Tiny home rules in Del Norte 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.
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no separate 'tiny home' category; a permanent tiny house on a foundation is typically permitted as an ADU (150-1,200 sq ft). Movable tiny houses on wheels (RV/trailer) are not dwellings under the zoning code and face stricter limits.
The County does not publish a stand-alone tiny-home ordinance. A site-built or factory-built tiny house placed on a permanent foundation is regulated as a dwelling - most commonly as an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Under the County's ADU standards, a detached ADU can be as small as 150 sq ft and as large as 1,200 sq ft, with about a 16-foot height limit and 4-foot side/rear setbacks, and is approved ministerially within 60 days under California ADU law (Gov. Code 66314+). A 'tiny house on wheels' registered as a recreational vehicle or trailer is generally not recognized as a permanent dwelling under the zoning code; using an RV or trailer as a residence is restricted, and the County's parks code limits overnight stays in county campgrounds (see park rules). Because requirements differ sharply between a foundation-based tiny home and a movable unit - and because Coastal Zone parcels require coastal findings - applicants should contact the Planning Division (707-464-7254) to confirm the path before siting a tiny home.
Placing a tiny home or RV as a permanent residence without proper permits or ADU approval can trigger Code Enforcement action. Foundation-based tiny homes need a building permit; movable units used as dwellings are generally not permitted outside approved sites.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
del-norte-county-ca
Backyard composting is allowed in unincorporated Del Norte County. California's SB 1383 (effective January 2022) requires organic-waste recycling statewide, ...
del-norte-county-ca
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no ordinance banning artificial turf on residential property. Under California law, HOAs cannot prohibit synthetic grass ...
del-norte-county-ca
Unincorporated Del Norte County encourages efficient, low-water landscaping through its 2020 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and protects native wo...
del-norte-county-ca
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no ordinance prohibiting rainwater collection. Under California's Rainwater Capture Act (AB 1750), residential rain-barre...
del-norte-county-ca
Del Norte County adopted a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) on March 24, 2020 for qualifying new and renovated landscapes. California's stat...
del-norte-county-ca
Del Norte County's main weed ordinance targets tansy ragwort: County Code 7.40.50 makes it an infraction to let tansy flower within 150 feet of a property li...
See how Del Norte County's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.