Permanent tiny homes on foundations are allowed in Galt as ADUs if they meet California Residential Code. Tiny Homes on Wheels generally remain RVs under state law, meaning they cannot be used as permanent residences in most residential zones.
California treats small dwelling units in two categories. A foundation-built tiny home can qualify as an ADU or JADU if it meets the California Residential Code, including minimum ceiling height, sanitation, egress, heating, and energy standards. Appendix AQ of the Residential Code allows sleeping lofts, ship ladders, and other features sized for small footprints, but the structure must be permitted like any other dwelling and placed on a permanent foundation. A Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) is generally titled as a recreational vehicle or park trailer through the Department of Housing and Community Development, and it cannot lawfully be occupied as a permanent primary residence on a residential lot in most California cities, including Galt. State law allows a Movable Tiny House to be used as an ADU in limited circumstances if it meets ANSI A119.5 or NFPA 1192 and is installed with utility connections and tie-downs; Galt must have specifically adopted a MTH provision for this to apply. Short-term RV parking on a private lot for guests is allowed subject to the Zoning Ordinance; long-term occupancy is not.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle tiny homes.
See how Galt's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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