Tiny house or A-frame cabin? Price, permits and what changes

Many people searching for "tiny house" really want a small, beautiful, liveable space on a piece of land, without building a house. An A-frame glamping cabin answers part of that — and not the other part. This guide says which.

Updated September 16, 2026 · House on Wheels

What each one is

Tiny houseA-frame cabin (Pisces)
What it isA small house, usually on a trailer, with kitchen, bathroom and bedroom built inA 16.9 m² cabin with a glazed front, set on a fixed base; standard equipment plus deck, winter and bathroom options
MobilityMoves, with a trailer and road registrationDismantles and ships; does not drive
Intended useHousing, permanent or notTourist accommodation or an annex: guests, office, spare room
BaseTrailer, or simple supportsPlatform or deck; no structural concrete on most sites
Kitchen and bathroomBuilt inBathroom as an option; no kitchen as standard
Lead timeMonths of custom build, variable8 to 12 weeks from deposit, assembled
PermitsDepends on use and country: a vehicle while it moves; parked for good, building rules applyFor guests: the country's tourism accommodation rules (HLL in France, RJET in Portugal). For own use: local planning rules
Indicative comparison. Tiny houses vary a lot between builders; the Pisces figures are from our catalogue.

What an A-frame cabin costs, delivered and installed

PortugalInterior areaFrom+ Wooden deck + Winter pack + Premium bathroom
Pisces16,9 m²€17,500€26,000
Pisces in mainland Portugal, ex-VAT (23%). Left: structure delivered and assembled; right: with deck, winter pack and bathroom. The configurator calculates every country.

It is a closed price — structure, freight, customs, transport and assembly — from the same engine as the configurator. A custom tiny house rarely has a closed price before it is designed. It is the most honest comparison we can make without inventing someone else's number.

When the cabin is the right answer

  • You want to host paying guests: that is what the Pisces exists for, and tourism rules across Europe provide for it.
  • You want an office, studio or guest room in the garden without heavy construction.
  • You want a fixed lead time and a fixed price: 8 to 12 weeks, all-inclusive.
  • You have land where a structure on a base is simpler to get approved than a building.

When it is not

  • You need to move the house regularly: the Pisces dismantles, it does not drive.
  • You want to live in it year-round as your main home: that is a different legal regime, and the cabin has no kitchen as standard.
  • You need two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a living room: it is 16.9 m². Look at the Sirius dome (38.5 m²) or the Ara (44.4 m²) — still not houses, but they have the space.

The A-frame cabin in the catalogue: Pisces

Frequently asked questions

Is it a tiny house?
No. It is an A-frame glamping cabin on a fixed base. No wheels, and it does not drive.
Can I live in it?
It is designed for tourist accommodation and annex spaces. Permanent housing is a different legal regime, and the cabin has no kitchen as standard. Talk to us and to your local authority before deciding.
Can I move it later?
Yes: it dismantles and reassembles. That is a transport and an assembly, not a trailer trip.
Does it have a bathroom?
As an option, at a fixed price in the configurator.
How long does it take?
Between 8 and 12 weeks from the deposit to the cabin standing on your land.

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