Allentown tiny home guide: 2026 ZONE Allentown ordinance permits ADUs up to 800 sq ft and tiny home villages by special exception.
Last researched May 2026
Allentown offers tiny home residents access to the Lehigh Valley — a mid-size metro with lower cost of living than Philadelphia, a revitalizing downtown (Arts Walk, PPL Center), and close proximity to state parks and the Pocono Mountains. The 2026 ZONE Allentown ordinance explicitly opens the door to both backyard ADUs and small tiny home villages, a rare combination among Pennsylvania cities. Climate is humid continental with cold winters (average January low 20°F) and warm, humid summers. Tiny home builds should be insulated for winter and include proper drainage for heavy seasonal rain.
Allentown adopted a new zoning ordinance and SALDO effective January 1, 2026 (the "ZONE Allentown" overhaul) that explicitly addresses ADUs and tiny home villages. Under the updated code, accessory dwelling units up to 800 square feet are permitted in several residential districts, subject to owner-occupancy of the primary dwelling, 10-foot setbacks from property lines, and connection to municipal water and sewer. The ordinance also recognizes tiny home villages — three or more small units on a single lot — in designated districts via special exception from the zoning hearing board, with a required management plan. The city follows the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (2018 IRC). Lehigh County sets a 400 sq ft habitable minimum overall. THOWs remain classified as recreational vehicles under state law and are not permitted as permanent residences on standard residential lots within the city. As of April 2026, Allentown is one of the first Pennsylvania cities to explicitly codify tiny home village zoning.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
ADUs in Allentown may be up to 800 square feet and are permitted in several residential districts under the 2026 ZONE Allentown ordinance. Owner-occupancy of the primary home is required, along with 10-foot side and rear setbacks and utility tie-ins to municipal systems. Building height limits apply to prevent overshadowing neighbors. Permits are issued through the Bureau of Building Standards and Safety and follow PA UCC (2018 IRC) construction standards. Tiny home villages (3+ units on a single lot) require a special exception from the zoning hearing board and a written site management plan.
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Allentown.
THOWs are not permitted as permanent dwellings on standard residential lots in Allentown. Full-time THOW living is limited to licensed RV parks and campgrounds outside the city. Monthly lot rent at Lehigh Valley-area RV parks typically runs $400–$700, generally including water, sewer, and electric. THOWs must be titled and registered with PennDOT as recreational vehicles under Act 134 of 2018.
rv-park
New Tripoli, PA (Lehigh County, ~15 mi NW of Allentown)
KOA campground with full-hookup RV sites available on a monthly basis year-round, including water, electric, sewer, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. Many services are geared specifically toward monthly campers, including a year-round laundromat.
Greenwood, Delaware
Delaware's only factory-based off-site stick-built modular home builder, operating from a facility in Greenwood since 2003. Builds single-family cottages, small homes, ADUs, duplexes, and townhouses — with small-footprint designs starting around 400 sq ft — for clients in Delaware, Maryland, and parts of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Service areas: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine design-build firm launched in 2013 by Kaplan Thompson Architects, offering net-zero-ready prefab and modular homes. Four purpose-built ADU designs (Torrey, Highland, Sterling, and Jordan) start around 420 sq ft and suit backyard placements. Typical turnkey cost runs $450–$600 per sq ft. Serves all of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and as far west as Ohio through manufacturing partners in Maine, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.
Service areas: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio
Berlin, Ohio
Amish-built modular home and tiny home builder based in Ohio’s Amish Country, constructing modules indoors at its Berlin, Ohio facility. Offers compact tiny homes and park models alongside larger modular log and custom home plans, with stated service coverage across Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia (as of May 2026).
Service areas: Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Gordonville, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County tiny house builder based in Gordonville, Pennsylvania. Comak Tiny Homes designs and builds small living spaces, offers shop tours and design consultations, and maintains model and pricing pages for buyers exploring custom tiny homes. Its site listed a Terrace model for sale at $106,000 as of May 2026.
Service areas: Pennsylvania
Damascus, Oregon
Oregon-based pre-engineered building kit manufacturer offering prefab cabin kits (including the 495 sq ft Mazama model) and backyard ADU kits shipped nationwide. Founded in 2002 alongside sister company DC Builders; maintains Delaware-specific design and pricing resources for cabin and ADU projects.
Service areas: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Oregon
Gap, Pennsylvania
Gap, Pennsylvania manufacturer of real-log park model cabins that ships throughout the contiguous United States. Founded in 2016, Lancaster Log Cabins builds portable park model homes using solid real-log timber walls, solid wood floors, doors, and cabinets. Models are designed for campgrounds, resorts, short-term rentals, hunting camps, getaway cabins, and tiny-home use. All cabins are classified as park model RVs, with Pennsylvania buyers able to work directly with the Gap shop and display location.
Service areas: Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Nationwide
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Allentown.
Tiny home path
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Potential monthly savings
Verified links for planning, permitting, and community connections in Allentown.
Yes. The 2026 ZONE Allentown ordinance explicitly recognizes tiny home villages — three or more small units on a single lot — in designated districts, subject to a special exception from the zoning hearing board and a written management plan.
ADUs in Allentown are capped at 800 square feet under the 2026 zoning ordinance. Owner-occupancy of the primary home is required, along with 10-foot setbacks and connections to municipal water and sewer.
Not as a permanent residence on a standard residential lot. THOWs are classified as recreational vehicles under Pennsylvania law. Full-time THOW living in the Lehigh Valley is restricted to licensed RV parks, typically at $400–$700 per month.
The ZONE Allentown zoning ordinance and SALDO were adopted by City Council with an effective date of January 1, 2026, replacing the prior zoning code.
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