9 Best Tiny Home Companies in California

California has become a hotspot for tiny home living, with numerous companies offering innovative and high-quality designs. Whether you're looking for a custom build or a pre-designed model, there's a wealth of options available to suit every lifestyle and budget. From energy efficiency to stylish design, discover which builders are leading the way in the Golden State's tiny house movement.

1. Tiny House Basics

Tiny House Basics reimagines traditional tiny home trailers to save time and lower their costs. The trailers offer perimeter load-bearing frames with fully insulated subfloors. These design choices help prevent mold issues commonly found in other trailer foundations.

Each tiny house trailer is built to accommodate unique weight distributions. They come with custom features like threaded rods for easy wall framing tie-downs, meeting standard building practices. Tiny House Basics provides a lifelong foundation for tiny homes, emphasizing durability and resistance to mold.

The company offers a variety of trailer styles and sizes, from 10ft micro homes to 52ft models. These trailers are built for efficiency, safety, and ease of use, catering to both novice and professional builders.

Tiny House Basics has three U.S. locations for nationwide reach.

Rating: 4.8 (49 reviews)
Location: 5433 Clayton Rd Suite K#306, Clayton, CA 94517
Contact: (925) 322-0541
Website: Visit Website

2. California Tiny House

California Tiny House is a family-owned business founded in 2014. Located in Fresno, California, this company is dedicated to quality, innovation, and livability in their tiny home projects. They aim to create a positive experience from the initial design phase through many years of ownership.

Rating: 4.4 (33 reviews)
Location: 3630 N Hazel Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
Contact: (559) 316-4500
Website: Visit Website

3. Pacifica Tiny Homes

Pacifica Tiny Homes is recognized for its commitment to quality and affordability. They meticulously select high-quality building materials and employ trained technicians. Each home undergoes a rigorous quality inspection before delivery, ensuring customer satisfaction and peace of mind.

Their tiny homes come with standard features such as double-pane windows, butcher block countertops, a mini-split system, a smart TV, and an electric cooktop. These features make their homes move-in ready at no additional cost. Customization options are also available, allowing buyers to tailor their homes to their exact preferences.

The buying process is seamless thanks to knowledgeable sales specialists, regular build process updates, and trusted finance partners. Pacifica Tiny Homes ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish, supporting customers every step of the way.

Rating: 4.5 (31 reviews)
Location: -
Contact: (650) 484-8596
Website: Visit Website

4. KJE Tiny Homes

KJE Tiny Homes is a family-owned business known for prioritizing quality over quantity. They specialize in unique and custom designs, focusing on remarkable craftsmanship. Each tiny home is RV certified and adheres to ANSI and NFPA standards, ensuring high-quality builds.

Customers appreciate the flexibility KJE Tiny Homes offers in the design process. They can choose between replicating existing models or creating entirely new designs. The company provides a range of custom options, from siding to cabinet hardware.

KJE Tiny Homes prides itself on timely delivery. They provide a clear timeline for the design, shell build, and final product. If a quicker delivery is needed, they work to accommodate those requirements.

Rating: 4.9 (18 reviews)
Location: 3788 W Richert Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
Contact: (559) 412-3565
Website: Visit Website

5. Anchored Tiny Homes

Anchored Tiny Homes takes pride in being a top custom ADU builder in Sacramento, providing homeowners with additional living spaces that cater to various needs. They specialize in detached ADUs, attached ADUs, garage conversions, and even pool houses. These options offer flexibility, making them suitable for guest houses, rental units, or home offices.

Their detached ADUs are crafted to blend with the existing aesthetics of any property. These structures promise high-quality materials and designs that ensure both functionality and style. For those with limited space, their garage conversion services can transform an underutilized garage into a comfortable living area.

Anchored Tiny Homes handles all aspects of the ADU process in-house. This comprehensive service includes design, permits, and construction, ensuring a streamlined and efficient build. Homeowners can expect a move-in-ready ADU within 8-12 months, thanks to the proven Anchored ADU System.

Rating: 4.5 (90 reviews)
Location: 4401 Hazel Ave #225, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Contact: (916) 866-8133
Website: Visit Website

6. Forever Tiny Homes

Forever Tiny Homes, based in Cottonwood, California, specializes in crafting high-quality tiny houses with a focus on safety and durability. Their designs incorporate features like fiber cement board siding and a 24-gauge standing seam metal roof, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and long-lasting performance. Customers can enjoy features such as tempered windows, premium exterior caulking, and modern front door hardware.

The company uses a variety of sustainable materials and advanced construction techniques. For example, they utilize 2-inch foam board insulation for efficient temperature regulation and Douglas Fir lumber for framing. Each tiny home includes high-end finishes like Pergo Outlast Plus flooring and quartz countertops, providing a blend of functionality and style.

In addition to their construction quality, Forever Tiny Homes pays attention to safety. Their tiny houses on wheels come equipped with DOT-compliant exterior lights, a high-quality trailer breakaway system, and numerous fire safety features, ensuring peace of mind during travel. Their homes are also RVIA certified, meeting federal standards for plumbing and safety.

Rating: 5.0 (10 reviews)
Location: 3383 Pacific Trail B, Cottonwood, CA 96022
Contact: (530) 356-5191
Website: Visit Website

7. Alameda Tiny Homes

Alameda Tiny Homes specializes in building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Alameda, California. They offer a variety of design options that can be customized to fit specific needs and preferences.

The company operates as both a home builder and a general contractor, meaning they're a one-stop shop for your tiny home needs. They focus on providing high-quality construction services for backyard cottages and other small dwelling units. Their personalized approach ensures that each project meets the unique requirements of their clients.

Alameda Tiny Homes continues to be a trusted choice for those interested in innovative and efficient home building solutions.

Rating: 4.7 (7 reviews)
Location: 2315 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
Contact: (415) 935-4265
Website: Visit Website

8. American Built Tiny Homes

American Built Tiny Homes is situated in the heart of San Diego. They specialize in designing and constructing high-quality tiny homes. Each home comes on a trailer, eliminating the need for foundation permits. They focus on customer satisfaction and offer a one-on-one design process.

They provide homes in both steel and wood framing. Clients can choose from multiple floor plans, which can be customized extensively. Whether it's a single-story unit or one with multiple bedrooms, the company aims to turn any dream into reality.

They also ensure all their tiny homes are registered with the DMV as park model RVs. Additionally, they are ANSI/NFPA certified, adding an extra layer of reliability and safety.

Rating: 4.9 (11 reviews)
Location: 541 N Quince St, Escondido, CA 92025
Contact: (760) 975-3538
Website: Visit Website

9. Boss Tiny House

Boss Tiny House is renowned for its dedication to delivering quality tiny homes on a low budget. Many customers have praised the company for helping them complete their dream tiny home projects.

One notable feature of Boss Tiny House is the attention to detail in their designs. Their homes come with well-planned amenities such as bathrooms that prevent fogging and leaks during rainy seasons. Clients appreciate the comfort and durability these tiny homes offer.

Boss Tiny House is a popular choice for first-time homeowners and those looking to downsize. Testimonials highlight the warm, cozy interiors and customization options, such as adding interior walls to create separate spaces within the tiny home.

Rating: 4.9 (14 reviews)
Location: 1057 S Vail Ave, Montebello, CA 90640
Contact: (323) 826-5759
Website: Visit Website

How much does it cost to build a tiny prefab home in California?

According to Rent a Backyard's proprietary data set, the cost of a tiny prefab home in California is $135,060, and the average cost per square foot is $393.

We found that the least expense tiny prefab home in California costs $77 per square foot, and the most expensive tiny prefab home kit costs $940 per square foot.

However, this estimate is only for the base tiny prefab home model. It does not necessarily include the following expenses: 

• Transportation and delivery fees: The cost to deliver the manufactured building to your site
• Foundation preparation: The cost to level the ground you're building on and lay concrete
• Local permits and fee: Getting a permit to build in your city or municipality
• Assembly and installation: The cost to install flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, appliances, etc.
• Utility hook-up: Connecting your sewer, water, gas, electricity, and internet
• Land: The cost to buy land you'll put the prefab home on

These expenses will typically add an additional $30 - $60 per square footage to your final build price when you consider transportation, foundation, permitting, assembly, and installation costs.

Are tiny prefab homes and ADUs allowed in California?

Yes! Tiny prefab homes and ADUs are allowed in California, but a permit is usually required to construct an ADU or building. Under California legislation, all municipalities in California must approve or reject your application within 60 days.

California has made it easier to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit under their land use bill, AB2299, but each city and county may have different permitting rules. Consult the California Department of Housing and Community Development handbook, or your local government website for more information.

You should also consider purchasing a pre-approved ADU. California has streamlined the permitting process for pre-approved ADUs that meet their safety standards. For example, San Jose offers same-day permit approval for pre-approved ADUs, which can dramatically speed up your build times.

These permits can cost anywhere from a few hundreds to a few thousand dollars, so consider make sure to ask your prefab builder, architect, or consultant about permitting in your city.

Is it cheaper to build on-site or buy a tiny prefab home?

In general, prefab homes are cheaper than traditional, on-site building. However, the materials, labor, and permitting particular to your build will impact the final cost.

How long does it take to build a tiny prefab home? 

It typically takes 3 - 6 months to build a tiny prefab home, but the exact timeline will depend on the fabricator or manufacturer you're using. Tiny prefab homes can generally be built faster than homes built on-site, because they are built in factories with streamlined processes that can improve efficiency.

Traditional home building takes longer: Around 9 - 12 months.

However, production cycles can take longer when the manufacturer or fabricator has too many orders to handle. And, of course, all types of construction can be impacted by long permitting processes and supply chain issue. Ask your manufacturer for an exact estimate, and make sure it aligns with your timeline.

Prefab vs. modular homes

While these terms are often used interchangeably, prefab and modular homes are not the same thing.

Prefab homes are any type of residence that's built off-site in advance, shipped to the build site, and then assembled on-site. Modular homes are actually a type of prefab home that are exclusively built with individual modules.

The difference between prefab and modular homes is that prefab homes can be built in a variety of ways, while modular homes are always built with modules.

Prefab home can be built with modular, tiny, manufactured, panelized, and kit homes. Modular homes are always built off-site with modules that are later assembled on-site.