Is a tiny house on wheels treated the same as a tiny house on a foundation?

Usually not. A tiny house on a permanent foundation is treated as a dwelling and normally needs building permits and inspections under the residential code (with the tiny house appendix where adopted). A tiny house on a trailer chassis falls into a different category, and the 2018 IRC tiny house appendix specifically did not address homes on wheels. Some cities have since created their own categories; Boise, for example, allows transportable homes on wheels in some zones only if they meet standards the city adopted. Rules for wheeled units vary widely, so ask your local planning and building office how they classify one before you buy or move it.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• Tiny HousesCity of Boise Planning and Development Services
• The International Residential Code has a big vision for tiny housesInternational Code Council