Tiny home rules in Madison, WI — 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 foundations are allowed in Madison if they meet WI Uniform Dwelling Code and zoning minimum dwelling size. Tiny houses on wheels are treated as RVs and not allowed for permanent residence outside RV parks.
Madison does not have a tiny-home-specific ordinance, so tiny dwellings are regulated by default under MGO 28 zoning and WI Uniform Dwelling Code. A permanent tiny home on a foundation can serve as a primary dwelling or as an ADU under MGO 28.151. Primary dwellings must meet the UDC minimum habitable area (roughly 150 square feet per occupant with kitchen and bath) and zoning district dimensional standards. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are classified as recreational vehicles; living in them permanently on a residential lot is prohibited by MGO 28 and MGO 9.49. They may only be used as permitted recreational vehicles, stored under RV parking rules, or occupied in licensed RV parks. Madison participated in planning for the Occupy Madison tiny house village for formerly homeless residents, a special land-use case. Building Inspection handles UDC compliance; Planning handles zoning questions.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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