Madera, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

The Madera County Zoning Code does not contain a 'tiny home' category, so how a tiny dwelling is regulated depends on its construction. A tiny house built to the California Residential Code on a permanent foundation is treated as a single-family dwelling or, as a second unit, an accessory dwelling unit under Section 18.04.153, which requires its own kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance and compliance with the underlying zone's setbacks and height. Statewide ADU law (Gov. Code 66310-66342) requires ministerial approval and allows an ADU of at least 800 square feet, which accommodates many tiny-home designs. A tiny home on wheels (a movable tiny house) is legally a recreational vehicle or trailer under state law and is not approved as a permanent dwelling on private rural land under the county zoning code; such units are generally limited to licensed RV parks, mobile home parks, or temporary-use authorizations. Madera County's residential zones, including the rural and mountain (RMS/RM) zones common in the foothills near Yosemite, set minimum lot sizes (often one acre) and require adequate water and septic, which constrains where a tiny home can be placed. Anyone planning a tiny home should confirm with the Planning Division whether the proposal will be reviewed as a dwelling, an ADU, or a movable unit, because that classification drives every other requirement.