Top 8 Tiny House Communities in Rhode Island

Tiny homes are legal in Rhode Island, but dedicated public tiny house villages are limited. Rhode Island HB 5797 and related ADU legislation require municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units on qualifying residential lots, though local size limits and owner-occupancy rules vary. Tiny homes on wheels are usually classified as RVs or park models and placed in licensed RV parks and campgrounds for extended stays. The state has not adopted IRC Appendix Q statewide in all towns. Temporary structure rules under the RI Building Code Chapter 31 apply to some short-term placements. Always call your town planning office before you buy land or move a home.

Costs vary widely. Meadowlark Mobile Home and RV Park in Middletown lists monthly long-term rates around $995 to $1150 with a winter tier without electric or propane. Ashaway Pines and Timber Creek quote seasonal and monthly rates online or by phone. The Preserve Residences lists luxury designer tiny homes from about $1,490,000 on featured units plus resort fees. Family campgrounds like Oakleaf, Holly Tree, and Worden Pond are primarily seasonal. Building a tiny home in Rhode Island commonly runs $30,000 to $120,000 before lot fees, with coastal land costs pushing ADU projects higher near Newport and Providence.

Meadowlark, Ashaway Pines, Timber Creek, Whispering Pines, Holly Tree, Oakleaf, and Worden Pond accept bring-your-own RVs and many tiny homes on wheels on hookup sites, though several are primarily seasonal campgrounds. Confirm RVIA certification, site length, and whether monthly long-term occupancy is allowed versus summer-only leases. The Preserve Residences sells designer tiny homes within the resort; it is not a bring-your-own-lot park. For permanent placement, many Rhode Island owners use ADUs on private residential lots under local town rules.

The Newport area includes Meadowlark Mobile Home and RV Park in Middletown near Aquidneck Island beaches. Southern Rhode Island and Washington County include Ashaway Pines in Ashaway, Timber Creek in Westerly, Holly Tree in Hopkinton, and Worden Pond Family Campground in South Kingstown near Wakefield. Northern and rural Rhode Island includes Whispering Pines near Foster, Oakleaf Family Campground in Chepachet, and The Preserve luxury tiny homes in Richmond on Blueberry Hill.