If you haven’t noticed, there’s a tiny house movement, spurred on by shows such as HGTV’s Tiny House, Big Living and Netflix’s Tiny House Nation, which inspire homeowners today to right-size their space. Beyond TV, interest is sustained by affordability pressures and ADU-friendly policies, with adjacent indicators like park model RV shipments tracked by the RV Industry Association showing a persistent niche for sub‑400‑sq‑ft movable dwellings. As a cost benchmark many buyers compare, the U.S. Census Manufactured Housing Survey shows new manufactured homes averaging in the low‑to‑mid‑$100,000s in recent 2024–2025 data, while more jurisdictions reference tiny‑house provisions in the residential code via the 2024 IRC’s Appendix Q.
Why are tiny houses so popular? It’s not just about the adorable small home you’re buying at an affordable price. In 2025, professionally built tiny houses on wheels commonly run about $60,000–$120,000, premium/custom builds can exceed $150,000, and DIY materials often total roughly $20,000–$60,000; reported per‑square‑foot costs of about $200–$500 are typical (Forbes Advisor; Angi). And Tiny Home Builders sell a range of shells and finished models; final pricing varies by size, systems, and certification.
But before you get swept away with the idea of moving into your own tiny house and heading south for the winter, there are special considerations as far as home insurance goes. How the unit is built, certified, titled, and used determines insurability and financing: foundation‑built, code‑compliant tiny homes often fit homeowners/dwelling policies, while movable units are usually insured as RVs or Park Model RVs when certified to NFPA 1192/ANSI A119.5 standards (ICC Appendix Q; RVIA standards). Marketwide, premiums and underwriting have tightened since recent catastrophe years (Insurance Information Institute), and HUD’s final rule clarifies the RV exemption that many insurers rely on to classify THOWs (HUD 2022 rule).
[Read: The Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Companies ]
What Is a Tiny House?
Tiny House Living typically means a dwelling of 400 square feet or less (lofts excluded) when built on a permanent foundation under residential codes. The 2024 International Residential Code retains a dedicated tiny‑house appendix that relaxes certain dimensions for lofts, stairs, and ceiling heights to make small dwellings safer and more practical (IRC Appendix Q). Some owners pursue mobility instead, opting for a tiny house on wheels (THOW) that can travel like an RV; others use tiny homes as backyard ADUs where local zoning permits.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry released an informational sheet on what classifies a tiny house, and many states are following suit. Adoption pathways vary: California includes Tiny Houses in the 2022 California Residential Code as Appendix AQ for local adoption (California CRC Appendix AQ); Washington’s code cycle includes Appendix Q to permit tiny homes on foundations (Washington SBCC); Oregon provides statewide guidance for tiny houses on foundations and on wheels (Oregon BCD); and Maine law requires municipalities to allow tiny homes where single‑family dwellings are permitted, with compliance via building codes or RV standards (Maine statute).
But not all tiny houses are fixed in place. Some tiny houses are fitted with wheels and can be towed wherever you decide, making this lifestyle even more attractive to younger generations, as well as those ready to retire and explore the continent. Movable tiny homes are most commonly built and insured under RV standards such as NFPA 1192 and the Park Model RV standard ANSI A119.5 (park models are typically limited to 400 sq. ft.), often verified through RVIA certification (NFPA 1192; ANSI A119.5 PMRV). Local siting rules still control whether full‑time residential use of RVs/PMRVs is allowed.
Can I Insure My Tiny House?
Insurers place tiny houses into established categories based on construction and use. Foundation‑built units permitted to residential code (often using the tiny‑house appendix) can often be insured on standard homeowners (HO‑3/HO‑5) or dwelling (DP) forms. Movable units that meet RV or Park Model RV standards are usually insured on RV/travel‑trailer forms, with “full‑timer’s” endorsements when the unit is your primary residence (ICC Appendix Q; Insurance Information Institute).
If your home is prefabricated and displays a construction seal certifying that the house was built according to code, insuring your tiny house is fairly simple. For foundation builds, permits, inspections, and documented compliance with the local residential code improve eligibility for homeowners coverage; rentals may fit a DP‑3 form. For movable units, accepted labels include RVIA or equivalent third‑party certifications to NFPA 1192 or ANSI A119.5 (RVIA).
To confirm the tiny house can be insured without too much hassle, look for the construction seal. You can typically find the plate or decal under the kitchen sink. If it’s not under the sink, be sure to ask the manufacturer or the person you’re buying the tiny house from where the seal is located. For HUD‑code manufactured homes, a data plate and HUD label are required; state modular programs issue their own insignias; and tiny homes on wheels often carry an RVIA or other accepted third‑party label (programs like NOAH provide multi‑stage inspections used by some insurers) (HUD 24 CFR Part 3280; RVIA). The plate includes important information such as:
- Date of manufacture
- Company, name and address of manufacturer
- Occupancy
- Type of construction
- Model number
- Design loads
- Building codes
- Label and serial numbers
Tiny House Insurance
If your home meets local building codes and displays a construction seal or plate, you can purchase a regular homeowners insurance policy for your tiny home. Expect coverage similar to other dwellings (Coverage A for the structure, personal property, liability, and additional living expense), with premiums influenced by location hazards and broader market conditions (III). If you’re building or transporting a unit prior to occupancy, consider builder’s risk or course‑of‑construction coverage; some specialty programs add trip coverage and tiny‑home‑specific options (AAIS Tiny Homes Program; American Modern Tiny Home).
But if your home is not purchased from a manufacturer and you build your own tiny house, you’ll need to take a few extra steps before you can insure it. The tiny home generally must be permitted, inspected, and adhere to zoning rules; documentation (plans, photos, receipts, and certification where applicable) helps unlock standard coverage paths. If homeowners isn’t available, a dwelling (DP) policy via a specialty carrier may fit (ICC Appendix Q; AAIS).
Before you go out shopping for your next tiny house or building your own, have a serious conversation with your insurance agent and get a plan before investing time, money and energy into the home. Be ready to provide permits, inspection reports, certification labels (e.g., RVIA/ANSI/NFPA or NOAH), VIN/title for units on wheels, site details, and—if renting—proof of appropriate endorsements or commercial coverage (III on RV insurance).
Tiny House on Wheels Insurance
Insuring tiny houses on wheels gets a bit more complicated because they’re not always considered a house. Many states treat THOWs as RVs; to sell or use one, you typically need compliance with ANSI A119.5 or NFPA 1192 and appropriate certification/insignia, plus title/VIN and registration (Washington L&I; RVIA). HUD’s 2022 rule clarifies the RV exemption and references these standards—guidance insurers use to distinguish RVs/PMRVs from manufactured homes (HUD final rule).
In practice, a movable tiny home is usually insured on a travel‑trailer or PMRV policy when it meets recognized RV standards. Add a full‑timer’s endorsement if it’s your primary residence; your auto policy typically provides third‑party liability while towing, while the RV policy covers the trailer’s physical damage and liability when parked (Insurance Information Institute; NAIC; Progressive). Clarify settlement terms (agreed value vs ACV), personal effects limits, attached items (decks/solar), trip/transport coverage, and roadside/towing.
There’s an issue, though. Many RV insurance policies don’t allow you to live in your mobile tiny house year-round. Fortunately, there are insurers that offer full-time RV insurance, allowing you to live in your tiny home on wheels year-round, often by adding a full‑timer’s coverage endorsement (Progressive; Foremost). Recent market benchmarks show part‑time travel‑trailer policies can be a few hundred dollars per year, with higher costs for full‑time use, higher unit values, and higher‑risk locations (Bankrate).
The Bottom Line
The tiny house movement looks like it’s here to stay. Typical turnkey THOWs from professional builders often fall around $60,000–$120,000, with DIY routes and premium builds on either side of that range (Forbes Advisor; Angi). On foundations, many jurisdictions reference tiny‑house provisions in the residential code for dwellings 400 sq. ft. or less (ICC Appendix Q), while movable units rely on RV/PMRV standards and local siting rules (RVIA). Match your build to your goal and financing: foundation‑built, permitted units can be titled as real property and may access mortgages/renovation loans—including ADU‑oriented products (Freddie Mac ADU)—whereas THOWs/PMRVs are generally financed and insured as personal property (RV/chattel) and require a title/VIN. Popularity is supported by affordability, small‑household demand, and ADU use, with park‑model shipment data reflecting steady niche interest (RVIA data) and policy research noting predominance of one‑ and two‑person households among tiny‑home adopters (CMHC). Know your classification, codes, certification, and insurance requirements up front, and you’ll be set for a smoother, fully insured tiny‑living experience.
Photo by Tony Anderson / GettyImages
