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Glenn County, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified June 2026

Tiny home rules in Glenn County, CA, covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds, determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.

Key Facts

No 'tiny home' category
Regulated as dwelling / second dwelling under Ch. 15.590
Permanent foundation required
Yes - H&S Code Sec. 18551 (Sec. 15.590.020(A))
Efficiency unit allowed
Yes, if it meets building code (H&S Code Sec. 17958.1)
Tiny house on wheels / RV as home
Prohibited as a dwelling (Sec. 15.590.020(C))
Temporary placement
Allowed during construction, limited period (Sec. 15.590.040)

Summary

Glenn County's Unified Development Code has no separate 'tiny home' category. A tiny house on a permanent foundation is treated as a dwelling or 'second dwelling' under Chapter 15.590, while Section 15.590.020(C) prohibits travel trailers, RVs or other road-capable vehicles from being used as a dwelling.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Glenn County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Travel trailers, recreational vehicles, or other similar vehicles capable of travel on public roadways shall not be allowed as a dwelling.

Full Breakdown

Glenn County Code Title 15 does not use the term 'tiny home,' so how a small dwelling is regulated depends on its construction. 590. 1 provided it meets the building code, and allows certified manufactured/mobile homes meeting the chapter's standards. ' That means a tiny house on wheels (a movable RV-type structure) cannot be used as a permanent residence under the county code. A tiny home that qualifies as an ADU is also governed by current California ADU law (Government Code Sections 66310-66342), which requires ministerial approval of a conforming unit. 040.

Violations & Fines

Living in a travel trailer, RV or tiny house on wheels as a permanent dwelling violates Section 15.590.020(C) of the Glenn County Unified Development Code. Placing or occupying any tiny home without the required second-dwelling approval, building permit, and permanent foundation is a code-enforcement violation that may result in notices to comply, removal or abatement, and recovery of enforcement costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I live in a tiny home in unincorporated Glenn County?
Yes, if it is built on a permanent foundation and meets the Minimum Residential Construction Standards of Chapter 15.590, in which case it is treated as a dwelling or 'second dwelling.' A tiny house on wheels or an RV cannot be used as a permanent dwelling - Section 15.590.020(C) prohibits travel trailers, RVs and other road-capable vehicles from being used as a dwelling.
Does Glenn County allow a tiny house on wheels?
Not as a permanent residence. Glenn County Code Section 15.590.020(C) states that travel trailers, recreational vehicles, or other similar vehicles capable of travel on public roadways shall not be allowed as a dwelling. A tiny house must be on a permanent foundation and meet the county's residential construction standards.
Is a small efficiency unit allowed?
Yes. Section 15.590.020(A) of the Glenn County code allows an 'efficiency dwelling unit' as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.1, provided it meets all requirements of the building code. A small tiny home meeting that definition and built on a permanent foundation can qualify.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Glenn County

All Glenn County rules

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