Regulatory & Placement Disclaimer | NW Tiny Homes

NW Tiny Homes  ·  Legal

Regulatory & Placement Disclaimer

We are here to help any way we can, and we genuinely want you to be happy end to end with your home and your lot. There is also a lot of grey area around zoning and placement for Park Model RVs, so we need to be as transparent as possible about how it works. Read this page in full. By continuing to use this website or transact with NW Tiny Homes, you agree to the terms below.

Effective: April 26, 2026 Last updated: April 26, 2026 Applies to: all NW Tiny Homes models, content, and communications
A note from our team

We want you informed, connected, and confident before you buy. We will share what we know, point you to the right people, and help wherever we reasonably can. Because zoning and placement rules for Park Model RVs sit in a real grey area that varies city to city and county to county, the most helpful thing we can do is be straight with you about what we can and cannot promise. This page lays that out so every buyer goes in with eyes open and the fewest possible surprises down the road.

For details on what is covered after you take delivery, see our Warranty page.

Read before buying

Zoning is your responsibility, not ours.

NW Tiny Homes sells Park Model RVs. Park Model RVs are recreational vehicles, not permanent residences. Whether you can legally place, occupy, or live in one at a specific address depends on local rules that change by city, county, and state. You must verify zoning, permitting, utilities, and occupancy eligibility with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) before you buy. NW Tiny Homes does not perform that verification for you and does not guarantee approval anywhere.

What is an AHJ? "Authority having jurisdiction" is the official term for whoever has the legal power to say yes or no for your specific property. It is not one office. It is usually a stack of them, and the right ones depend on your address. For a Park Model RV, the AHJ typically includes some combination of: your city or county planning department (zoning and allowed use), the building department (permits, decks, tie-downs, utility connections), the fire marshal (access and clearances), county health or environmental health (septic and well), your utility providers (water, sewer, power, gas), and any HOA, CC&Rs, or RV park operator with rules over your lot. When this page says "verify with the AHJ," it means call those offices, in that order, and confirm the answer in writing where you can.

1. Definitions

For purposes of this disclaimer:

  • "NW Tiny Homes," "we," "us," or "our" means NW Tiny Homes and its owners, employees, contractors, agents, and affiliates.
  • "Park Model RV" or "PMRV" means a recreational vehicle built to ANSI A119.5 (or successor standard), titled and registered as an RV, and designed for recreational use, not permanent occupancy.
  • "AHJ" means the authority having jurisdiction over your property, including the city, county, fire marshal, building department, planning department, HOA, park operator, utility provider, or any other body whose approval is required for placement, occupancy, or service.
  • "Buyer," "you," or "your" means any person who accesses this site, requests information, schedules a tour, makes an inquiry, places a deposit, signs a purchase order, or takes delivery of a unit.
  • "Information" means any content from NW Tiny Homes, in any format, including but not limited to website pages, blog posts, brochures, emails, text messages, phone calls, in-person conversations, social media posts, video, and printed materials.

2. Educational purpose & no reliance

All Information published or shared by NW Tiny Homes is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. Information is not legal advice, not zoning advice, not permitting advice, not engineering advice, not tax advice, and not financial advice.

You must not rely on any Information from NW Tiny Homes as a substitute for confirmation from the AHJ, a licensed attorney, a licensed engineer, a licensed contractor, a tax professional, or other qualified professional licensed in your jurisdiction.

Important

Information may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date the moment regulations change. Codes, ordinances, fee schedules, setback rules, fire access requirements, and occupancy rules are revised regularly and vary by jurisdiction. We do not monitor or update Information for every jurisdiction.

3. Park Model RV classification

All NW Tiny Homes models are Park Model RVs built to recreational vehicle standards, including ANSI A119.5. They are:

  • Built on a permanent chassis with axles and a vehicle identification number (VIN);
  • Titled, registered, financed, and insured as recreational vehicles, not as real property;
  • Designed for recreational use and seasonal occupancy, not as permanent dwellings;
  • Not constructed to International Residential Code (IRC) or other site-built residential building codes.

Many jurisdictions restrict or prohibit full-time residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private residential lots. Some jurisdictions allow placement only in designated RV parks, campgrounds, or specific overlay zones. Approval in one city, county, state, or park does not imply approval in any other.

Plain English Our homes are RVs, by classification. That is a feature for some buyers and a constraint for others. The same unit that is welcomed in one park can be denied across the county line.

4. Zoning & placement responsibility

It is solely the Buyer's responsibility to verify, in writing where possible, whether an occupied Park Model RV is allowed at the specific intended address before purchasing, placing a deposit, or taking delivery. NW Tiny Homes does not verify zoning on behalf of customers and makes no representation, guarantee, or warranty that placement, occupancy, or service connections will be approved at any specific property.

Failure to independently confirm eligibility may result in any of the following, all of which are assumed entirely by the Buyer:

  • Denial of occupancy;
  • Code enforcement actions, citations, or stop-work orders;
  • Fines, penalties, daily-recurring fees, or liens;
  • Required relocation, removal, or destruction of the unit;
  • Inability to connect, maintain, or restore water, sewer, septic, electrical, gas, or internet service;
  • Inability to insure, finance, refinance, or resell the unit;
  • Loss of property value, lost time, lost income, transport costs, storage costs, or legal fees.

5. Pre-purchase verification checklist

Before you sign a purchase order or place a deposit, you should independently confirm each of the items below with the AHJ for your intended placement address. By proceeding with a purchase, you represent that you have completed this verification or have knowingly elected to proceed without it.

  • Zoning classification of the property and whether a Park Model RV is a permitted, conditional, or prohibited use.
  • Occupancy rules: whether full-time, seasonal, or any occupancy of a recreational vehicle is allowed on the property.
  • Permits required for placement, tie-down, skirting, decks, stairs, and utility connections.
  • Setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, and architectural standards applicable to the unit.
  • Fire access and defensible space requirements, including driveway width, turnaround, and clearances.
  • Utility availability: water, sewer or approved septic, electrical service, and gas, including capacity and connection cost.
  • Septic and well capacity, permitting, and any limits on additional dwellings or fixtures.
  • HOA, CC&Rs, deed restrictions, easements, and park rules that apply to your lot.
  • Floodplain, wildfire, coastal, environmental overlays, and any special-use district requirements.
  • Insurance availability for the unit at the intended address.
  • Financing eligibility for a Park Model RV at the intended address, with your specific lender.
  • Tax treatment as personal property versus real property in your jurisdiction.
  • Resale and transfer rules in your jurisdiction or park.
Acknowledgment

By placing a deposit, signing a purchase order, scheduling a delivery, or taking delivery of a unit, you confirm that (a) you completed the verification above, or (b) you knowingly elected to proceed without completing it, and in either case you accept the regulatory and placement risk in full.

6. State-specific provisions

The following summaries are general and non-exhaustive. They do not replace independent verification with the AHJ.

State

Oregon

Oregon law generally treats Park Model RVs as recreational vehicles. Many cities and counties limit full-time residential occupancy of an RV on a private lot, often allowing it only in a designated RV park or under a temporary permit during construction of a primary residence. Statewide ADU policy applies to permitted dwellings constructed to residential code, not to RVs. Verify with your city or county planning department before purchase.

State

Washington

Washington jurisdictions vary widely on RV occupancy on private residential lots, with several counties permitting limited or temporary use and others prohibiting it. Some jurisdictions allow Park Model RVs as ADUs under specific conditions. Confirm with your county and city, including the building department, planning department, health district, and fire marshal.

State

California

California state law encourages accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs), but does not eliminate local jurisdiction authority. Cities and counties retain final authority over zoning, setbacks, architectural standards, fire access requirements, environmental overlays, and allowable use. Park Model RVs are recreational vehicles and are not equivalent to a code-built ADU unless local law specifically allows it. Interpretation and enforcement vary by jurisdiction and over time.

All other states

Outside Oregon, Washington, and California

Regulations vary significantly across all other states and U.S. jurisdictions. Nothing on this site is tailored to your jurisdiction. You must independently verify all zoning, permitting, occupancy, utility, insurance, and financing requirements with your local AHJ before purchase.

7. Permanent dwellings & ADUs

Permanent dwellings and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) typically must comply with residential building codes (such as the IRC), require approved foundations, and require permitted connections to water, sewer or septic, and electrical service. Park Model RVs are not constructed to residential building code standards. NW Tiny Homes does not represent that any Park Model RV will qualify as a permanent dwelling or ADU at any specific address, unless that representation is set forth in a separate written agreement signed by an authorized representative of NW Tiny Homes and the Buyer.

8. No warranties · as-is

Except for any limited written warranty expressly issued by NW Tiny Homes or the manufacturer with a specific unit, all information, materials, products, and services are provided "as is" and "as available," with all faults, and without warranty of any kind, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, accuracy, or that any unit may be lawfully placed, occupied, financed, insured, or used at any specific property.

No oral or written information or advice given by NW Tiny Homes, its employees, dealers, or agents creates a warranty, and you may not rely on any such information or advice. For the limited warranty that does apply to your unit, see the NW Tiny Homes Warranty page and any written warranty documents delivered with your purchase.

9. Buyer acknowledgment & assumption of risk

By accessing this website, requesting Information, scheduling a tour, placing a deposit, signing a purchase order, taking delivery of a Park Model RV, or otherwise relying on Information from NW Tiny Homes, the Buyer acknowledges and agrees that:

  1. NW Tiny Homes did not guarantee zoning approval at any address;
  2. Placement approval, occupancy approval, utility connection, financing approval, and insurance availability were not promised, implied, or warranted;
  3. The Buyer has independently verified eligibility, or has knowingly elected to proceed without verifying, and accepts the consequences either way;
  4. All regulatory, permitting, zoning, utility, financing, insurance, transport, storage, and code-enforcement risk is assumed by the Buyer;
  5. The Buyer has had the opportunity to consult an attorney, lender, insurer, and the AHJ before committing to purchase.

10. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Buyer agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless NW Tiny Homes from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, losses, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) the Buyer's placement, occupancy, transport, storage, modification, sale, or use of a Park Model RV; (b) the Buyer's failure to obtain or maintain required permits, approvals, or utility connections; (c) any code enforcement action, removal order, or third-party claim related to placement or occupancy; or (d) the Buyer's reliance on any Information provided by NW Tiny Homes.

11. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, NW Tiny Homes disclaims and shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any losses, damages, penalties, removal costs, transport costs, storage costs, lost profits, lost income, lost time, delays, denial of permits, denial of occupancy, financing issues, insurance issues, enforcement actions, attorneys' fees, or other expenses related in any way to zoning, placement, permitting, utilities, occupancy, financing, insurance, or use of a Park Model RV.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the aggregate liability of NW Tiny Homes arising out of or related to this disclaimer or any Information provided shall not exceed the amount actually paid by the Buyer to NW Tiny Homes for the specific unit at issue. NW Tiny Homes does not guarantee approval, placement, occupancy, financing, insurance, utility service, or long-term use on any specific property.

12. Modifications, writing requirement & integration

Any modification or waiver of this disclaimer, or of any limitation of liability, warranty disclaimer, or assumption of risk set forth here, is effective only if made in a written agreement signed by an authorized representative of NW Tiny Homes and the Buyer. Email, text messages, marketing materials, social media posts, verbal statements, and other informal communications do not constitute written modifications.

This disclaimer, together with any signed purchase order, written warranty, and any other document expressly incorporated by signed agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings.

13. Severability

If any provision of this disclaimer is held to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Governing law & venue

This disclaimer and any dispute arising out of or related to it shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The exclusive venue for any dispute shall be the state or federal courts located in Multnomah County, Oregon, and the Buyer consents to personal jurisdiction in those courts. The parties waive any right to a jury trial to the fullest extent permitted by law.

15. Electronic acceptance

You consent to receive this disclaimer and related communications in electronic form. Your continued use of the website, your submission of a contact or inquiry form, your scheduling of a tour, your placement of a deposit, and your signing of any purchase order constitute your electronic acceptance of this disclaimer with the same force as a handwritten signature.

16. Acceptance of terms

By accessing this website, requesting Information, scheduling a tour, placing a deposit, signing a purchase order, taking delivery of a Park Model RV, or otherwise relying on any Information from NW Tiny Homes, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer in full and accept full responsibility for all placement, permitting, occupancy, utility, financing, insurance, and compliance decisions related to your unit. If you do not agree to these terms, do not access this website and do not transact with NW Tiny Homes.

Questions about this page?

NW Tiny Homes

Email: info@nwtinyhomes.com

Web: www.nwtinyhomes.com

Warranty: www.nwtinyhomes.com/warranty

For questions about your specific property, contact your local planning, building, fire, and utility departments. NW Tiny Homes cannot answer those questions for you, but we are happy to help you frame the right questions to ask.