Gresham tiny home zoning, ADU rules, THOW parking, and builder costs for east Multnomah County, Oregon.
Last researched May 2026
Gresham sits at the east edge of the Portland metro, offering MAX light rail access, lower housing costs than central Portland, and proximity to Mt. Hood. The Pacific Northwest climate demands quality weatherproofing, and local ADU and middle-housing pathways make Gresham attractive for foundation-based tiny builds.
Gresham follows Oregon's statewide ADU rules under ORS 197A.425 and implements HB 2001 middle-housing zoning via the Gresham Community Development Code. ADUs are allowed on single-family lots, and duplexes are permitted in most residential zones. THOW placement mirrors nearby Portland in concept but Gresham has its own local standards; RV-classified tiny homes require a primary dwelling on-site. Always confirm specifics with Gresham Planning before siting.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
ADUs are permitted statewide under ORS 197A.425, which Gresham implements. As of May 2026, detached and attached ADUs up to 800 sq ft are allowed on most single-family lots with no owner-occupancy mandate and no additional off-street parking requirement for the baseline unit. Standard residential setbacks apply, and detached ADUs typically must comply with rear-yard and side-yard limits set in Gresham's Community Development Code. Building permits are required and System Development Charges may apply for new connections; check the City of Gresham's planning department for current fee schedules and any zone-specific overlays before designing.
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Gresham.
Gresham treats tiny houses on wheels as RVs. Full-time placement on a residential lot requires a primary dwelling, proper utility hookups, and compliance with Gresham's parking, setback, and nuisance ordinances. Gresham does not have a Portland 29.50.050-style explicit occupancy rule, so always confirm with Urban Design and Planning before placing.
rv-park
1097 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR (~5 mi NE of Gresham)
RV resort along the Sandy River where most riverfront and creekside spots are filled with monthly tenants; full 30/50 amp hookups, concrete pads up to 60 ft, garbage/water/sewer included on monthly stays (electricity metered).
rv-park
20145 NE Sandy Blvd, Fairview, OR (~3 mi north of Gresham)
Combined mobile-home and RV community accommodating long-term stays in the Portland-Gresham metro corridor.
rv-park
37000 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett, OR (~10 mi east of Gresham)
Small 21-site full-hookup RV park where roughly half the spots are permanent or semi-permanent residents; offers nightly, weekly, and monthly rates with on-site laundry and Wi-Fi.
Buckley, Washington
Buckley-based builder and one of Washington's first to embrace L&I factory inspection. Builds ANSI 119.5 certified THOWs, park models, and modular tiny homes. CEO Todd McKellips also serves as executive director of the Washington Tiny House Association.
Service areas: Washington, Oregon, California
Portland, Oregon
Portland-based luxury tiny home builder featured on national television. Family-owned company offering fully custom THOWs, park models, ADUs, and commercial builds. Signature Series starts at $129,900. Builds designed for Oregon's climate with moisture resistance and thermal insulation.
Service areas: Oregon, Washington, California
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene-based luxury tiny home builder with over 300 handcrafted homes delivered. Family-owned company with PHIUS and LEED backgrounds emphasizing sustainable building practices. Offers both signature models and fully custom builds with financing starting at $697/month.
Service areas: Oregon, Washington, California
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
Damascus, Oregon
Oregon-based pre-engineered building kit manufacturer offering prefab cabin kits (including the 495 sq ft Mazama model) and backyard ADU kits shipped nationwide. Founded in 2002 alongside sister company DC Builders; maintains Delaware-specific design and pricing resources for cabin and ADU projects.
Service areas: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland-based prefab ADU specialist offering turnkey modular accessory dwelling units with fixed pricing. Handles all aspects from site planning and permitting to utilities, installation, and landscaping. Rent-ready units delivered in under five months.
Service areas: Oregon
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Gresham.
Tiny home path
Traditional home path
Potential monthly savings
Not officially. Portland's Code 29.50.050 explicitly allows one occupied RV or THOW on a developed residential lot; Gresham does not have an equivalent ordinance, so confirm before placing.
Yes. Detached and attached ADUs are permitted on most single-family lots under state law and Gresham's code, up to 800 sq ft.
Yes, under HB 2001 / ORS 197A.420. Most residential zones allow duplexes, and cottage clusters are permitted in qualifying areas.
Wet winters and occasional ice storms favor steep roofs, quality flashing, and well-insulated envelopes for small builds.
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