Citrus Heights, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Citrus Heights, 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
- On Foundation
- Treated as ADU
- On Wheels
- Treated as RV
- RV Residency
- Not allowed
- Standard
- CRC for ADUs
- Local Ordinance
- No THOW specific rule
Summary
Tiny homes on permanent foundations may qualify as ADUs in Citrus Heights, while tiny homes on wheels are regulated as recreational vehicles and cannot be permanent residences.
"Recreational vehicle" means both of the following: (a) A motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation for recreational, emergency, or other occupancy, that meets all of the following criteria: (1) It contains less than 320 square feet of internal living room area, excluding built-in equipment, including, but not limited to, wardrobe, closets, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures, and bath or toilet rooms. (2) It contains 400 square feet or less of gross area measured at maximum horizontal projections. (3) It is built on a single chassis. (4) It is either self-propelled, truck-mounted, or permanently towable on the highways without a permit. (b) A park trailer, as defined in Section 18009.3.
Full Breakdown
Tiny homes on permanent foundations meeting California Residential Code requirements can be approved as ADUs under Government Code Section 65852.2, subject to the same 800 to 1200 square foot limits, 4 foot setbacks, and permit process. Tiny homes on wheels, or THOWs, are classified as recreational vehicles or park trailers under California Vehicle Code and Health and Safety Code Section 18010 and cannot be used as primary dwellings outside of licensed RV parks. Movable tiny houses built to ANSI A119.5 standards have limited allowance as JADUs in some jurisdictions but Citrus Heights has not adopted a specific THOW ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park a tiny home on wheels in my backyard and live in it?
Does a tiny home ADU still qualify for no impact fees?
Sources & Official References
- [1]CA HSC 18010
Other rules in Citrus Heights
California rules heatmap·Compare Citrus Heights to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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