Buncombe County, NC Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Buncombe County, NC, covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds, determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Key Facts
- Classified as
- Travel trailer
- Max temporary use
- 180 days per year
- Allowed districts
- R-3, PS, CR, OU
- Permanent affixing
- Prohibited
- Citation
- Sec. 78-664
Summary
Buncombe County classifies a tiny home on wheels as a travel trailer. It may be used as a temporary dwelling for no more than 180 days per calendar year, only in districts that permit travel trailers (R-3, PS, CR, OU), and may never be permanently affixed to the ground as
Travel trailers and/or recreational vehicles may be used as a temporary single-family dwelling for no more than 180 days out of the calendar year only in those districts that permit travel trailers or travel trailer parks. In no case shall a travel trailer or recreational vehicle be permanently set up or affixed to the ground or site.
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 78-664, travel trailers and recreational vehicles (which the county's guidance groups with 'tiny homes on wheels') may be used as a temporary single-family dwelling for no more than 180 days out of the calendar year, and only in districts that permit travel trailers or travel-trailer parks (R-3, PS, CR, OU). They may not be permanently set up or affixed to the ground or used as a permanent dwelling. A disconnected, tagged, road-ready trailer not used as a dwelling is treated as a parked vehicle. A tiny home built on a permanent foundation to the state building code is regulated instead as a dwelling under the district's standards.
Violations & Fines
Using a travel trailer or RV as a permanent dwelling, or exceeding 180 days, violates Sec. 78-664 and is enforceable by the zoning administrator via civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in a tiny home on wheels full-time?
What about a tiny home on a foundation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
Compare Buncombe County to another location·View the North Carolina accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.