Tiny home rules in Washtenaw County, MI — 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.
Neither Washtenaw County nor Ann Arbor has a tiny-home-specific ordinance. A permanent tiny house is regulated as either an accessory dwelling unit or a single-family dwelling under the Michigan Residential Code; accessory buildings may not be lived in.
Washtenaw County does not zone land, and Ann Arbor's Zoning Ordinance has no separate tiny-home category. A tiny home on a foundation is treated as either a single-family dwelling (meeting minimum floor-area and building-code standards) or an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which caps size at 600-800 sq ft and requires owner occupancy plus a recorded deed restriction. Accessory buildings may not be used as sleeping rooms or dwellings. Tiny homes on wheels are considered recreational vehicles, not permanent residences, and are not permitted as year-round dwellings. Land-use authority rests with each city or township under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101), not the county. Confirm specifics with your local planning office.
Occupying a tiny home not approved as a lawful dwelling or ADU is a zoning violation subject to municipal civil infraction fines and removal orders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Washtenaw County's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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