tiny-home-village
Circle Pond Tiny Home Community
Ruskin (~30 min east of St. Petersburg)
Permaculture-focused long-term THOW community with 15 lots starting under $500/mo.
Moderate
Tiny Homes in St. Petersburg, Florida
Tiny homes in St. Petersburg, FL — zoning rules, THOW parking, builder costs, and what you need to know before buying.
Last researched April 2026
$60,000 – $150,000
Builder cost range
6
Builders serving area
258,308
Population
Moderate
Tiny-home friendliness
Why St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg offers a strong combination of Gulf Coast climate, an expanding ADU framework, and proximity to Tampa Bay's growing tiny home ecosystem. Summers are hot and humid; winters are mild with consistent sunshine. Coastal flood zones restrict where THOWs and ADUs can realistically land, pushing buyers toward inland Pinellas neighborhoods or Hillsborough County parcels. The city's vibrant arts scene and walkable downtown give urban-leaning tiny home buyers a rare combination of mild climate and cultural amenity.
Zoning & Placement
As of April 2026, St. Petersburg sits within Pinellas County, which has one of the most actively expanding ADU frameworks in Florida. Pinellas County increased the maximum ADU size from 750 to 1,000 square feet on July 30, 2024, except in Coastal Storm Area and other flood-hazard zones where the 750 sq ft cap remains. Attached ADUs cannot exceed the height of the primary home. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are classified as recreational vehicles under Florida law and cannot serve as permanent primary dwellings on residential lots.
Foundation-built tiny homes under 400 sq ft follow Appendix Q of the Florida Residential Code. Pinellas County's zoning code requires ADUs to sit on the same lot as the primary residence with setbacks and architectural compatibility standards that "complement the primary structure." St. Petersburg applies additional flood elevation requirements in coastal zones.
Florida state-level legislation in 2025 preempted some overly restrictive local ordinances, standardizing aspects of ADU approval across Pinellas cities. Verify current requirements with your local planning department before purchasing land or beginning construction.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
What to verify locally
- • Confirm whether your tiny home will be treated as an ADU, a site-built dwelling, or a recreational vehicle.
- • Ask about utility hookup requirements, especially sewer, electrical service, and emergency-access setbacks.
- • Check whether long-term occupancy is allowed on the lot type you are considering.
- • Verify minimum square footage requirements for your zone classification.
ADU & Backyard Tiny Homes
Pinellas County adopted expanded ADU rules effective July 30, 2024: maximum detached ADU size increased from 750 to 1,000 sq ft. The Coastal Storm Area and flood hazard zones retain the 750 sq ft cap. Attached ADUs cannot be taller than the primary home. ADUs must share the lot with the primary residence and meet setbacks for the underlying residential zone. 2025 Florida state legislation preempts some restrictive local ordinances, including parking requirements that previously blocked ADU construction.
Where to Park
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near St. Petersburg.
THOW placement in the St. Petersburg area is effectively limited to licensed RV parks, campgrounds, and mobile home parks — full-time THOW living on a standard residential lot is not permitted. Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region have several extended-stay RV resorts; Hillsborough County (across the bay) hosts Circle Pond Tiny Home Community in Ruskin on permaculture-focused lots starting under $500/mo. RVIA or ANSI A119.5 certification is strongly recommended for any full-time THOW placement. Coastal Pinellas properties face additional wind-load and flood elevation rules that affect both THOW siting and foundation ADU design — the Coastal Storm Area maintains tighter ADU limits.
rv-park
Bay Aire RV Park
Palm Harbor (~25 min north of St. Petersburg)
Long-term RV park in Pinellas County.
Builders Serving Florida
Atkinson Cottages
Childersburg, Alabama
Childersburg, Alabama park model home dealer serving six southeastern states, operating adjacent to Atkinson Homes on US Highway 280. Sells Clayton-built park models starting around $80,000, handles permitting and site prep, and delivers to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Active as of May 2026.
Park models Tiny homes
Service areas: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi
BOXhaus Designs
Hobe Sound, Florida
Hobe Sound, Florida architect-builder founded in 2004 by Rick Gava, offering NOAH-certified tiny homes on wheels and custom foundation designs; site builds serve the Palm Beach Gardens area and move-in-ready units deliver across Florida, as of May 2026.
THOW Foundation builds
Service areas: Florida
Build Tiny
Berryville, Virginia
Berryville, Virginia THOW builder and workshop host run by Robin Hayes, a Green Advantage Certified Builder with over 40 years of construction experience. Offers custom-built tiny homes on wheels and hands-on build workshops held in Clarke County, VA each spring and fall. Serves Virginia and the broader East Coast, with delivery across the U.S. Custom builds range from approximately $30,000 for owner-assisted projects to $60,000 or more for fully built homes, as of May 2026.
THOW Custom builds
Service areas: Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida
Cornerstone Tiny Homes
Longwood, florida
Family-run licensed Florida general contractor (30+ years experience) building foundation and wheeled tiny homes since 2014. Foundation homes from $78,000 (288 sq ft) to $192,000+ (1,051 sq ft). Also develops tiny home communities across Florida, including Braveheart Community in Cocoa.
Foundation builds THOW ADU
Service areas: florida
Deer Valley Homebuilders
Guin, Alabama
Guin, Alabama manufacturer of energy-efficient manufactured and modular homes, founded in 2004. Operates a 200,000-square-foot facility and has produced 15,000+ homes across 18 states. Offers a "Cozy Cabins" tiny-home line within its Signature series, built to HUD code or state modular standards. Member of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association. Active as of May 2026.
Prefab / modular Manufactured homes Foundation builds Tiny homes
Service areas: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia
Florida Made Tiny Homes
Fort Myers, florida
Fort Myers-based ADU specialist building on-site accessory dwelling units statewide. Offers studios (384 sq ft), 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom models. Standard features include quartz countertops, handcrafted cabinets, luxury vinyl floors, and curbless showers. Free property analysis and estimate. No hidden fees. 1-year workmanship warranty.
ADU Detached ADU Foundation builds
Service areas: florida
Costs
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in St. Petersburg.
Tiny home path
Builder cost range $60,000 – $150,000
Estimated monthly total $1,100-1,700/mo
Traditional home path
Median home price $385,000
Estimated monthly total $3,100-3,700/mo
Potential monthly savings
$1,800-2,000/mo
Source: Zillow, Redfin March 2026 data
Resources
Verified links for planning, permitting, and community connections in St. Petersburg.
Common Questions
Can I put a tiny home on wheels in my St. Petersburg backyard?
No. THOWs are classified as RVs under Florida law and cannot serve as primary dwellings on residential lots. Foundation-built ADUs up to 1,000 sq ft (750 sq ft in Coastal Storm Areas) are the legal path for a backyard tiny home in St. Petersburg.
How large can my Pinellas County ADU be?
As of July 30, 2024, detached ADUs in Pinellas County can be up to 1,000 sq ft outside the Coastal Storm Area; inside flood-hazard zones the maximum remains 750 sq ft. Attached ADUs cannot be taller than the primary home.
Where can I park a THOW in the St. Petersburg area?
Licensed RV parks and campgrounds with long-term permits. Circle Pond Tiny Home Community in Ruskin (~30 min east) accepts full-time THOW residents on permaculture-focused lots starting under $500/mo.
How do Coastal Storm Area rules affect my ADU plan?
Parcels within the Coastal Storm Area retain the 750 sq ft ADU cap rather than the expanded 1,000 sq ft limit, and may require flood elevation certificates and raised foundations. Check your parcel against the Pinellas County GIS Map Viewer before design.
Did 2025 Florida legislation change anything for St. Petersburg ADUs?
Yes. State-level ADU legislation preempted some restrictive local parking requirements that previously blocked ADU construction. The 2026 session bills SB 48/HB 313 would go further by mandating by-right ADU approval on all single-family lots by December 2026.
Guides for Florida Buyers
Guides, zoning explainers, and financing articles related to this state.
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A state-by-state breakdown of tiny home zoning laws, THOW regulations, ADU rules, and where tiny homes are easiest to place legally in 2026.
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