Small Home Specialty Code
NEW
Current Small Home Construction Standards and Planned 2026 Updates
The statutory provisions that govern construction standards for small homes and exclusion of small homes from the prefabricated structures program are set to sunset in 2026. At that time, barring additional statutory changes, small homes will be included in the state prefabricated structures program, and the Building Codes Division intends to adopt code changes that account for the safety risk associated with sleeping lofts and ladders, regardless of home size, in partnership with the Residential and Manufactured Structures Board.
Read more about these updates
The Small Home Specialty Code, established by ORS 455, requires that the 2018 International Residential Code, including but not limited to Appendix Q, be used for the design and construction of small homes. Statute defines a "small home" as a single-family residence that is not more than 400 square feet in size.
For more information about small home construction standards see ORS 455, including 455.616.
For more information on building permit requirements, please contact your
local building department
.
Small home resources