Tiny home rules in Richardson, TX — 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 houses must meet minimum dwelling size and IRC construction standards; RV-style tiny houses on wheels are not allowed as permanent residences.
Richardson does not have a dedicated tiny-home ordinance, so these structures are regulated under the city's adopted International Residential Code (IRC) and zoning minimum dwelling standards. Site-built tiny homes on foundations are allowed in single-family districts only if they meet the minimum dwelling unit square footage set by the zoning district, which is typically 1,000 square feet or more in most Richardson residential zones. The IRC 2021 Appendix Q allows homes under 400 square feet when adopted locally, but Richardson's minimum-size requirements generally preclude small tiny houses. Tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) are classified as recreational vehicles or park-model RVs and may not be used as permanent dwellings in residential districts; they can only be stored on private property behind a side-yard fence and may not connect to permanent utilities. Accessory Dwelling Units are not permitted in most Richardson residential districts.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Richardson code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Dallas County.
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