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

Tehama County's Title 17 does not use the term 'tiny home,' so these structures fall under existing definitions. A tiny house built to the California Building Code on a permanent foundation is regulated as a dwelling and must meet the standards of its zoning district, or it may qualify as an accessory dwelling unit under Section 17.08.050 and California's ADU law (Gov. Code 66310 et seq.). A tiny home on a chassis/wheels generally meets the Section 17.04.470 definition of a 'recreational vehicle' (less than 320 square feet of internal living area, built on a single chassis, towable), which is not a permanent dwelling. Under Section 17.08.010(E), an existing dwelling, mobile home, or recreational vehicle may be used as a temporary dwelling during construction of a home in any district for up to one year, with two six-month extensions, but it must be removed or converted to a non-residential use within sixty days of final inspection or at the end of the two-year maximum. A 'mobile home' (Section 17.04.380) is a different category: a factory-built unit of 320+ square feet on a permanent chassis, allowed where the MH combining district or applicable district permits. Movable tiny houses meeting HCD's 'tiny house on wheels' standards may be allowed as ADUs under state law in some cases. Confirm classification and permits with the Planning and Building departments.