Mobile home parks accommodate the unique needs of people who live in mobile homes.
However, some people have tiny houses that seem to fall somewhere in between a mobile home and a standard home.
Can people take advantage of a mobile home park if they have a tiny home?
We cover everything you need to know about whether you can put a tiny house in a mobile home park.
Can You Put A Tiny House In A Mobile Home Park? (Explained)
You can put your “tiny house” in a mobile home park as long as you register it as a mobile home with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and it adheres to all of the rules of the mobile home park.
All land is “zoned” for specific types of buildings, and your home must meet the zoning laws for the area.
Areas zoned for mobile homes only accept homes registered as “mobile homes.”
Mobile home safety codes and utility hookups may differ from a standard home, so the tiny home must be built with the mobile home regulations and requirements in mind (or you’ll have to make the adjustments yourself).
HUD offers counseling services to renters and new owners since the details can get rather complicated.
Considerations
The two main considerations you’ll want to look at when thinking about where to place your tiny home are whether it has a foundation and whether it’s used or new.
If the home has a foundation, you will have fewer options, but your home will complement a more stable, residential lifestyle.
If you buy a tiny house already built, you must work with the house as it is.
If you buy a brand-new tiny house, you can have it built to your preferences, including where you want to place it.
You’ll also get the opportunity to customize your home exactly how you want it, making buying a new tiny home the more attractive option.
How To Register Your Home As A Mobile Home
You can register either your existing or new tiny house as a mobile home by gathering the proper documentation and submitting an application to your state within 30 days of purchase.
Documents you will need include:
- Bill of sale
- Certificate of occupancy
- Homeowner identification
- Tax receipt
If you fail to provide the proper documentation within the required time, you may lose your opportunity to register the home as a “mobile home.”
What Is A “Tiny House?”
A “tiny house” doesn’t have a specific definition.
However, the name speaks for itself.
A tiny house refers to a house specifically designed to support a household in a compact space compared to a traditional house.
It’s a very small house that makes the most of every inch of living space, counter space, and storage space.
As we said, the exact definition gets a little hazy, especially considering a tiny house may mean one thing to one person and something else to another person.
While no official definition exists, most people consider a tiny home as one that is under 600 square feet.
Most tiny houses are prefabricated homes as opposed to homes built on-site with a foundation.
Many tiny houses are even on trailers with wheels (known as a “tiny house on wheels” or THOW).
However, some tiny houses have foundations.
Benefits Of A Tiny House
Why would someone want a tiny house in the first place?
Believe it or not, since one of the first tiny houses was prominently put on display in 1999, more and more people have jumped on the “tiny house movement.”
Some of the benefits of a tiny house include:
1. Mobile Options
If you have a THOW, it’s rather easy to move the house to a new location if you so choose.
In fact, it’s often easier to move a THOW than a “mobile home.”
This option allows people to travel around the country easily without foregoing the comforts of home.
2. Cost-Effective
Since the space is smaller, it requires fewer materials and less labor, leading to lower construction costs.
The average cost of a tiny house is $45,000.
3. Eco-Friendly
It won’t cost as much to heat or cool a small space, so a tiny house uses fewer valuable natural resources.
You will also save money on your utility bills on top of helping the environment.
To keep your tiny house as ecologically friendly as possible, it’s also a good idea to use eco-friendly appliances and insulate the home properly.
4. Simplification
Clutter and too much space can lead to an unsightly home and unnecessary stress.
Smaller spaces for people to simplify their lives and generate less waste.
You will be forced to use creative storage methods and limit your property to the bare minimum.
5. Less Crowding
The world is getting more and more crowded.
Large homes take up more space than necessary, especially in urban areas.
A tiny house saves space so that more people can live comfortably in a smaller area.
6. Easier To Sell
In most cases, it’s a lot easier to sell a tiny house than a standard house.
You won’t have as many legal requirements.
Plus, the cheaper price makes it attractive and more attainable to more people.
Tiny Home Vs. Mobile Home
Some people may not completely understand the difference between a tiny home and a mobile home due to their similarities.
Both homes tend to use less space and cost less than a traditional home.
They both also offer customization possibilities.
The customization can make it so that the two homes may intersect more often than you may have thought, making the differences between the two guidelines as opposed to hard facts.
Tiny homes tend to cost more but offer less space.
They also tend to allow for more mobility options, more self-sustainability options, better efficiency, and a more luxurious appearance.
Mobile homes are more spacious on average but not as luxurious.
Despite the name, they also can’t move as readily or offer the same sustainability options as tiny homes on wheels.
Living In A Mobile Home Park
Living in a mobile home park means that you get a space in the mobile home park among other similar-minded people.
You will pay property rental fees for the privilege of using the space, but you will pay the fee to the park as opposed to the government.
Depending on the park, you will also have a yard and a little distance from your neighbor (as opposed to an apartment).
You can find mobile home parks in urban environments, but they tend to exist more often in rural areas.
Rural mobile home parks usually have a lot of natural benefits, such as scenery and access to forests, lakes, and rivers.
They also usually contribute to an “off-the-grid” lifestyle better than standard residential zones.
For example, most rural mobile home parks utilize wells and septic systems to reduce the reliance on public water services.
Benefits Of Living In A Mobile Home Park
Why would someone with a tiny house choose to live in a mobile home park as opposed to their own property?
Here are just some of the benefits of living in a mobile home park:
1. No Property Tax
If you place your tiny home on your own property, you will need to pay expensive property taxes.
When you live in a mobile home park, you only pay fees to the park.
The fees will be significantly less than the standard property tax.
The national average cost for a mobile home lot is $380 per month.
2. Basic Utilities Usually Included (Water And Garbage)
While you will most likely be responsible for electricity, gas, and cable, the park usually takes care of water and garbage, including sewage.
All parks have different utility offerings, so research the park in question to learn the details.
3. Community Amenities
Many mobile home parks include a pool or workout facility.
They may also host community events, which is perfect when you move to a new location where you don’t know a lot of people.
Not all mobile home park communities are the same.
Look for a mobile home park that caters to residents like you.
Some parks emphasize accommodations for seniors while others emphasize accommodations for families or people who want to live off the grid.
Disadvantages Of Living In A Mobile Home Park
Despite the advantages, it’s important to know the disadvantages as well.
One main disadvantage is that the park can change ownership rather quickly, meaning rules and expenses can change with little notice.
Furthermore, there’s a bit of a stigma in some areas regarding mobile home parks.
Some people think of mobile home parks as lower class.
This simply isn’t true.
Despite the misconception of that stigma, it can discourage some people from living there.
Complications On Putting Your Tiny House In A Mobile Home Park
There are several roadblocks you might run into when you are trying to put your tiny house in a mobile home park.
Here are some of the complications you may experience.
1. Disqualifying Size
Most mobile home parks can only accommodate a certain size of home on each lot.
If a home is larger than the lot, it may not qualify.
Tiny houses tend to have the opposite problem.
Houses must be a certain size to qualify as a “mobile home” (320 square feet or larger).
If your tiny home doesn’t meet this requirement, you can add an addition to meet the requirements or look for an alternative option.
2. Park Requires House Built On-Site
All mobile home parks have their own rules and regulations outside of HUD requirements.
Some parks insist that all new structures get built on-site.
If you have an existing tiny house, you may not be able to place your house in the park you like.
Talk to the park you like in advance so that you can build on-site if they have that requirement.
3. Doesn’t Meet HUD Compliance
Houses and mobile homes have different compliance requirements.
The home must meet HUD requirements, or it won’t be able to take advantage of the mobile home park.
Mobile home compliance mostly emphasizes safety features and utility connectivity.
Even if your tiny house doesn’t necessarily need the safety features required for a mobile home, you will need to include them if you want the house registered as a “mobile home.”
Alternatives To Mobile Home Park For Tiny Houses
What if you can’t live in a mobile home park?
If your tiny house gets denied as a “mobile home,” you may need to look into an alternative solution.
Take a look at these other options.
1. Tiny Home Communities
Just like there are mobile home parks, there are also tiny home communities specifically designed to house tiny homes.
Many tiny home communities work similarly to mobile home parks.
2. RV Parks
Many tiny houses on wheels can be registered as Recreational Vehicles or RVs.
For a tiny house to qualify as an RV, it must meet the following requirements:
- Basic living amenities
- 170 sq. ft. of living space
- Towable bumper hitch
- The vehicle must be registered with the DMV.
Keep in mind that if you register your tiny home as an RV, you can’t place it in a mobile home park, and it won’t qualify as a “permanent residence.”
3. Buy Your Own Land
You can always buy your own land and place your tiny house on your property.
You will need to pay property taxes, but luckily, you won’t need as much property for your tiny home.
If you plan to buy property, you may choose a tiny house with a foundation as opposed to one on wheels.
You will be able to register your tiny house as a “permanent residence,” which opens up numerous options as well.
4. Parking Legally
For the nomad tiny homeowner, you can take your tiny home on the road and park it in legal spots along your route.
Laws vary from state to state.
Some states will allow you to park in RV parks and national parks (if the tiny house is on wheels).
You may also have better luck parking in rural areas, or if you use your tiny house for recreation as opposed to everyday living.
The states with laws that best accommodate tiny houses are:
- California
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Texas
- Oregon
If traveling from one state to another, learn the laws in each upcoming state before you find yourself stuck with no place to park.
You should plan each stay in advance and even give yourself multiple options in case you veer off the trail to explore something unexpected, taking you off schedule.
Ways To Make The Most Of Your Tiny House
There are some ways to make the most of your tiny house so that it stays comfortable and clean while utilizing the limited space in the best way possible.
Some of the best practices for tiny houses include:
1. Multi-use Appliances And Furniture
You will not only benefit from small appliances but also multi-use appliances.
For example, you can find combination washer and dryer units as well as kitchen units that include a sink and dishwasher in one.
You can also use a hideaway bed that pops down when you need it but folds up for more living space when not in use.
2. Creative Storage Solutions
You will need to find ways to save space.
You can do this in creative ways, such as installing stairs that include storage space and beds with drawers in them.
Hooks and organizational products can also help you keep your items out of the way and organized.
3. Plenty Of Windows
A tiny house can feel cramped.
You can help the space feel less cramped by bringing in natural light and windows that show the spacious outdoors.
Conclusion
A tiny house is perfect for people who don’t need a lot of space.
However, where can you post your tiny home?
The main thing to consider is whether your tiny house is on wheels or whether it has a foundation.
Consider the details about your tiny house and where you can place it before you start construction.
Of course, you can always drive it to the nearest RV park that accepts tiny homes until you figure out a permanent location.
