Oakland, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Oakland recognizes three tiny-home pathways. A tiny house on a permanent foundation is treated as a standard ADU and must meet California Residential Code Appendix AQ (Tiny Houses), which permits reduced ceiling heights to 6'8" in habitable spaces and 6'4" in lofts, ladders to loft sleeping areas, and a minimum 70 sq ft main room. All ADU setback and size rules apply. Movable Tiny Houses (MTH) on wheels are allowed in some Oakland residential zones as accessory to a primary dwelling, subject to connection to water, sewer, and electric, registration with DMV, and meeting ANSI A119.5 or RVIA tiny-house standards. MTHs cannot be used as primary residences indefinitely and cannot be placed in front setbacks. Tiny homes classified as RVs under California Vehicle Code can be stored on private property but not occupied as dwellings under OMC 8.18. Oakland has also deployed city-sanctioned Community Cabin sites for unhoused residents, which are not available for private property use. Financing tiny homes is challenging because most lenders require a permanent foundation and HUD certification. PG&E service connection requires a standard meter and permitted feeder. Fire-zone properties in the Oakland Hills must meet Chapter 7A ignition-resistant standards regardless of tiny-home type.