Best Places for Tiny Homes in Oregon (2026)

What Makes a County 'Tiny Home Friendly' in Oregon?

Oregon has long been a haven for the tiny home movement, but for years, finding a legal spot for a Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) felt like searching for a unicorn. You were often limited to RV parks or a temporary "medical hardship" permit. The landscape has shifted significantly, and several Oregon jurisdictions now offer clearer pathways for legal tiny-home placement.

The game-changer is a state law known as Senate Bill 1013. Passed in 2023, it gives counties the green light to allow one THOW or RV as a legal, long-term rental dwelling on rural residential properties that already have a main house. This single piece of legislation is transforming rural Oregon into one of the most promising places in the country to live tiny.

A "tiny home friendly" county in Oregon is one that has officially adopted rules to implement SB 1013. These counties have done the work to create a clear, legal pathway for you to place your home. For a deep dive into the specifics of this and other state-level rules, be sure to check out our comprehensive Oregon Tiny Home Laws and Placement Guide.

So, which counties are leading the charge? Let's explore the best places for tiny homes in Oregon right now.

Oregon Tiny Home Placement at a Glance

Area

Best fit

Important distinction

Deschutes County

Eligible rural property

Confirm zoning, acreage, wildfire-safety, utility, and siting requirements with the county.

Lane County

Eligible rural residential property

Floodplain and site-specific restrictions can rule out an otherwise promising property.

Clackamas County

Rural or certain urban unincorporated properties

Permitted water, wastewater, and electrical connections are central to approval.

Portland

An occupied THOW on a qualifying residential lot

The City has its own placement and utility rules. This is separate from the rural county pathway.

Tiny-home communities

People who do not own a placement property

Some are vacation rentals or sell their own homes and do not accept resident-owned THOWs.

Rules can change and every property is different. Confirm zoning, permits, utilities, setbacks, and occupancy directly with the local planning and building departments before committing to a site.

Top Tier: Deschutes, Lane, and Clackamas Counties

These three counties have moved quickly to embrace the new state law, creating some of the best counties for tiny homes in Oregon. They offer clear, well-defined rules for placing your THOW on private land.

Deschutes County: High Desert Dream

Home to Bend, Redmond, and Sisters, Deschutes County is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. As of May 2025, they have a formal program for siting a tiny home as a rental unit in unincorporated areas.

• Zoning: This is allowed in Rural Residential (RR-10), Multiple Use Agricultural (MUA-10), and other similar zones.

• Land Needed: You'll generally need a property of at least 2 acres.

• Key Rules for a Deschutes County Tiny Home: The county is serious about wildfire safety. You'll need to create a 20-foot "defensible space" of non-combustible ground cover around your home. Your THOW must also be placed on a gravel or paved pad and be within 100 feet of the main house.

• Good to Know: Under current rules, a property can have an ADU or an SB 1013 tiny home, but not both.

Lane County: Valley and Coastal Charm

From the bustling city of Eugene to the scenic coast of Florence, Lane County offers incredible diversity. They adopted their ordinance in January 2025, making them another top-tier choice.

• Zoning: The rules apply to properties in Rural Residential (RR) zones.

• Crucial Restriction: Lane County explicitly prohibits placing these rental RVs in designated floodplains. This is a critical detail to check before buying or leasing land.

• Simple Process: The county has streamlined the process, requiring you to meet the standards (like a 10-foot separation from other structures) but avoiding a complex discretionary permit.

Clackamas County: Close to the Action

Stretching from the Portland suburbs to the majestic Mt. Hood, Clackamas County was an early adopter, passing its rules in September 2024. They offer a great mix of rural living with easy access to urban amenities.

• Zoning Flexibility: Uniquely, Clackamas allows THOWs as second dwellings in both rural residential zones and certain urban low-density residential zones outside of city limits.

• Requirements: The focus here is on proper utility connections. You'll need to show permitted water, wastewater (septic or sewer), and electrical hookups.

The Urban Pioneer: Why Portland is a Top Choice

When it comes to tiny home friendly cities in Oregon, Portland stands in a class of its own. Long before the state passed SB 1013, the City of Portland had a progressive policy allowing one "Occupied Recreational Vehicle" on most residential lots.

Portland regulates occupied RVs and tiny houses on wheels under Zoning Code 33.266.150. A qualifying property may accommodate one occupied vehicle or tiny house on wheels when the City's placement, utility, and other standards are met. The key is doing it right:

• Placement: Your tiny home must be parked on a compliant surface. If it's a towable THOW, this can be a gravel pad, but it must generally be behind the front line of the main house.

• Utilities: This is non-negotiable. You can't just run an extension cord across the lawn. You need a proper electrical connection (like a dedicated 20-amp GFCI outlet) and a legal connection to the sewer system, often via the main house's cleanout.

• No Short-Term Rentals: Like the new county rules, this is for full-time living, not for Airbnb.

Portland’s forward-thinking approach creates a defined urban pathway for legally occupying a THOW, but the property and installation still need to meet current City requirements.

See What a Fully Permitted Portland Hookup Looks Like

Utility work can sound intimidating until you see the process. In this walkthrough, Kol and Jonathan visit a Portland property before the Clever home arrives and explain the trench, electrical work, plumbing, and coordination behind a fully permitted hookup.

Watch the permitted Portland hookup walkthrough on YouTube

Oregon's Best Tiny Home Communities for Full-Time Living

Don't own land? No problem. Oregon is home to some fantastic communities designed specifically for tiny living. These offer a great sense of community and handle all the zoning and utility headaches for you.

Here are a few of the most popular Oregon tiny home communities:

1. Tiny Tranquility (Waldport): A coastal tiny-home and vintage-trailer community with shared amenities. Contact the community directly to confirm current openings, length-of-stay terms, and whether your specific home is eligible.

2. Mt. Hood Tiny House Village (Welches): Best for trying the tiny-home experience near Mt. Hood. The official site markets furnished tiny houses as vacation rentals. We could not confirm that the village currently accepts privately owned THOWs for full-time placement, so do not treat it as a long-term placement option without written confirmation.

3. Hope Valley Resort (Turner): A resort-style community where buyers can explore homes offered within the development. If you already own a THOW or Park Model, ask whether outside-built homes are accepted and request the current home, site-lease, and residency requirements.

4. Emerald Village (Eugene): A permanently affordable cooperative of small, foundation-built homes. It is an important Oregon housing example, but it is not a placement community for privately owned THOWs.

Before applying anywhere: ask whether the community accepts resident-owned homes, which RV or construction certifications it requires, its maximum dimensions, whether full-time occupancy is permitted, and what is included in the monthly fee.

Recently Spotted: Oregon Placement Opportunities

Not every tiny-home opportunity comes with a community name or a polished development. Sometimes it's a small park with an opening, a few acres outside town, or simply a property with the right space and setup.

We keep an eye out for those, too.

Portland: Long-Term Tiny Home Sites at Johnson Creek

Spotted September 2026

If you want to stay close to Portland, Johnson Creek RV Park in Southeast Portland is currently advertising space for tiny homes, RVs, and trailers, with both monthly and long-term leases available.

Sites come with full hookups for electricity, sewer, and water, along with garbage service. The park sits along Johnson Creek near the Springwater Corridor, giving you a more tucked-away setting without leaving the city.

Check current availability at Johnson Creek RV Park

Hines: Tiny Home Sites in Oregon's High Desert

Spotted September 2026

For something quieter, Hines RV & Mobile Home Park, just south of Burns, is currently advertising dedicated tiny-home and mobile-home spots.

The park describes its sites as suitable for long-term living, with full hookups, generous parking, laundry on-site, and easy access to nearby Burns. More importantly for anyone actively looking now, its website currently says spaces are available.

It's a very different Oregon from Portland or the coast: open high-desert country, a smaller community, and plenty of room to get outdoors.

Explore available sites at Hines RV & Mobile Home Park

Dexter: Try Community Living at Lost Valley

Spotted September 2026

About 20 miles southeast of Eugene, Lost Valley Educational Center offers another interesting route for people curious about a more communal version of tiny living.

The nonprofit educational center currently lists several RV, tiny-home, and van sites available as part of its extended trial-visit program. Some sites include water and electrical hookups, with rates starting at $15 per night.

This isn't a conventional long-term tiny-home park, and that's part of what makes it interesting. It's an opportunity to spend some time in an established intentional community and see whether that kind of lifestyle feels right before looking at longer-term options.

See RV and tiny-home sites at Lost Valley

We regularly review these independent listings for relevance and basic credibility before sharing them. Availability, property requirements, and local regulations can change, so we recommend confirming the latest details directly with the property owner or community and local jurisdiction.

Which Clever Model Fits an Oregon Placement?

The right model depends on the site's dimensional limits, access, utility plan, and the classification used by the local jurisdiction or community. Start with the placement rules, then match the home to the site.

• Clever S: An 8.5-foot-wide compact model that can be a strong fit when access or site width is tight.

  See a Clever S in Portland

  Watch this Portland customer share his experience and give a firsthand tour of his Clever S.

  Watch the Clever S customer review on YouTube

• Clever 1 Lite: An 8.5-foot-wide one-bedroom option for buyers who want a separate sleeping space in a road-legal-width footprint.

• Clever 1: A wider one-bedroom home for sites and communities that can accommodate its 12-foot width.

• Clever 2: A two-bedroom layout suited to larger sites and households that need two ground-floor bedrooms.

Model compatibility does not guarantee placement approval. Confirm the home's dimensions, certification, foundation or chassis classification, and utility requirements with the jurisdiction or community. For more owner tours, delivery stories, installation walkthroughs, and build details, visit the Clever Tiny Homes YouTube channel.

Counties with More Restrictions (And What to Know)

While some counties have jumped on board with new laws, others are moving more slowly or have different priorities. In counties like Jackson, Marion, and Washington, your options are currently more limited.

In these areas, the primary legal pathways are often:

• Medical Hardship Permits: This is the classic "loophole" available statewide. It allows a temporary dwelling (including a THOW) for a person who needs care from someone living in the main house. It requires a doctor's note and must be renewed, typically every two years.

• Permanent ADUs: Some counties, like Jackson, are focusing more on allowing permanent, stick-built ADUs under 900 sq. ft. rather than THOWs.

• Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) Zones: Placing a home on protected farmland is a completely different ballgame. In agriculturally-focused counties like Marion, a THOW is generally only permissible as a "farm help dwelling," which requires proving you are essential to the farm's operation. This is a complex area with strict rules. To learn more, read our dedicated guide: Tiny Homes on Oregon Farm Land: EFU Rules.

Choosing Your Region: Coast, Valley, or High Desert?

With so many great options emerging, your final decision might come down to lifestyle. The new laws have opened up every corner of this beautiful state.

• The Coast: Dream of misty mornings and ocean breezes? Look for land in rural Lane County or secure a spot in a premier community like Tiny Tranquility.

• The Willamette Valley: If you want to be near the cultural hubs of Portland or Eugene, explore the progressive policies in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Lane counties.

• The High Desert: For sun-seekers and mountain adventurers, the new rules in Deschutes County make it the ultimate destination for a tiny home base camp.

Oregon is in a golden age for tiny living. By understanding the new county-level rules, you can confidently find the perfect place to park your dream home. To explore all your options and see how Clever Tiny Homes can help you on your journey, visit our main Oregon location page for more resources and information.