Tiny home rules in Des Plaines, IL — 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.
Des Plaines does not have specific tiny home zoning. Tiny homes on foundations must meet the same minimum dwelling size, setback, and building code requirements as any single-family house. Tiny homes on wheels are treated as recreational vehicles and may not be used as permanent residences in residential zones.
Des Plaines's zoning ordinance has not adopted specific tiny home provisions. A tiny house built on a permanent foundation is regulated as a single-family detached dwelling and must meet the minimum lot size, lot width, setback, and minimum floor area requirements of the underlying residential zoning district. The 2018 International Residential Code Appendix Q (which Des Plaines may have adopted) provides limited construction flexibility for dwellings 400 square feet or smaller, such as reduced ceiling height in lofts and ladder access, but it does not override zoning minimum dwelling size requirements. Tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) are classified as recreational vehicles or park model trailers and may not be used as permanent residences in residential zoning districts. RVs may not be occupied as dwellings on private residential lots. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are subject to separate zoning rules and are not currently permitted by-right in most Des Plaines residential districts; check current zoning for any updates.
Occupying a tiny house on wheels as a residence in a Des Plaines residential zone violates zoning rules. Code Enforcement at (847) 391-5300 may issue a notice and fines beginning at $100 per day until vacated. Building a foundation tiny home without meeting zoning minimums may result in an order to remove the structure.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how other cities in Cook County handle tiny homes.
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