Santa Cruz County, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Santa Cruz 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
- Max size
- 400 gross sq ft (qualifying loft excluded)
- Max width
- 14 feet
- Per parcel
- One THOW allowed
- Permit
- Ministerial, Chapter 12.01 SCCC
- Renewal
- Every 5 years or on sale
- Vacation rental use
- Prohibited
- Coastal Zone
- CDP required for primary-unit THOWs
Summary
Santa Cruz County lets a Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) serve as a primary residence or replace an accessory dwelling unit under SCCC § 13.10.680, capped at 400 square feet and 14 feet wide. A ministerial building permit is required, only one THOW is allowed per parcel, and the unit cannot be used as a vacation rental.
"Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW)" shall be defined per SCCC § 13.10.700-T: An independent dwelling unit, maximum 400 gross square feet, excluding loft area space if that loft area space meets the requirements of Government Code Section 18009.3(b) and Section 18033 and maximum 14 feet in width at the maximum horizontal projection. It provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is built upon a single chassis and is towable by a hitch mechanism and cannot move under its own power... A THOW may function as a single-family dwelling as the primary unit or in place of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)... Only one THOW shall be allowed per parcel... THOWs shall not be used as vacation rentals... Prior to moving a THOW onto any property, a ministerial THOW building permit shall be obtained authorizing parking and occupancy of each THOW on the property pursuant to Chapter 12.01 SCCC.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5004302; v11 updated 2026-05-19; through 05-19-2026).
Full Breakdown
3(b)/18033 don't count) and 14 feet wide. It can stand in as the primary single-family dwelling or take the place of an ADU, but never both, and the code allows only one THOW per parcel. 681. Site rules require the parking pad to be a level, durable surface of two inches of asphalt over five inches of Class II base rock (or an equivalent permeable surface), with bumper guards or curbs to stop the unit rolling, and the wheels may never be removed. Outside the Urban and Rural Service Lines, off-grid electrical systems must include solar panels and battery storage, and generators can only serve as a stationary emergency stand-by source.
01 SCCC; the permit must be renewed every five years or whenever the THOW changes owners, and County staff may inspect the site as part of renewal. 051.
Violations & Fines
The THOW permit expires automatically if the owner fails to register the unit annually with the DMV and pay all required fees, including the Vehicle License Fee, under § 13.10.680(H)(6). The permit also expires the moment the THOW is removed from the permitted property. Using a THOW as a vacation rental violates § 13.10.680(C)(4) outright since the section bars that use entirely, exposing the owner to standard County code enforcement action for an unpermitted use once the Planning Director identifies the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I list my Santa Cruz County tiny home on Airbnb?
Do I need a permit before parking a tiny home on my property?
Can a tiny home on wheels replace my ADU instead of a new build?
What happens if I stop paying my THOW's DMV registration?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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