Washington County, UT Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Washington County, UT, 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
- THOF/THOW size range
- 150 to 1,000 sq ft
- THOW permit limit
- 3 years total, renewed yearly
- Max occupants (THOW)
- 3 people
- Program sunset
- May 15, 2028
- THOW as STR
- Prohibited
Summary
A permanent Tiny Home on Foundation can be a primary or accessory dwelling if it meets 2021 IRC Appendix AQ. A Tiny Home on Wheels can only be used as temporary housing under the county's pilot program, capped at 3 years and 3 occupants, and it sunsets automatically on May 15, 2028.
The purpose of this section is to create a pilot program to provide a temporary housing accommodation during the current housing crisis. The County may terminate this program at any time, but it shall automatically sunset without further action on May 15, 2028. A Recreational Vehicle (RV) or Tiny House on Wheels (THOW) as defined in Section 10-4-1 may be used as a temporary housing accommodation on a lot or parcel in a zone that allows single-family dwellings as a permitted use... 4. The use of a RV or THOW for more than three (3) people is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
Zoning code § 10-4-1 splits tiny homes into two categories. " that is "permanently attached or anchored to a foundation or slab," must have "a residential appearance," and "may be permitted as a primary dwelling or accessory dwelling unit" if it meets Appendix AQ of the 2021 IRC. A TINY HOME ON WHEELS (THOW) is the same size range but built on a trailer, and is "only permitted as specifically set forth in the code," meaning it cannot simply be parked as housing. " Under it, a THOW may serve as temporary housing on a lot zoned for single-family dwellings only if: a temporary use permit is obtained before occupancy and renewed yearly for up to three years total; the primary dwelling is owner-occupied with a primary residential exemption on file with the County Assessor; the THOW houses no more than three people and is not used as a short-term rental; utilities meet state and health department standards with a functioning interior bathroom (composting toilets are not permitted); the THOW keeps its wheels road-ready with current registration; generators are barred; only one THOW per lot is allowed; and it must stay out of the building setback, front yard, or street side yard, meeting the setbacks that apply to ADUs. Only immediate family of the property owner, not the broader Title 10 definition of "family," may occupy it.
Violations & Fines
Occupying a THOW as housing without the required temporary use permit, or beyond its 3-year renewal limit, is a Title 10 zoning violation. Under § 10-1-22, the county issues a written warning with a 10 business day cure period; failing to cure brings a $250 per day civil penalty and a recorded Notice of Fine, or the county may pursue a class B misdemeanor prosecution after separate notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in a tiny home on wheels permanently in Washington County?
Can a tiny home be my permanent house in Washington County?
How many people can live in a tiny home on wheels under the pilot program?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Utah accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.