Tiny home rules in Somerville, MA — 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 can qualify as ADUs in Somerville under the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. Tiny homes on wheels are treated as RVs and generally cannot be used as permanent dwellings.
A tiny home built on a permanent foundation and meeting the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR Appendix AQ governs tiny houses) can serve as a detached ADU in Somerville. It must stay under 900 square feet to qualify for by-right ADU treatment under MGL c.40A s.3A, meet setback and height requirements, and have legal utilities. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are titled as recreational vehicles or trailers and are not permitted for permanent residential use in Somerville because they do not comply with 780 CMR for permanent dwellings and are prohibited from long-term occupancy on residential lots under the zoning ordinance. Short-term placement (under 180 days) as a construction trailer or visitor RV may be allowed with a permit.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Somerville, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle tiny homes.
See how Somerville's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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