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

Mono County does not publish a dedicated tiny-home chapter. The practical pathway for a permanent small dwelling is the accessory dwelling unit framework in General Plan Land Use Element Chapter 16. Section 16.020 requires that an ADU meet the minimum regulations for an efficiency dwelling unit in the California Building Code, which effectively sets the small-end size floor; detached ADUs are then capped by the size tiers in Section 16.040 (up to 850 sq ft for one bedroom and 1,000 sq ft for two bedrooms by building permit). A permanent tiny home built on a foundation that meets these standards is reviewed as an ADU, including the four-foot side/rear setback and snow-shedding requirements. A junior ADU - no more than 500 sq ft within an existing single-family structure (Section 16.020) - is another small-unit option. By contrast, a tiny home on wheels (a movable structure) is not a fixed dwelling; California treats such units under separate vehicle, manufactured-housing, or recreational-vehicle rules rather than as a permitted ADU, and Mono County's Chapter 7.28 camping ordinance restricts overnight occupancy of vehicles and trailers in County Parks and along paved County roads. Owners should confirm the correct pathway with the Community Development Department at (760) 924-1800.