San Benito County, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Unincorporated San Benito County is unusually progressive on tiny homes: County Code § 25.08.029 (Tiny Homes), effective March 31, 2024, expressly allows tiny homes, including movable tiny homes on wheels (THOWs), in all zoning districts that permit residential dwellings or accessory dwelling units. A qualifying tiny home must be at least 150 sq ft and no larger than 400 sq ft, putting it in the size class of a park-model unit and aligning with the County's ADU framework. For movable units, the ordinance requires that the undercarriage, including wheels and axles, be hidden from view with a solid wood, metal, or concrete apron, and that the unit sit on a paved parking pad equipped with bumper guards, curbs, or other installations adequate to prevent movement. Height is tied to transport safety: a tiny home is limited to 14 feet when being towed, consistent with California Vehicle Code § 35250, but once placed on a lot it may exceed 14 feet provided it could still be moved on public roadways within legal height. Because tiny homes are folded into the residential and ADU permitting structure, they remain subject to setbacks, utility connections, and septic/water capacity review by the Resource Management Agency, which matters most on rural ranch parcels. This is genuine local policy and not merely a default to state law, so San Benito County is a notably tiny-home-friendly jurisdiction.