Tiny homes in Miami, Florida — Miami 21 zoning, THOW parking rules, ADU requirements, builder costs, and what you need to know before buying or building.
Last researched June 2026
Miami's draw for small-footprint living is the year-round outdoor season: winters in the 70s, Biscayne Bay sailing, and Everglades National Park within an hour of downtown. The trade-offs are real — humid summers, a June-through-November hurricane season that makes tie-downs and insurance central concerns, and some of the most expensive residential land in Florida, which is why most tiny dwellers land in the Redland and Homestead agricultural fringe south of the city rather than in core neighborhoods like Coconut Grove or Little Havana. If a backyard ADU is the goal, the bungalow lots of the city's older single-family streets are where the 2025 ADU push is focused; if a THOW is the goal, plan on park living outside the urban core.
The City of Miami regulates land use through Miami 21, a form-based zoning code organized by transect zones rather than conventional districts; single-family neighborhoods fall under the T3 (Sub-Urban) transect. A foundation-built tiny home inside city limits must comply with the Florida Building Code like any other single-family dwelling — there is no separate tiny-home category, and the lot, setback, and frontage standards of the underlying transect zone still apply. Tiny homes on wheels are treated differently: Florida Statutes § 320.01 classifies THOWs as recreational vehicles, and as of June 2026 the City of Miami does not permit an RV to be used as a permanent dwelling on a residential lot.
In unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Section 33-22 of the county code (the ADU ordinance adopted November 2022) allows accessory dwelling units of 400–800 square feet on lots of at least 7,500 square feet in RU-1 and similar districts inside the Urban Development Boundary — currently the most realistic legal path to small-footprint living in the metro. Inside city limits, an ADU ordinance amending Miami 21 passed first reading at the City Commission in February 2025 (per Coconut Grove Spotlight, April 2025); final adoption status should be confirmed with the city. Verify current requirements with your local planning department before purchasing land or beginning construction.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
In unincorporated Miami-Dade County, the ADU ordinance codified at Section 33-22 (adopted November 2022) permits one accessory dwelling unit of 400–800 square feet on qualifying single-family lots of at least 7,500 square feet inside the Urban Development Boundary; the unit requires a Certificate of Use renewed annually, and parking is capped at one additional space. The county's ADU Blueprint program offers pre-approved plans from private design firms that can be permitted repeatedly on single-family sites, cutting design and review costs. Inside City of Miami limits, ADUs were not yet broadly legal as of early 2025: an ordinance amending Miami 21 to allow them — affecting an estimated 27,000 of the city's 36,000 single-family lots, including Coconut Grove — passed first reading unanimously in February 2025 (per Coconut Grove Spotlight, April 2025). Confirm final adoption with the City of Miami Planning Department before designing a backyard unit.
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Miami.
As of June 2026, a tiny house on wheels cannot be sited as a permanent residence on a private residential lot in Miami — the city and Miami-Dade County treat THOWs as RVs, which limits full-time living to licensed RV and mobile-home parks. The closest confirmed options sit outside the urban core: Palm Garden RV Park in Homestead (about 35 miles southwest) operates as a manufactured-home and RV community near the Keys and the Everglades, and Miami Everglades RV Resort in the Redland agricultural area offers long-term RV sites about 25 miles from downtown. The best-known dedicated tiny-house option in South Florida is Gracious Tiny House Park on Lake Okeechobee (roughly two hours northwest of Miami), which leases sites on six-month-minimum terms — standard monthly rates were $425 plus electric as of spring 2024, per the park's site. Builder pricing below reflects statewide Florida ranges, as Miami has few local THOW builders. Expect to register a THOW with the Florida DHSMV as an RV, and confirm any park's THOW policy directly before signing a lease.
tiny-home-village
Okeechobee, FL (~2 hrs northwest of Miami)
Dedicated tiny-house and RV park on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee with 21 sites, about 10 on the waterfront. Leases run six months minimum; standard sites were $425/month plus electric as of spring 2024.
rv-park
Homestead, FL (~35 mi southwest of Miami)
Manufactured-home and RV community in Homestead, positioned between Miami, the Florida Keys, and Everglades and Biscayne national parks. Confirm THOW acceptance directly with the park.
rv-park
Redland agricultural area, ~25 mi southwest of downtown Miami
34-acre Thousand Trails resort near Everglades National Park with long-term RV sites; one of the closest long-stay options to the Miami urban core. Confirm THOW acceptance directly with the resort.
Childersburg, Alabama
Childersburg, Alabama park model home dealer serving six southeastern states, operating adjacent to Atkinson Homes on US Highway 280. Sells Clayton-built park models starting around $80,000, handles permitting and site prep, and delivers to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Active as of May 2026.
Service areas: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi
Hobe Sound, Florida
Hobe Sound, Florida architect-builder founded in 2004 by Rick Gava, offering NOAH-certified tiny homes on wheels and custom foundation designs; site builds serve the Palm Beach Gardens area and move-in-ready units deliver across Florida, as of May 2026.
Service areas: Florida
Berryville, Virginia
Berryville, Virginia THOW builder and workshop host run by Robin Hayes, a Green Advantage Certified Builder with over 40 years of construction experience. Offers custom-built tiny homes on wheels and hands-on build workshops held in Clarke County, VA each spring and fall. Serves Virginia and the broader East Coast, with delivery across the U.S. Custom builds range from approximately $30,000 for owner-assisted projects to $60,000 or more for fully built homes, as of May 2026.
Service areas: Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida
Longwood, florida
Family-run licensed Florida general contractor (30+ years experience) building foundation and wheeled tiny homes since 2014. Foundation homes from $78,000 (288 sq ft) to $192,000+ (1,051 sq ft). Also develops tiny home communities across Florida, including Braveheart Community in Cocoa.
Service areas: florida
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.
Service areas: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia
Fort Myers, florida
Fort Myers-based ADU specialist building on-site accessory dwelling units statewide. Offers studios (384 sq ft), 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom models. Standard features include quartz countertops, handcrafted cabinets, luxury vinyl floors, and curbless showers. Free property analysis and estimate. No hidden fees. 1-year workmanship warranty.
Service areas: florida
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Miami.
Tiny home path
Traditional home path
Potential monthly savings
$3,000–$3,900/mo
Source: Zillow Miami market data, April 2026
Verified links for planning, permitting, and community connections in Miami.
Official
Not on a private residential lot. As of June 2026, Florida Statutes § 320.01 classifies THOWs as RVs, and Miami does not allow an RV as a permanent dwelling outside licensed parks. Full-time THOW living means a park such as Miami Everglades RV Resort in the Redland or Gracious Tiny House Park on Lake Okeechobee.
In unincorporated Miami-Dade County, yes — Section 33-22 (adopted November 2022) allows 400–800 sq ft ADUs on lots of 7,500+ sq ft inside the Urban Development Boundary. Inside city limits, a Miami 21 ADU ordinance passed first reading in February 2025; confirm final status with the city before building.
Florida builders quoted roughly $50,000–$130,000 for typical THOW builds in 2025, with custom shops such as Movable Roots (Melbourne) listing $79,999–$225,000 and Cornerstone Tiny Homes (Longwood) starting foundation models at $91,000. Add lot rent of roughly $425–$800/month at parks within commuting range.
The nearest dedicated tiny-house park is Gracious Tiny House Park in Okeechobee, about two hours northwest. Closer in, Palm Garden RV Park in Homestead and Miami Everglades RV Resort in the Redland offer long-term RV sites; confirm THOW acceptance with each park before committing.
Between 400 and 800 square feet under Section 33-22 of the county code, as of June 2026, on qualifying lots of at least 7,500 square feet — with a Certificate of Use that must be renewed annually.
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