EXHIBIT 5.1
 
                                 April 24, 1998
 
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Suite C-550
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
 
                             BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
    This opinion is delivered in our capacity as counsel to Beazer Homes USA,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), in connection with the Issuer's
registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
relating to the offering by the Issuer of up to $100,000,000 aggregate principal
amount at maturity of its 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2008 (the "Notes").
 
    In connection with this opinion, we have examined copies or originals of
such documents, resolutions, certificates and instruments of the Issuer as we
have deemed necessary to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In
addition, we have reviewed certificates of public officials, statutes, records
and other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary to form a basis
for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the foregoing, we
have assumed, without independent investigation, (i) the genuineness of all
signatures, and the authority of all persons or entities signing all documents
examined by us and (ii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies
submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies. With regard to
certain factual matters, we have relied, without independent investigation or
verification, upon statements and representations of representatives of the
Issuer.
 
    Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as of
the date hereof, when the Notes have been duly authenticated by U.S. Bank Trust
National Association in its capacity as Trustee, and duly executed and delivered
on behalf of the Issuer against payment therefor as contemplated by the
Registration Statement, the Notes will be legally issued and will constitute
binding obligations of the Issuer, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, moratorium or other laws now
or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of
creditors generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a
proceeding at law or in equity) including, without limitation, standards of
materiality, good faith and reasonableness in the interpretation and enforcement
of contracts, and the application of such principles to limit the availability
of equitable remedies such as specific performance.
 
    We hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Issuer in the
Registration Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
 
                               Very truly yours,
 
                   /s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP