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

Unincorporated Inyo County has no dedicated tiny-home chapter, so a tiny home's legality depends on how it is built and sited. A tiny home built on a permanent foundation is treated as a single-family dwelling or, on a lot with an existing home, as an accessory dwelling unit under Title 18 Zoning Ordinance Section 18.78.340 and California ADU law (Gov. Code 66310 et seq.). Because the County allows an ADU up to 800 sq ft regardless of floor-area-ratio and lot-coverage limits, many foundation-built tiny homes can qualify as ADUs in residential and mixed-use zones, subject to building-code (Title 14) and zoning standards. A 'tiny home on wheels' (THOW) is generally classified as a recreational vehicle or park-trailer rather than a permanent dwelling, and using an RV as a full-time residence on private land is typically restricted outside approved RV parks or campgrounds. Inyo County also adopted Chapter 18.83 (Temporary Emergency Dwellings Following a Disaster) and SB9 two-unit provisions (Chapter 18.84), which can affect where additional small dwellings are allowed. Anyone planning a tiny home should verify with the Inyo County Planning Department (760-878-0263) whether it will be permitted as a dwelling/ADU on a foundation or treated as an RV, because that classification determines the permitting path.