11 Best Tiny Home Communities in North Carolina
Cities and local jurisdictions in North Carolina and the state often come out on top of many tiny house-friendly lists.
Business Insider listed the Tar Heel State as one of the most popular states for tiny home living in 2020.
Since then, more cities across the state have clarified the definition of tiny homes and enacted laws to govern their adoption.
The increased regulatory clarity and other factors like great and diverse climate, the legality of off-grid living, low cost of living compared to the United States average, growing job market, and low income and property tax rates make North Carolina a suitable option for tiny home dwellings.
There is no better place for dwelling in a tiny home dwelling than within a community.
In this article, we provide details of the best of the best tiny communities to help you begin your tiny home journey seamlessly.
1. Acony Bell
Acony Bell sits on 50 acres of land in Mills River, NC. This tiny home community has 96 lots, out of which 17 are currently used for short-term vacation rentals.
All the tiny house lots have their power and sewage hookups. Per the frequently asked questions section of the website, lots become available intermittently and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
To qualify, you must tour the lot and community and pass a background and credit check.
Additionally, all DIY tiny houses must be certified by Bildsworth or an electrical inspection and meet insurance requirements.
Acony Bell is pet-friendly, but dogs must remain leashed in public, and you must pick up behind them.
Features
Some of the features, advantages, and amenities to expect include:
- Hiking trails
- Trash and recycling services
- Community garden
- Clubhouse with laundry facilities
- A short distance from the Pisgah National Forest
- 22 Miles from Asheville, NC
- Stocked fire rings
- Mountain biking trails
- Electronic vehicle charging station with 100 amp connections
2. The Hamlet by Simple Life
The Hamlet is a tiny house community by Simple Life, a developer of cottage homes in Florida and North Carolina. The Hamlet is located in Flat Rock, a village in Henderson County, western North Carolina.
This community offers already-built tiny homes for sale with fully flexible land leases. You can buy from a collection of 1 and 2-bedroom cottages ranging from 399 to 543 square feet in size.
The prices start from over $160,000 for 1-bedroom homes and $237,000 for 2-bedroom houses. The Hamlet has many facilities and amenities for a perfect blend of private and shared space.
Features
Some of the prominent features of the Hamlet include:
- Well-equipped gym
- Dedicated space for Yoga
- Community swimming pool with shaded seating and lounge space
- Community fire pit
- Dog park for off-leash activities
- Sports courts
- Community garden
- Built at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains
3. The Village by Simple Life
The Village is one of the tiny house communities owned by Simple Life in Flat Rock, North Carolina. The tiny house settlement is Simple Life's flagship community.
The Village is just a stone's throw from a Nature Sanctuary and offers pristine and clean mountain air.
The tiny home village is currently sold out, but there are some cottages up for sale by resellers on the Simple Life website.
There's a lot of variety with homes in The Village, with some featuring kitchens with extra cabinet space and others with space for additional outdoor living.
The Village also has similar dimensions as The Hamlet, 399 to 543 square feet.
Features
Some amenities at The Village include:
- A library
- A reflection garden
- Bocce ball court
- Fitness center
- Yoga studio
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Community pond and garden
- Clubhouse with complimentary Wi-Fi
- Dog park
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4. Cranmore Meadows
Cranmore Meadows is the perfect community for you if you're searching for a tiny living community for tiny house-on-wheel recreational vehicles (RV). It's located on 20+ acres of nature in Haw River, North Carolina.
The community consists of 13 lots for rent. Each lot is about 8,000 square feet and comes with a full hookup for amenities like water, septic, and power.
Each lot also comes with two parking spots. The monthly rent is $700.
The community is pet-friendly, except for permanent outdoor cats "due to wildlife concerns." You can visit the property as a guest every first Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. for a tour of the facilities.
Features
Notable amenities at Cranmore Meadows include:
- Outdoor pavilion for events
- Catering kitchen
- Guest quarters "for a small cleaning fee."
- Permanent address and mailbox for each lot
- Natural settings include Haw Creek, a spring-fed pond, and open meadows.
5. Mountain Breeze Ridge Tiny Village
You can find this tiny house community in the scenic and historic Scaly Mountain, North Carolina. The total size of the community is 12.46 acres.
This community is open to a diverse collection of tiny home dwellers. You can bring in your RV or tiny home on wheels. You can equally buy a lot and build a small cabin from scratch.
The price for each lot ranges from $49,000 to $69,000. Note that this price may change due to inflation and other costs. The cost is inclusive of water, power, and septic linkage.
Each lot is about 1/3 of an acre, approximately 14,500 square feet, which gives you ample room for your unique needs. Lots are still on sale at the time of publishing this article.
Features
Other features or advantages of this community include:
- Owner financing is available, but a 20% initial payment is required for all transactions
- Hiking trails
- Fishing opportunities
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6. River and Twine
River and Twine is a purely rental home community in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Think of River and Twine as a hotel, but one for tiny homes. This is a perfect community if you want to experience and experiment with tiny homes.
The community has 20 tiny homes and three guest suites. The homes cost about $139 per night, but a handful cost $149.
You can bring pets to River and Twine for a daily fee of $25, but it is limited to one pet per person. The pet must also weigh less than 40 pounds.
Smoking inside the tiny homes is not allowed and attracts a fine of $500 for offenders. The community also observes quiet hours from 10 p.m. till the morning.
Features
Amenities at River and Twine include:
- Record players and board games in each room
- Fire pits within the community
- Accessible lawns
- Nightly and long-term rentals are available
7. The Preserve at Whiteside Cliffs
Abundant natural light, stunning views, and privacy are some benefits of the luxurious cottages at The Preserve at Whiteside Cliffs.
There are 47 lots or cottages on the 33-acre property. The cottages or tiny homes are provided by Designer Cottages, which “provides luxury second homes and vacation homes that embrace a minimalist, attainable lifestyle without sacrificing style or comfort.”
You can choose from about five types of designs - Low Country, Saltbox, Adirondak, Marseille, and Cloudbreak.
Low Country is 464-518 square feet in size and has one bedroom and one bathroom. Saltbox is 452 square feet in size.
Lots and cottage prices start from $299,000.
Features
Essential amenities at The Preserve at Whiteside Cliffs include:
- 10 acres of green space
- Fiber-optic internet technology
- Electric car charging stations
- Community fire pits
- High-end finishes and quality appliances
- Gated community
- Nature trails
8. Franny’s Farm
Franny’s Farm is a friendly- plant medicine integration farm in Leicester, North Carolina, with six affordable tiny homes or cabins for overnight stays and weekend getaways.
Apart from the tiny homes, the farm also offers camping and event-hosting services.
The tiny houses overlook the farm, and dwellers can savor the view of the gardens and livestock like goats and chickens. Guests in the cabins share a community building equipped with a kitchen and bathrooms.
The cabins cost $49 per night, with an additional $20 for bringing a pet. There are also about six campsites if you want to experience another adventure under the stars.
Features
Some features and amenities at Franny’s Farm include:
- Kitchen with coffee maker
- The Barn House (can host up to six people)
- Grand community fire pit
- Light and fan in the cabin
- An event space
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9. The Tiny Homes Village on The Farm at Penny Lane
This tiny home community is for people suffering from mental illnesses. It’s an affordable housing proof of concept project by the University of North Carolina School of Work and Cross Disability Services Inc. (XDS Inc.).
The community is being developed on The Farm at Penny Lane, a 40-acre therapeutic farm between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. The community will have 15 tiny homes, each about 360 to 400 square feet.
All the homes have a fixed price of $50,000. United States veterans with chronic health conditions will have priority for five out of the 15 houses.
Features
Additional benefits and features include:
- Community clubhouse
- Walking trail
- Access to healthy food
- Guided daily activities
- Physical and behavioral health services
10. The Hammer Tiny House Community
This community is run by the Tiny House Community Development, Inc., a nonprofit organization working to develop tiny house communities in North Carolina.” The project is located in the Greensboro area.
The Hammer Tiny House Community only has six tiny homes. There are five 288 square feet tiny homes and one 180 square feet tiny house.
Each room has a bedroom, living area, fully-equipped kitchen, and a bathroom.
The Hammer Tiny House Community serves adults experiencing homelessness and those who need affordable housing because of their income.
Features
Notable features and benefits include:
- Close to public transportation
- Open spaces and gardens
11. JM Green Tiny House Community
The JM Green Tiny House Community is another project by the Tiny House Community Development, Inc. This community consists of 10 tiny homes. The houses will be about 400 square feet.
One of the primary target audiences for this project is veterans, with four homes reserved for this group.
Adults suffering from homelessness also received priority listing in this community.
Features
Amenities in the community include:
- Solar power in some houses
- Handicap-accessible walking paths
- A large community garden space to serve as a food source for the community and neighborhood
- Raised bed gardens
Takeaway: Learn about the best luxurious and affordable tiny home communities in North Carolina
We have provided 11 of the best tiny home communities in North Carolina, catering to different groups. Whichever type of tiny home dweller you are, there’s something for you on the list.
The Preserve at Whiteside Cliffs offers the most luxurious option, while Cranmore Meadows is perfect for those with RVs. The tiny house communities by Simple Life offer a balance between affordability and amenity-rich communities.
Franny’s Farm and River and Twine provide affordable homes for you to experience the tiny house movement without breaking the bank.
North Carolina is a tiny home friendly state, and these communities are the best of the lot.
For more information about the tiny house lifestyle in North Carolina, read: North Carolina's Tiny Home Rules and Regulations.