Tiny Homes Take on a New Status in One California City

Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) have always been an anomaly, not quite vehicle, but not quite permanent structure – at least, until a recent ordinance in the California City of San Luis Obispo gave THOWs a new status.

The City recently enacted a new ordinance that re-classifies THOWs as permanent structures rather than recreational vehicles, the status they carry in most other California cities. As a result, THOWs are now considered more akin to accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, that sit in the backyards of individually owned properties rather than RVs or other types of vehicles.

The tiny home ordinance imposes the following requirements on owners of THOWs, among others:

• THOWs must be between 120 and 400 square feet in size.
• They must look like traditional homes in terms of the style and quality of their siding and roofing, as well as their overall appearance and curb appeal.
• They must be situated in the back or side yard of a single-family home.
• The owner of the primary property must live in either the main home or the tiny home.
• The homes must be installed on a trailer that is currently registered with the DMV.

Needless to say, given these regulations, the new ordinance will come at a cost to owners of THOWs. The City application and utility hookup fees alone are estimated to reach $1,800 or more. Not to mention, building a tiny home from scratch can cost north of $35,000 before even considering the infrastructure of the home.

Further, the ordinance restricts the locations where owners can decamp: THOW owners seeking to install their homes on a particular piece of property are required to obtain a renewable, five-year permit. Fortunately, however, the permit can be renewed through a basic inspection to ensure safe and functional connections to water, sewer, and electricity hookups.

Nonetheless, the goal of the San Luis Obispo City Council is to make tiny home construction more affordable, so that SLO doesn’t just become a haven for the wealthy. In fact, the Council has already successfully proposed and enacted cost-saving measures for THOW owners, including loosening the annual inspection requirements, doing away with the “skirting” material intended to cover the THOWs’ wheels, and no longer requiring owners to install six-foot privacy fences around their homes – all items that add unnecessary cost. By doing so, SLO municipal leaders are ensuring that the new classification will help, not hinder, families’ ability to secure THOWs as a viable, safe, attractive, sustainable, and affordable housing option.

What’s Ahead for THOW Owners

Various advocacy groups in San Luis Obispo and other parts of California seek to expand this effort by creating sustainable communities to house underserved populations like homeless veterans and the elderly. This would look like park models of tiny homes – set up much like mobile home parks – rather than isolated tiny homes located in various backyards across the State.

Other cities are just behind SLO in considering reclassifying tiny homes: deeming THOWs as permanent structures or accessory dwelling units rather than recreational vehicles. These efforts will bring THOWs one step closer to serving as a viable, widespread affordable housing option for thousands of Californians.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.