Tiny home rules in San Clemente, CA — covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds — determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
In San Clemente a permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit under SCMC 17.28.270, while a tiny home on wheels, trailer, or RV cannot be used as a dwelling except in a licensed mobilehome park or campground per SCMC 9.04.100.
San Clemente has no separate tiny-home code. A tiny home built on a permanent foundation and meeting the ADU definition is regulated as an ADU or junior ADU under SCMC 17.28.270, which allows detached units up to 800 square feet by-right with 4-foot setbacks and a 16-foot height limit. A movable tiny home is limited by SCMC 9.04.100, which states that, except as provided in Title 17, no person shall occupy or use any mobilehome, trailer, camp car, vehicle, tent, or temporary structure as a dwelling or for living or sleeping purposes on any public or private property in the city, except within a licensed mobilehome park or campground.
Living in a tiny home on wheels or an RV outside a licensed mobilehome park or campground violates SCMC 9.04.100.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Under California SB 1383, San Clemente requires single-family and multifamily residents to subscribe to organics collection and recycle green waste and food ...
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San Clemente's Landscape Standards require living, drought-tolerant plant material and permeable surfaces, with required landscaping at least 60 percent Cali...
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San Clemente's Landscape Standards require drought-tolerant, water-efficient landscaping for new and rehabilitated projects. Under Municipal Code Section 17....
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San Clemente has no ordinance prohibiting residential rainwater harvesting, and California's Rainwater Capture Act (2012) allows homeowners to collect roofto...
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The City of San Clemente is the water utility for most of the city; the Talega area is served by Santa Margarita Water District. Permanent water-waste restri...
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San Clemente's annual Weed Abatement Program treats overgrown weeds and dry vegetation as a fire hazard and nuisance. Owners must clear weeds and debris by M...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle tiny homes.
See how San Clemente's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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