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THE TINY F.A.Q.
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Do you have a showroom? Finished models to tour?Yes! Our outdoor showroom is located at 3630 N. Hazel Ave Fresno CA 93722. Tours are available by appointment only so please call ahead of time for availability or book directly with the TOUR tab in the menu. There are typically 2-6 houses available for viewing during your visit. Since build production models, "built to order" (BTO) models and custom tiny house projects, the available homes are usually different. Our current inventory can only be seen in person and since in-stock ready-to-go inventory has a quick turnover, we rarely have every model in-stock. Inventory homes go quickly, so if you want to be the contacted when a specific model is available, please contact us directly. You can also always do any model BTO and we'll build a tiny with all the options you're looking for.
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How much does a tiny house cost?Pricing for models is based on the size and options you select, check out our Model Pages for pricing on different configurations. Built to order (BTO) Projects may have more customizations. Custom builds vary in price and are based on material and labor involved. We are always excited to try new and unique projects! Due to demand, custom design slots are limited with the average fully-custom project ranging between $150-240k. While available models can be customized with listed options, they can be further personalized with non-standard premium options.
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How long do tiny houses take to build?On average our pre-designed (model) tiny homes take roughly 4-6 weeks to complete however we usually have inventory ready for immediate delivery. Custom projects can range from 8-18 weeks to complete and typically have a waitlist. Additional time may be required for for complex builds. Other factors that can contribute to build time may include material back-orders and concurrent projects. We always strive to complete each build in a timely manner, without sacrificing quality. For clarification, "build time" is the time it takes to build, and should be differentiated from total project timeline, as waitlist queue and order times vary per project.
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How can I finance my tiny house?We offer Tiny Home financing through our partner 21st Mortgage. Term loans up to 25 years and as low as 10% down on approved credit. We offer lending for both Tiny Homes by themselves, or Tiny Homes plus land!! TIP: If you have available equity from a property, getting an equity line of credit, home equity line of credit, equity loan, or cash option-refinance will generally carry the lowest interest and longest loan term compared to RV or personal loans. Financing through 21st Mortgage may be limited to available inventory in some cases.
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What are the height and size limitations of a tiny house?Tiny houses do have restrictions how large they can be. In California we can build to a maximum height of 14 feet. The maximum height for a tiny home is 13’6” tall nationwide. The legal allowable width is up to 13.5” although we only currently offer 8.5’ , 10.5’ and 12’ wide homes. The maximum length varies state to state, so check your states transportation regulations. The longest home we build at California Tiny House is a 40' trailer foundation, before any additional bump outs.
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Where can I place my movable tiny house?Our tiny houses can be placed nearly anywhere depending on the size as style purchased. Our standard units are built to the ANSI 119.5 building code and can be used anywhere recreational vehicles (RVs) or park model Trailers (PTs) can! These units can be used as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on properties in many cities/counties across the USA. California is on the forefront of tiny house legislation and is moving quickly to legalize tiny house living throughout the state. California cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt Co. Placer Co., Oakland and San Jose have already passed tiny house legislation and many other cities are expected to follow all over the USA. Our tiny homes build to the HUD building code standards have even more options for placement. HUD units can be placed in many of the areas that don’t have legislation for ANSI Tiny Homes as they are pre approved dwellings that can be used as ADUs and even stand alone dwellings in most areas. Contact your local planning and/or zoning official to check current process for your city or county. If you already own land you can park your tiny home on it but it might not be able to be legally occupied for full-time living in all areas/locations. There are exceptions to this under certain circumstances, please call us for more info. Our HUD tiny homes can be placed as an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) behind a main house, nearly anywhere in California assuming you can meet the setback requirements. They can also be placed in many areas as stand alone units where no main house is present.
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Do you help with buying/utilizing land where I can live in a tiny house full-time, legally?"We cannot help a client find land to purchase, but we can offer guidance on how to ensure a property will allow for a tiny home, and be used/occupied legally. Before purchasing a property have the realtor of your choosing contact us. Through our partner 21st Mortgage we can bundle lending for both land and a tiny house! If you already own land you can park your tiny home on it but it might not be able to be legally occupied for full-time living in all areas/locations. There are exceptions to this under certain circumstances, please call us for more info. Our moveable tiny homes built to the HUD requirements can be placed as an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) behind a main house, nearly anywhere in California assuming you can meet the setback requirements. They can also be placed in many areas as stand alone units where no main house is present.
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How do I move my tiny house? Do you deliver?Tiny Homes come in various different widths. Depending on which one you choose it may have different moving requirements. Homes that are over 8’6” in width require a one-day moving pass. This is usually around $40-60 dollars but depends on state(s) transportation fees. Any home over 8’6” in width also required a driver with a Class A license. We recommend a 1 ton dually pick-up truck with a class 4-5 hitch for transportation on most of our homes. (If not otherwise stated) Some of our smallest models can be hauled with a lighter duty pick-up or SUV. We work with several third party delivery services that are fully bonded and insured to haul your new home to its location safely. Delivery cost varies depending on the weight/size of the home. Most homes are between $4-6.50 per mile when picked up from our warehouse. Tiny house delivery is priced for standard drop only. If special circumstances exceed a standard drop-off ( obstacles such as power lines, branches, or difficult terrain) the delivery company may have an extra charge.) We can deliver just about anywhere in the world, but may require alternate shipping methods.
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What if a tiny home won’t fit through my driveway?Tiny Homes are “tiny”, but sometimes not tiny enough to fit through a fence or driveway. Simply taking a fence down for a day to get the home in the desired location may be an option. You can also crane any of our homes into the desired location. Third party crane service is the preferred method of placement for those hard to access sites.
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Do you measure/prepare the site?We do not come out to properties for measuring or do any site work. We have partners in various parts the state that are able to help with utilities and site work for our clients. Check out the FAQ below ("How do I get water/sewage/power to site? What type of connections?" for hook-up types and requirements. Please give us a call if you have more question or request a referral* for site work. *Referrals not available in all areas
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How do I measure on-site to know if my house will fit?Measuring for fitment will depend on the size home you are looking to fit into a given area. Please allow for an access opening at least 2 feet wider, a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet and 10 feet longer than the length of the desired home. If you are placing as a legal ADU please also factor in all setback requirements needed in your city/county.
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How do I get water/sewage/power to site? What type of connections?Site prep is very similar to adding a spa. You will need water, sewer/ drain and power, but certain homes have different requirements (partial or fully off-grid, for example). If you need utilities added, contact a local contractor of your choosing and we can provide them with the info they need. For power you will want to install a 50 sub panel that is dedicated for the house (similar to what is required for an Electric Vehicle). There are RV Power posts that work great for placing power close to the unit. For your water, you will want to run a water line with a traditional hose spigot as close to the house as possible. For your sewer, you will want to either tie into a 3 inch clean-out or extend the sewer closer to the home and stub up a 3 inch clean out. All connections for our Moveable Tiny Homes are similar to an RV. They require power (usually 30-100 amps) water (garden hose or white hose) and sewer (a 3 inch sewer connection hose). Power connection varies depending on total amperage service, but we will indicate which specific cord/plug type is required. Most of our units come with the option to hook up like and RV and or like a traditional house. These can be used for a more direct connection on units not being moved for many years. Contact us if you need help or have other specific questions about site prep.
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Do I need a concrete pad?While a concrete pad is the best foundation for the tiny home to sit on, in most cases you do not need one. There are some jurisdictions that do require a concrete pad for legal placement but in many cases there are several alternatives. Any hard packed surface, decomposed granite, base rock, even concrete/ wood/ blocks all can be used. It is recommended to check with local ordinances and codes before preparation.
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How do I connect or hook-up my house when it arrives? Do you hook it up?We provide instructions with every house for simple hook-up, but the overview is: Level, connect water, power, sewer and enjoy! We have referrals* in major areas within the state of California that can help with onsite hook ups, permitting and placement. For information in your area please feel free to give us a call. *Referrals for hook up services not available in all areas.
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What are the options and styles available? Where do I start?In the General/Purchase FAQ category there is a timeline with more detail and how to start, but generally there are a few categories: -Models (pre-built packages and semi-custom designs, where you select pre-priced options), -Customs (fully custom projects ranging from tiny houses, to all types of commercial applications) and -Partial Builds/"Shells" (models/customs offered at different stages of build-completion). Any model can be built as a "shell" which can be further customized after purchase.
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Can you build at my location?No. We do not build anything on-site. We do have Modular/ HUD models coming out that will be able to be delivered fully or partially assembled and will be posted as soon as they are available. Modulars will be able to be placed on site and be used for a permanent home or ADU, depending on the size. Check back regularly for more info on modular/ HUD units.
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Do you offer downstairs bedrooms?Yes. Most of our models have a downstairs sleeping options. Our California Studio Series and Vesta Series are exclusively single-level living with open floorpans.
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Can I get a bathtub?Bathtubs are available on some models, and can be digned into most size homes. Please contact us to confirm which models may be modified as a BTO to include a bathtub. A fully custom build can include just about anything, as long as it meets weight-distribution and codes.
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Do your homes include appliances?A cooking surface, microwave and refrigerator are included in most models. Please see our model pages for more info. Optional appliances include mini-splits, ranges, convection ovens, steam shower generators, washer dryers, etc. For all of our custom builds, appliances can be included or left out for further customization. Shell builds do not usually include any appliances, but in some cases have optional hook-ups in standardized locations.
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How are your homes insulated/ what type of insulation do you use?We use a variety of insulation products. Insulation values can be modified in BTO projects and are determined by client needs and geographic location. Our standard insulation includes, mineral wool ceilings with and R-value of 23 and mineral wool wall insulation with and R-value of 15. All of our insulation is mold and mildew resistant. Specialty insulation products are available as well as additional insulation for freezing climates for an additional cost.
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Can I use my own design? Or another design I've seen?As long as the design works, meets code, and is safe, we can probably build it. For a client designed build, the process is the same as our Custom builds. We prefer to build our own designs, but can build just about anything. A similar design might be used a reference when custom designing your home, at your request. Even with a design we would still need to redraw/design to ensure quality and safety.
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Will you send me layouts of projects you have done?All of our model layouts can be seen by clicking the more info tab on each respective model. For all custom projects we may share previous designs to give you a starting point, but will not share any floor plans or designs if you are not already a client.
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Can I get a tiny house for 4-6 people to live?We've done custom designs that can sleep up to 6 people, but typically not for full-time living. Please contact us with your needs regaurding number of guests/occupants
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What recycled/reclaimed materials can I use for my build?For clients wanting to used reclaimed or recycled materials we recommend using them aesthetically only. We will not used any reclaimed, recycled or repurposed items for structure, trailer, roofing, windows, exterior doors, toilets, etc.
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What are your off-grid or partially off-grid options?We offer many different combinations of off-grid choices. Depending on the house, availabily of certain options differ. From solar power to water/waste management, please contact us directly to discuss your needs.
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Do you do Bus, van, boat, or any type of conversions?"These would fall under our Custom build projects. We will consider almost any project, and are always excited to try new things. Please contact us with details regarding your custom project.
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Is California Tiny House a certified builder? What does that mean?California TIny House is a certified builder. A certified home indicates compliance with the ANSI 119.5 standard for PM Rvs. Movable Tiny Houses (MTHs) are built very close to IRC or residential building code and typically surpass the ANSI standards. Having a certified MTH means that you can legally park your home, transport your home, and sell your home when/ if the time comes. A certification is similar to having a licensed contractor build you a home with all the necessary permits and inspections. There are different 3rd party companies that provide certification, but the certifications are not all recognized. Certain cities/counties allowing full time Tiny Home habitation require a certification from one of their states’ recognized 3rd party agencies, which exclude several popular agencies. For broad multi-state compliance we are certified through the federally accredited Pacific West. Remember, this certification is mandatory for placing your home anywhere legal in the country.
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Are you RVIA certified?We carry the same certification but do not use RVIA, which is an association, not a certification. While a lot of blogs and sites mention RVIA by name, it is often assumed that it is the actual certification required for Moveable Tiny Homes; this is not true. In fact, many areas that are passing legal tiny home ordinances will not accept RVIA plaques. To meet strict city/county qualifications, service a larger client base, and other reasons, we use a different 3rd party accredited inspection agency which also specializes in the inspections of Manufactured homes and Modular Homes.
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Do you have a warranty?Absolutely. All of our homes, both custom or a model, come with a limited 1 year warranty on all construction and a 10 year structural can be added. Every appliance and certain materials also come with their own manufacturers warranties. Here are some examples: Our window manufacturer has a lifetime warranty, roofing is lifetime (25 year on color fade), flooring is 50 year, trailer foundation is lifetime (on the structure), siding varies depending on product, and appliances vary by the manufacturer.
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Are you licensed general contractors?We are general contractors, yes. Our Contractors license numbers 524119
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