San Luis Obispo County, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in San Luis Obispo County, 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.
Key Facts
- Appendix adopted
- CRC Appendix BB - Tiny Houses
- Scope
- Tiny houses used as single dwelling units only
- Excluded
- Park models and other recreational vehicles
- Permit still required
- Sec. 19.02.020(b), amending CBC/CRC Sec. 105.1
- Citation
- Sec. 19.03.020(2), amending CRC Appendix BB Sec. 101.1
Summary
San Luis Obispo County adopted California Residential Code Appendix BB so a tiny house can be permitted as a single dwelling unit. Section 19.03.020(2) amends Appendix BB Section 101.1's scope so the appendix applies only to tiny houses built as dwellings, not to park models or other recreational vehicles used as housing.
Adopt Appendix BB - TINY HOUSES
Amend Appendix BB Section 101.1 to read as follows: Scope. This appendix shall be applicable to tiny houses used as single dwelling units. Tiny houses shall comply with this code except as otherwise stated in this appendix. These provisions do not allow for park models or other recreation vehicles to be considered a habitable dwelling unit.
Full Breakdown
03 modifies the California Residential Code for unincorporated county construction. ' The amendment explicitly excludes park models and other recreational vehicles from being treated as a habitable dwelling unit under the appendix, so a tiny house on a trailer chassis marketed as an RV does not qualify; the structure must be built and permitted as a single dwelling unit to use the appendix's standards. 1. 020 modification list also adopts Appendix B (Patio Covers) and Appendix CI (Swimming Pool Safety Act) for the same residential permitting chapter, showing the tiny house appendix was added as one of several optional residential construction standards the county chose to bring into its amended Residential Code rather than leave unaddressed.
Violations & Fines
Building or occupying a tiny house without first obtaining a construction permit under Section 105.1, as amended by Section 19.02.020(b), is treated the same as any other unpermitted residential construction and is referred to code enforcement. Using a park model or recreational vehicle as a permanent dwelling and claiming the protection of Appendix BB does not satisfy Section 19.03.020(2), since the amended scope excludes those unit types outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a tiny house on my property in unincorporated SLO County?
Does a tiny house on wheels marketed as an RV qualify under the county's tiny house rules?
Do I need a separate permit for a tiny house, or does the appendix cover that too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Luis Obispo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Luis Obispo County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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