Tiny home rules in Franklin County, OH — 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.
Tiny homes on permanent foundations are legal in Franklin County if they meet the Ohio Residential Code minimum floor area and habitable space standards. Tiny houses on wheels are generally not permitted as permanent dwellings under Columbus zoning; they are treated as RVs or trailers and subject to RV parking rules.
Ohio Residential Code Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) was adopted in the Ohio Residential Code and permits tiny homes under 400 sq ft on foundations that meet structural, egress, ceiling-height, and safety standards including a minimum 6-foot-8 ceiling in main areas and 6-foot-4 in lofts, ladder or stair access to lofts, and egress windows. Tiny homes on foundations can be permitted on any residential lot meeting minimum lot-size requirements, typically 4,500 sq ft in Columbus R-3. Tiny houses on wheels (THOW) remain classified as recreational vehicles under Ohio BMV rules and cannot serve as a primary dwelling in residential zones; they may be parked on a residential lot subject to the city's RV parking rules (generally not allowed in front yard, limited duration). Several Franklin County townships allow THOWs on agricultural parcels.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Franklin County's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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