Long-term RV park
Tiny Homes in Great Falls, Montana
Tiny homes in Great Falls, Montana — zoning rules, THOW parking, builder costs, and what you need to know before buying.
Last researched April 2026
Why Great Falls
Great Falls is Montana's third-largest city, sitting on the Missouri River along the Rocky Mountain Front where the plains meet the mountains. It is anchored by Malmstrom Air Force Base and has a stable, working-class economy with some of the most affordable housing in Montana — median home prices in the low-$300,000s. The climate is colder and drier than western Montana, with long winters and short, warm summers. Tiny home buyers are drawn to Great Falls for land affordability, proximity to the Rocky Mountain Front and Glacier National Park, and a city commission that has been publicly receptive to tiny-house villages as part of its workforce-housing response.
Zoning & Placement
Great Falls, the seat of Cascade County on the Missouri River, applies all statewide Montana housing rules. Appendix Q of the IRC (adopted statewide December 7, 2019) makes foundation tiny homes of 400 sq ft or less legal under the state building code. HB 246 (2023) defines tiny dwelling units of 350–750 sq ft and authorizes cities to create dedicated zoning districts for them. SB 528 (effective January 1, 2024) requires Great Falls to allow at least one ADU by right on any single-family lot, and SB 532 (2025) removed size caps and added a mandatory 15-day expedited permit review for parcels already served by public water and sewer. SB 252 (2025) requires equal zoning treatment of manufactured and factory-built homes. The Great Falls City Commission has discussed tiny-house villages as a workforce-housing and homeless-services strategy. THOWs are registered as travel trailers with the Montana MVD and restricted to licensed RV parks for long-term residency. 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
ADUs are allowed by right on any single-family residential lot under state law SB 528 and SB 532. No owner-occupancy requirement. State size caps were removed in 2025; local standards on setbacks, height, and parking still apply. Parcels on public water/sewer are entitled to a 15-day expedited permit review. Build cost for a 600–800 sq ft detached ADU in the Great Falls market typically runs $140,000–$220,000, below Bozeman and Missoula pricing.
Where to Park
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Great Falls.
Great Falls does not permit full-time THOW residency on standard residential lots. THOWs must be placed in licensed RV parks or campgrounds for permanent occupancy. Several long-term RV parks operate in the Great Falls area with monthly rates generally in the $400–$700 range — among the more affordable markets in Montana. On unincorporated Cascade County land, THOW placement is more permissive, though counties may still require setback and utility compliance.
RV park
Great Falls KOA
Builders Serving Montana
Wolf Industries
Battle Ground, washington
Battle Ground factory builder producing modular tiny homes, ADUs, and single-family homes. Over 500 homes placed in five years. New 21,000 sq ft factory doubles production capacity to two homes per week.
Service areas: washington, oregon, california, montana, idaho
ARCH 406
Billings, Montana
Billings-based design-build firm specializing in high-end custom tiny homes and small-footprint residences. A sister company to Collaborative Design Architects, ARCH 406 offers full architectural design paired with general contracting services. Their Nomad model starts at $68,000 and features R-20+ walls and R-30 roof systems engineered for Montana's harsh winters. As of May 2026, all projects serve the Montana market.
Service areas: Montana
Custom Tiny Homes of Montana
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell-based builder offering RVIA-certified park model RVs (399 sq ft) and HUD-standard modular cottages (400–1,100 sq ft). Floor plans can be expanded up to 17 feet wide and 72 feet long. Custom Tiny Homes of Montana handles design, build, and delivery throughout Montana and ships nationwide. Site copyright 2026; confirmed active via Facebook page (Tiny Homes of Montana | Kalispell MT).
Service areas: Montana, Nationwide
Tiny Homes Montana LLC
Columbia Falls, Montana
Columbia Falls custom THOW builder giving clients complete control over their tiny home design from trailer selection through finishes. Tiny Homes Montana LLC handles design, construction, and delivery of move-in-ready homes on wheels. Pricing runs approximately $325 per square foot; typical builds range from $65,000 to $130,000 depending on size, as of May 2026. Located at 208 Columbia Mountain Drive, Columbia Falls, MT.
Service areas: Montana
Tiny Homes of Spokane
Spokane, washington
Spokane-based park model and tiny home dealer offering RVIA, ANSI 119.5, and L&I certified units. Carries Cavco and Fleetwood models. Delivers throughout the Pacific Northwest including Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.
Service areas: washington, idaho, oregon, montana
Woodland Ridge Tiny Home Crafters
Livingston, Montana
Livingston-based luxury tiny home builder founded in 2020 by Cody Wood and Rick Gilliland. Woodland Ridge designs and builds custom modular homes in their shop, then cranes them onto permanent foundations on the customer's site. Projects include primary residences, workforce housing, and income- generating rentals. Pricing runs $90,000–$150,000 as of May 2026. Member of the Livingston Chamber of Commerce.
Service areas: Montana
Costs
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Great Falls.
Tiny home path
Traditional home path
Potential monthly savings
Resources
Verified links for planning, permitting, and community connections in Great Falls.
Common Questions
Guides for Montana Buyers
Guides, zoning explainers, and financing articles related to this state.
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