Stockton, CA Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Stockton, 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
- Stand-alone tiny-home ordinance
- No (use ADU path)
- ADU path code
- SMC Ch. 16.40 + Gov. Code §65852.2
- Manufactured-home definition
- Cal. H&S Code §18007 (320+ sq ft)
- RV/MTH permanent occupancy
- Not allowed in residential zones
- Sleeping in sheds
- Prohibited (SMC Ch. 15.24, 2024 IPMC)
Summary
Stockton does not have a separate "tiny home" ordinance: a tiny structure used as a dwelling must qualify either as an ADU under Title 16 Development Code Chapter 16.40 (and Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2), as a manufactured home under California Health & Safety Code §18007, or as a recreational vehicle (RV), which cannot be used as a permanent residence under state law. Sleeping in a backyard shed is prohibited under the Stockton Property Maintenance Code (SMC Chapter 15.24, 2024 IPMC effective April 3, 2025).
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an attached or detached residential dwelling unit on the same lot as an existing or proposed single-family dwelling that is zoned for single-family or multifamily use. ADUs provide independent living quarters for one household on the same lot as an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily dwelling, including areas for sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. An ADU may be detached, attached or a converted structure located within the walls of the primary dwelling unit on the lot. Detached: The ADU structure is detached from the primary dwelling unit. Attached: The ADU structure is attached to the primary dwelling unit. Converted: The ADU within the existing primary dwelling unit or the ADU was established through the conversion of an accessory structure, for example, a garage or pool house. A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) is no more than 500 square feet in size and contained/constructed entirely within the walls of an existing single-family structure. The property owner is required to reside in either the main dwelling or the JADU. This may include the conversion of an attached garage but detached accessory structures cannot be converted to JADUs. Efficiency kitchen required: Includes plug-in-type cooking appliances, adequate food prep counter, and refrigerated storage. Sanitation Facilities: May be included in the JADU or may share with the main dwelling. Interior access to the main dwelling is required if sharing bathroom facilities. A JADU is not allowed to be constructed in a multi-family building. The property owner is required to reside in the main dwelling or the JADU, this requirement is documented on a recorded deed restriction. Pre-approved ADU plans are not an option for properties located in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area as shown on the current effective Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Full Breakdown
California does not have a stand-alone "tiny home" building code. To live in a small structure in Stockton, the unit must fit one of three legal categories. 40 and Cal. Gov. 2: ADUs as small as roughly 150 sq ft (the CBC efficiency-unit minimum) are allowed, and the state floor permits at least an 800 sq ft / 16-foot-tall ADU on any single-family lot with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. Second, a factory-built tiny home meeting the federal HUD code and California Health & Safety Code §18007 (manufactured home: minimum 320 sq ft, built on a permanent chassis) can be installed as a permanent ADU on a permanent foundation per CCR Title 25.
Third, a Movable Tiny House (MTH) on wheels is treated as a recreational vehicle under California Health & Safety Code §18010, and SMC Title 16 generally does not allow RVs to be occupied as permanent residences in residential zones; some California cities have adopted MTH ordinances permitting them as caretaker/ADU units, but Stockton has no published MTH ordinance. 24 (2024 IPMC) prohibits using non-habitable accessory structures (sheds, garages, carports) for sleeping or living without a Certificate of Occupancy.
Violations & Fines
Living in an unpermitted tiny structure, an RV parked on residential property, or a converted shed is a violation of SMC Chapter 15.24 (Property Maintenance Code) and Title 16. Stockton Community Development can issue a substandard-building notice, order the occupants to vacate, require connection to permitted utilities or removal of the structure, and assess fines as a municipal infraction under SMC Title 1, Chapter 1.32. Manufactured homes installed without Title 25 permits are also subject to HCD enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in a tiny house on wheels in my backyard in Stockton?
Is there a minimum size for a tiny ADU in Stockton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stockton
California rules heatmap·Compare Stockton to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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