Tiny home rules in DeKalb County, GA — 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.
DeKalb County treats foundation tiny homes as dwellings subject to zoning minimum square footage. Tiny homes on wheels classified as RVs — prohibited as permanent dwellings in residential zones. Limited ADU pathway.
DeKalb County classifies tiny homes based on construction type. Foundation-built tiny homes must meet the Georgia State Minimum Standard One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code and DeKalb Zoning Code Chapter 27 minimum square footage requirements, which vary by zoning district (often 800-1,200 sq ft minimum for primary dwellings in single-family zones — making true tiny homes difficult to site as primary dwellings). IRC Appendix Q (tiny houses under 400 sq ft) is available in Georgia but DeKalb zoning minimums typically override. Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) are classified as recreational vehicles and cannot be used as permanent dwellings in residential zones — RV occupancy on residential lots is prohibited beyond short-term visiting under DeKalb Code. DeKalb has updated ADU rules allowing detached accessory dwelling units in some zones with size caps (often 750-1,000 sq ft), which can accommodate tiny-home-style construction.
THOW used as permanent dwelling: code violation, removal order, fines up to $1,000. Undersized primary dwelling: certificate of occupancy denied. Unpermitted ADU: retroactive permit or removal required.
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See how DeKalb County's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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