseMe is the place to be. We are an online directory that bridges the gap between potential buyers and multiple trusted tiny home builders all around the U.S. and Canada. Reach out to the builders via us to get a quick response and priority service from the builders.
