Many jurisdictions in Texas have relatively loose regulations regarding tiny houses, making it one of the most tiny home-friendly states.
That means that quite a few tiny house communities are concentrated in the Lone Star State, each with different features, amenities and benefits. Let’s check out a few spots that you might be excited to call home if you are buying or building a tiny home in Texas.
1. Tiny Town Texas: Kerrville, TX
https://hillcountrytinyhouses.com/communities/
Described by its owners as a “little patch of paradise” and a “miniature utopia where dreams are big and houses are small,” Tiny Town Texas is located in Kerrville.
The focus of Tiny Town Texas is on wellness. The community owners explain, “We believe an authentic community of wellness offers almost everything our heart has been asking for all along. At the core of our being is a longing to belong and to bring value that contributes to the greater good. Without true wellness in body, soul, and spirit, we cannot accomplish this. Physical, financial, personal, and environmental wellness are the 4 pillars you experience with ‘holistic wholeness’ or a state of ‘whole-hearted thriving.’”
- Beautiful lots
- A community of wellness-minded individuals
Tiny Town Texas is still in its early stages, so we do not yet have a lot of other info to share about its amenities, but you can submit an application now for your chance to get a lot.
Best For:
Think about moving to Tiny Town Texas if you want to be part of a community that values wellness at every level.
2. Village Farm Austin: Austin, TX
This community for Austin tiny homes is just 8 miles east of downtown, and is described as a “modern agrihood.” Even with its convenient location, however, you will not be dealing with hustle and bustle. Village Farm is adjacent to Green Gate Farm, and features an idyllic, tranquil atmosphere.
- There are 48 lots at Village Farm. Over a series of phases, the community will add 119 lots.
- Amenities at the park will ultimately include a general store, a pool and jacuzzi, dog parks, BBQ areas, an amphitheater, a café, pocket parks and a community garden.
- You can participate in the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at Green Gate Farms if you wish.
- An on-site team handles pest control, landscaping and other maintenance tasks at the park.
One thing to note is that you cannot bring your own tiny house to the park. You must buy your home from Village Farm Austin if you want to live here. While homes are available to purchase, they are not available to rent. You can get a 25-year loan term with in-house financing. There is also a monthly community fee that is basically rent for your lot (at the time of this writing, it is fairly affordable).
Best For:
Village Farm Austin may be a great choice if you are into sustainability and agriculture, and you are looking for a tiny house in a community that has all the amenities you could ask for along with a few you probably wouldn’t have thought of.
That said, it is not the most flexible community; remember, you will need to be able to afford to purchase one of their homes and pay the monthly community fee. But if it is within your budget and you like the homes they are selling, it might be a good fit.
3. The Waters: Nevada, TX
If you are looking specifically for a retirement community in Texas, then you will want to check out The Waters. This community does things differently than Village Farm Austin. They do not sell houses. Instead, you bring your own tiny home to the park.
- This gated community has a serene atmosphere, and is quiet and secure.
- Amenities include a fishing pond, a dog park, a pergola, dog trails, a walking trail and a community center. There is also a laundry facility available.
- The on-site maintenance crew mows the lawns so residents do not have to.
Best For:
You must be age 55 or above to move into The Waters, and you will need to have your own tiny home to bring.
At the time of this writing, rents are quite reasonable. If you have already paid off your tiny house, living here could be very affordable. Just remember that if you haven’t yet, you will need to pay both bills.
4. The Majestic Hills Tiny Home Community: Willis, TX
https://www.majestichillstinyhomes.com/
Similar to Village Farm Austin, The Majestic Hills Tiny Home Community is a place where you can purchase a tiny house, rather than bringing your own. The location of the community in Willis puts you within close reach of Houston, Lake Conroe and The Woodlands. Other nearby attractions include Historic Downtown Montgomery and the Sam Houston National Forest.
- There are so many amenities to look forward to at The Majestic Hills Tiny Home Community. These include a community center, workout facility, garden, dog park, heated pool, hot tub, indoor movie theater, living center with a communal kitchen and grill, lawn games and more.
- This community is gated to ensure that it remains quiet, safe and private.
Best For:
You should consider moving to The Majestic Hills Tiny Home Community if you are looking for somewhere you can purchase a tiny house and live surrounded by all the amenities you need for comfort and leisure.
5. The Pines RV Community, Azle, TX
https://www.thepinesrvcommunity.com/
In the Fort Worth area is an RV and tiny house park called The Pines. Many tiny houses are actually classified as RVs (park model homes in particular), so it can actually be convenient to place your home in an RV park that is tiny-friendly.
“The Pines” is an appropriate name for this community. The owners explain, “The Pines was designed and built to be different than the rest! Management wanted it to feel like home and more of a community than just a gravel parking lot, so it was constructed as so, and today is absolutely beautiful with great people and families enjoying nature, and all it’s beauty!”
- Large lots offer seclusion, while shade from pine and oak trees can help keep you cool inside your tiny house.
- In-house maintenance ensures that the grounds always look fantastic and amenities are working and available.
- The Pines fosters a lively and engaging community spirit, making it a great option for those who want to get to know their neighbors.
Best For:
Those who are looking for large, wooded lots for their tiny homes—especially park model homes—will appreciate the union of indoor and outdoor living made possible by The Pines.
6. Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village: Lake Dallas, TX
https://lakedallastinyhomevillage.com/
Here is a lovely tiny house community that is located in the small city of Lake Dallas. As the village is located in the downtown district, you have access to all of downtown’s amenities a short distance from where you live.
Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village claims that it is “the first tiny home village of its kind built inside a city limits from the ground up as a tiny home village for homes on wheels utilizing the International Residential Code Appendix Q.”
This is a tiny home community where you bring your own house, rather than purchase one on-site.
- Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village is a small community with just 13 lots. So, you will be part of a tight-knit community if you manage to rent one.
- Amenities include a laundry facility, a community garden, a courtyard, a communal trash bin, and a backyard area with picnic and BBQ items.
- While not located on-site, the following amenities are within a short distance in downtown Lake Dallas: a library, various schools, a post office, parks, restaurants, ball fields, tennis courts, churches and more.
Best For:
If you long for all the conveniences of living in a city with the private, tight-knit experience of living in a small tiny home community, you can experience the best of both worlds in Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village. And because Lake Dallas is a pretty small city, the downtown environment will never feel overwhelming—simply pleasant.
You must have your own tiny home to live here, but you should note that there are certain restrictions. The village says, “Homes must a NOAH (National Organization of Alternative Housing) or Bildsworth International certified or inspected by a Texas certified inspector. Maximum sizes are 8.5 feet wide and up to 40 feet long. We cannot accept recreational vehicles, park models, mobile homes or shipping containers.”
7. Monarch Springs Ranch: Hunt County, TX
https://www.monarchspringsranch.com/
Don’t want to live in a city at all? Monarch Springs Ranch in Hunt County may be more to your taste. This community in Celeste, TX, is an hour’s drive from Dallas. One thing it has in common with the Lake Dallas community above is its small size: just twelve lots. Take note that this is a retirement community.
- The community is gated for privacy and safety.
- Amenities include a community garden, fire pits, hiking paths, a chicken coop, a community center, a dog park, three docks and a 5-acre pond. The park covers a full 20 acres, so the lots are very roomy, and there is plenty of open space to explore and enjoy.
- You can park up to two cars, and can even have a golf cart.
- Community features encourage interaction between residents.
- You can either bring your own tiny house or you can lease one from the park.
Best For:
You need to be age 55 or above in order to move to Monarch Springs Ranch. This community should suit you if you want to live an active lifestyle where you take advantage of the outdoors. You will be able to do activities with your neighbors or find secluded spots to relax on your own, and may sometimes even spot some wildlife.
Reasons to Live in a Tiny House in Texas
You already understand the appeals of living in a tiny house: simplifying and downsizing your life, living more affordably and efficiently, and having a little space of your own that you can personalize to your heart’s content.
But why move into a tiny house community in Texas specifically?
- Zoning regulations and building codes: Many of the counties and cities of Texas have relaxed requirements that make it possible to live full-time in a tiny house. Quite a few other states are not nearly as accommodating of the tiny lifestyle. So, you can look forward to relatively few barriers here. Plus, it seems likely that requirements will continue to relax in the future as more and more Texans move into tiny homes.
- A variety of communities to choose from: Because Texas is supportive of tiny living compared to many other states, you will find a larger number of tiny house communities have sprung up throughout the state. That means that you have more options, and a great shot at finding a place that is truly ideal for your budget and lifestyle goals.
- Lots of beautiful areas: If you appreciate wide open spaces, Texas is the place to settle. A lot of tiny house communities in this state are situated on acres of gorgeous land. In fact, quite a few are close enough to city centers to be convenient, but still in the exurbs or the countryside where you can enjoy some fresh air and the beauty of nature.
- Likeminded people: A lot of folks in Texas are really dedicated to forging their own paths through life, balancing independence and resilience with community and cooperation. That attitude is a conducive one to tiny living.
- A spirit of innovation: At one point, Texas had a whole town of tiny houses with 1,318 residents called Spur. It is unclear whether Spur still exists or not (it seems to have no web presence anymore), but it was a fantastic idea. It would not surprise us at all if we were to see more experimental communities like this one popping up in TX in the future.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Tiny Home Community in TX
You’ve had a chance to check out some of the most exciting tiny house communities in Texas. But how do you pick the right one for you? Here are some useful questions to ask yourself:
- Will I be renting or buying a Texas tiny house?
- Do I want to bring my own house to the community, or purchase one that is already there?
- What amenities do I need?
- What budget do I have for my lot rent? What about for my home payments?
- Will my tiny home be able to handle the heat of Texas? Are there certain features (i.e. shade trees) that would be a big help to me?
- What geographical area in Texas do I want to live in? Would I prefer a rural environment, an urban one, or something in between?
- Do I mostly want to keep to myself, or do I want to be part of a community where people are involved in each others’ lives?
There are many beautiful and welcoming tiny homes communities in Texas, thanks to this state being so tiny house-friendly.
If you are ready to make your dreams of tiny living come true, click on any of the links in this post to visit the communities we have shared. It could be the first step in a journey to living more affordably and sustainably among likeminded individuals who share your love for tiny houses and the freedom and simplicity they bring.