rv-park
Southside RV Park
5316 S. Caraway Road, Jonesboro, AR 72404
Self-described as Jonesboro's premiere long-term RV park, with 6-month minimum contracts ($600-$625/month) and full hookups for residents 18+ (background check required).
Friendly
Tiny Homes in Jonesboro, Arkansas
Tiny homes in Jonesboro, Arkansas — zoning rules, THOW parking, builder costs, and what you need to know before buying.
Last researched May 2026
$25,000 – $110,000
Builder cost range
6
Builders serving area
78,576
Population
Friendly
Tiny-home friendliness
Why Jonesboro
Jonesboro is Northeast Arkansas's anchor city, home to Arkansas State University and a regional hub for healthcare, agriculture, and logistics. The climate is humid subtropical — hot, thunderstorm-heavy summers and short, mild winters — and the landscape transitions from the flat Delta to the foothills of Crowley's Ridge just west of town. Land and housing are substantially more affordable than Central or Northwest Arkansas, with rural Craighead County acreage widely available, making Jonesboro attractive to tiny-home owners who want cheap land and a college-town lifestyle. The tiny-home scene here is small but growing, and the metro's strong healthcare and university workforce has fueled steady demand for alternative housing that should accelerate once Act 313-compliant ADU rules are fully in place.
Zoning & Placement
As of April 2026, Jonesboro's zoning code historically enforces a one-dwelling-per-lot rule — the city's own Planning and Zoning FAQ states that "only one dwelling may be placed on a lot or parcel of land," with mother-in-law quarters and similar second dwellings requiring a Conditional Use permit from the Planning Commission. That posture is being updated to comply with Arkansas Act 313 of 2025 (HB 1503), which as of January 2026 requires every municipality to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit by right on any residential lot with a single-family home; until Jonesboro's implementing ordinance is finalized, applicants should expect the Planning Department to process ADU requests under a mix of the older Conditional Use procedure and the new state requirements.
Foundation-built tiny homes that meet the adopted IRC minimums and the zoning district's setback, lot-coverage, and utility requirements are permitted as single-family dwellings on conforming lots. Tiny homes on wheels are treated as recreational vehicles under the city code and are not permitted as full-time primary dwellings on most residential lots; long-term THOW residency is generally restricted to licensed RV parks or to rural acreage in Craighead County where zoning allows.
Prospective tiny-home owners should contact the Jonesboro Planning and Zoning Department at (870) 932-0406 for current permit procedures and the latest ADU guidance. Verify current requirements with your local planning department before purchasing land or beginning construction.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
What to verify locally
- • Confirm whether your tiny home will be treated as an ADU, a site-built dwelling, or a recreational vehicle.
- • Ask about utility hookup requirements, especially sewer, electrical service, and emergency-access setbacks.
- • Check whether long-term occupancy is allowed on the lot type you are considering.
- • Verify minimum square footage requirements for your zone classification.
ADU & Backyard Tiny Homes
Jonesboro historically allowed only one primary dwelling per lot, with mother-in-law suites and second dwellings subject to a Conditional Use permit from the Planning Commission. Under Arkansas Act 313 of 2025 (effective January 2026), Jonesboro must now allow at least one ADU by right on any residentially zoned lot that already contains a single-family home; ADUs are capped at 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the primary dwelling (whichever is smaller), permit fees at $250, and the city cannot impose extra parking, owner-occupancy, or matching-design requirements. As of April 2026, Jonesboro is working through the practical transition from its old Conditional Use pathway to the new by-right framework — applicants may still be asked to go through Planning Commission review for some ADU configurations until the local ordinance fully conforms. Foundation-built tiny homes meeting IRC minimums qualify as ADUs; THOWs do not. Contact Jonesboro Planning and Zoning at (870) 932-0406 for the most current application procedures.
Where to Park
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Jonesboro.
Jonesboro does not permit tiny homes on wheels as full-time primary dwellings on most city residential lots. Long-term THOW dwellers in the Jonesboro area typically choose between licensed RV parks inside or near the city and unincorporated Craighead County acreage where zoning is more flexible. The Northeast Arkansas region around Jonesboro has several private RV parks serving long-term residents, travelers, and workers tied to Arkansas State University and the region's ag and medical industries; monthly rates, amenities, and long-term-stay policies vary by park and should be confirmed directly. For private-land THOW placement, many Craighead County parcels allow an RV to be lived in while a permanent dwelling is under construction, and some agricultural zones permit longer-term RV occupancy — but full-time THOW residency usually requires either a conditional-use approval or a lot rezoned for RV/manufactured housing use. Septic permitting through the Arkansas Department of Health is required for any long-term site without municipal sewer access. Always confirm the specific park's long-term-stay policy and any county-level septic and setback rules before committing to a long-term THOW location near Jonesboro.
rv-park
Lakeview RV Resort
5903 Dalton Farmer Dr, Jonesboro, AR 72404 (off I-555)
RV resort offering long-term stays with 3-month minimum contracts ($625-$650/month) for 30-amp and 50-amp sites.
Builders Serving Arkansas
Deer Valley Homebuilders
Guin, Alabama
Guin, Alabama manufacturer of energy-efficient manufactured and modular homes, founded in 2004. Operates a 200,000-square-foot facility and has produced 15,000+ homes across 18 states. Offers a "Cozy Cabins" tiny-home line within its Signature series, built to HUD code or state modular standards. Member of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association. Active as of May 2026.
Prefab / modular Manufactured homes Foundation builds Tiny homes
Service areas: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia
Eagle Homes
Springdale, Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas tiny home builder and small-home community operator with three locations: Eagle Homes on Ford in Springdale (currently accepting new orders as of May 2026), Eagle Homes on Monte Ne in Rogers, and Eagle Homes on Olive in Rogers. Builds compact one-bedroom, one-bath homes of roughly 400 sq ft set on permanent foundations within planned communities, and also delivers tiny homes to customer-owned land elsewhere in NWA. Pricing for community placements starts at approximately $95,000 (community lot configurations vary).
Park models Tiny homes Foundation builds Custom builds
Service areas: Arkansas
Evergreen Tiny Homes
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas-based stick-built tiny home and ADU contractor serving Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, and the surrounding NWA region. Locally owned with over two decades of custom home-building experience. Builds tiny homes, attached and detached ADUs, pool houses, granny flats, garage conversions, and backyard offices on the customer's property — turnkey from permitting and design through completion. Stick-built on permanent foundation rather than factory-prefab, allowing custom permitting paths under NWA city ordinances.
ADU Foundation builds Custom builds
Service areas: Arkansas
Great Lakes Tiny Home
Baltic, Ohio
Baltic, Ohio-based manufacturer of RVIA-certified Park Model homes and custom prefab tiny homes. Delivers turnkey builds across all 48 contiguous US states including Michigan, Minnesota, and New Jersey. Maintains dedicated Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey location pages. ANSI A119.5 certified; on-site delivery, crane, and setup services available. Price range approximately $75,000–$180,000 depending on model and site work (as of May 2026).
Park models THOW Prefab / modular Custom builds
Service areas: Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Nationwide
New Candle Cottages
Spiro, Oklahoma
Spiro-based New Candle Cottages builds handcrafted tiny houses with professional construction standards and personalized touches. Its site lists Oklahoma and Arkansas service areas, custom builds, model homes, showroom contact details, and a delivery-and-setup process.
Custom builds Tiny homes
Service areas: Oklahoma, Arkansas
Pratt Homes
Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas-based Pratt Homes serves Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas with modular homes, prefab homes, cottages, manufactured homes, and tiny houses. Its tiny-house catalog includes 399-square-foot park model designs such as Sweet Escape, and the company describes options for Oklahoma buyers in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Norman.
Prefab / modular Park models Custom builds Tiny homes
Service areas: Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
Costs
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Jonesboro.
Tiny home path
Builder cost range $25,000 – $110,000
Estimated monthly total $475–$850/mo
Traditional home path
Median home price $185,000
Estimated monthly total $1,600–$2,200/mo
Potential monthly savings
$900–$1,500/mo
Source: Zillow, Redfin, RentCafe (March/April 2026)
Resources
Verified links for planning, permitting, and community connections in Jonesboro.
Common Questions
Can I live full-time in a tiny home on wheels in Jonesboro?
As of April 2026, Jonesboro does not permit THOWs as full-time primary dwellings on most residential lots; the city classifies them as recreational vehicles. Long-term THOW residency is typically limited to licensed RV parks in or near Jonesboro, or to unincorporated Craighead County parcels where zoning allows and septic can be permitted.
Can I add a backyard ADU or mother-in-law suite in Jonesboro?
Jonesboro historically required a Conditional Use permit for any second dwelling. Under Arkansas Act 313 of 2025 (effective January 2026), the city must allow at least one ADU by right on any residential lot with a single-family home — though as of April 2026 Jonesboro is still transitioning its local ordinance. Call Planning and Zoning at (870) 932-0406 for the current procedure.
What does a tiny home cost in Jonesboro?
As of 2026, foundation-built tiny homes in the Jonesboro area generally run $25,000 for a basic shell up to $110,000+ for a fully custom unit, with Park Model RVs in the $40,000–$70,000 range. Rural Craighead County land is among the most affordable in the state.
Is there a minimum dwelling size in Jonesboro?
Jonesboro enforces the adopted IRC, which sets a 120 sq ft minimum habitable space; individual zoning districts may impose additional size, setback, or foundation requirements. Confirm the current adopted IRC edition and any Appendix Q status with Jonesboro Planning at (870) 932-0406.
Are there tiny home communities in Jonesboro?
As of April 2026, Jonesboro does not have a dedicated tiny-home village. Most tiny-home owners in the metro either build an ADU on a single-family lot, stay long-term at a licensed RV park, or site a THOW on rural Craighead County land.
Guides for Arkansas Buyers
Guides, zoning explainers, and financing articles related to this state.
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