Tiny Homes: Antioch vs El Cerrito
How do tiny homes rules compare between Antioch, CA and El Cerrito, CA?
Antioch and El Cerrito have similar restriction levels.
Antioch, CA
Contra Costa County
Antioch regulates tiny homes through its ADU ordinance at Antioch Municipal Code 9-5.3805, which expressly recognizes manufactured homes (Cal. Health & Safety Code 18007) and efficiency units (Cal. Health & Safety Code 17958.1) as Accessory Dwelling Units. A detached tiny-home ADU is permitted up to 1,200 square feet at 16 feet in height with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs), park-model RVs, and recreational vehicles are not recognized as ADUs and may not be used as permanent dwellings outside a permitted park.
View full Antioch rules →El Cerrito, CA
Contra Costa County
California HCD guidance and Health and Safety Code 18007 classify many tiny homes on wheels as manufactured housing or ADUs, granting statewide siting protections.
View full El Cerrito rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Antioch | El Cerrito |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | AMC 9-5.3805 | - |
| State Statute | Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2 | - |
| Manufactured Home Definition | Cal. H&S Code 18007 | - |
| Efficiency Unit Definition | Cal. H&S Code 17958.1 | - |
| Detached ADU Max Size | 1,200 sq ft | - |
| JADU Max Size | 500 sq ft (owner-occupied) | - |
| Detached Height | 16 ft (state exceptions allow more) | - |
| Side/Rear Setback | 4 ft minimum | - |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required for ADU; required for JADU | - |
| THOWs/RVs as ADUs | Not recognized (H&S 18028 framework) | - |
| Statute | - | Health & Safety Code 18007 |
| ADU pathway | - | Gov Code 65852.2 |
| Standards | - | HUD or ANSI 119.5 |
| Regulator | - | HCD |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Antioch FAQ
Can I park a tiny home on wheels in Antioch and live in it full time?
No. California Health & Safety Code section 18028 treats a tiny house on wheels as a recreational vehicle, and Antioch's ADU ordinance at 9-5.3805 only recognizes structures built to the California Residential Code on a permanent foundation. Long-term occupancy outside a permitted RV or mobilehome park is not allowed.
How big can a tiny-home ADU be in Antioch?
Up to 1,200 square feet of floor area for a detached new-construction ADU, with a 16-foot height cap for one-story detached units and state-allowed exceptions for transit-adjacent or above-garage units.
Does a tiny-home ADU have to be on a permanent foundation?
Yes. Antioch's ADU ordinance accepts manufactured homes that meet Cal. H&S Code 18007 and efficiency units under H&S 17958.1, but the structure must sit on a permanent foundation and be served by city water and sewer.
El Cerrito FAQ
Can I park a tiny home on wheels in my backyard full time?
Generally no, unless it qualifies as an ADU on a foundation or your city has a specific movable-tiny-house ordinance. RVs are limited to RV parks.
Are foundation-built tiny homes protected by ADU law?
Yes. A tiny home meeting ADU size and code requirements receives the full ministerial approval protections of Government Code 65852.2 statewide.
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