Tiny home rules in Topanga, 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.
Tiny homes on permanent foundations are treated as ADUs under CA Gov Code 65852.2 and LA County's ADU ordinance in unincorporated areas. Tiny homes on wheels are not recognized as permanent dwellings. LA County allows ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft detached with 4 ft side/rear setbacks.
LA County follows California's statewide ADU laws (Gov Code 65852.2) for tiny homes on permanent foundations in unincorporated areas. Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft are permitted on single-family lots with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. Junior ADUs (JADUs) up to 500 sq ft are allowed within the existing footprint of a primary dwelling. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are classified as recreational vehicles and cannot serve as permanent residences. They may be parked on residential property subject to RV parking rules but cannot be connected to permanent utilities as a dwelling unit.
Occupying a tiny home on wheels as a permanent residence violates Title 22 zoning regulations. Building an ADU without permits violates Title 26 building code. Penalties include stop-work orders, retroactive permit fees (double the standard fee), and administrative fines of $250-$1,000 per day. Unpermitted ADUs may face demolition orders if not brought into compliance.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
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