Generally speaking, a tiny home may be built wherever the Zoning Code allows single-family dwellings. Check our interactive zoning map to see what zoning district your property is in. However, these residential districts have design standards for how a home should look.

In the City of Dayton, only one primary structure is permitted per lot.

Homes in the City of Dayton must follow the Ohio Board of Building Standards. As such, a dwelling must always provide permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. All homes must be permanently anchored to the ground with piers or a foundation. All homes must connect to the public water/sanitary system. While there is no minimum size required for a home, there are minimum sizes for certain required rooms with approved means of ingress and egress (entrances and exits) from the dwelling. For example, loft bedrooms may have trouble meeting the minimum requirements. Sheds repurposed as dwellings and homes on wheels or without a permanent foundation are not allowed.

Homes in the City of Dayton must meet Zoning Code standards for setbacks and exterior design. Generally, a home should line up with its neighbor in terms of distance from the street. The zoning district that the home is in will determine the side and rear setbacks. Homes must have or appear to have a raised foundation and must include a covered entrance or porch and front-facing windows. Homes must also include a shade tree in the front yard and off-street parking. In addition to Zoning Code standards, some neighborhoods may have deed restrictions or HOA standards that would need to be met.

While there are no additional Zoning requirements for shipping container homes, the Building Code/Residential Code has extensive requirements for the use of shipping containers for residential construction, and there are design standards to ensure that new homes fit aesthetically into a neighborhood. Shipping container homes often face significant challenges meeting these standards.

Planning staff would likely consider a Planned Development Zoning Overlay to customize regulations to the development. A Planned Development is a zoning change that must be approved by the Dayton City Commission.

Contact Planning Division Manager Tony Kroeger at 937-333-3673 or tony.kroeger@daytonohio.gov.