Tiny home rules in Davis, 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.
Davis does not have a standalone tiny-home ordinance; a tiny home on a permanent foundation is regulated as an accessory dwelling unit under Davis Municipal Code Section 40.26.450, while a tiny home on wheels is treated as a recreational vehicle and generally may not be used as a permanent dwelling.
A tiny house built on a permanent foundation and used as a second dwelling falls under the city's ADU rules (DMC 40.26.450 and Gov. Code Sections 66310 through 66342), which allow a detached ADU up to 800 square feet, 16 feet in height, with 4-foot side and rear setbacks by ministerial review. A tiny home meeting these limits is deemed consistent with all city standards. A movable tiny house on wheels is classified as a recreational vehicle, subject to RV parking and storage limits, and may not lawfully be occupied as a permanent residence on a residential lot. No verified provision in the Davis Municipal Code authorizes tiny homes on wheels as permanent dwellings.
Occupying a tiny home on wheels as a permanent residence, or installing a tiny home as an ADU without permits, is a code violation enforced by Davis Code Enforcement, which can require removal, permitting, or correction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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