Zoning Laws On Tiny Homes On Wheels In San Luis Obispo, Ca.
The Community Development Department in San Luis Obispo, Ca. updated its Zoning Regulations which included provisions for Tiny Homes on Wheels in the backyard of on a site with an owner-occupied single-family residence. A single-family residence (Single-Unit Dwelling) is defined as a dwelling unit designed for occupancy by one household which is not attached to or located on a lot with commercial uses or other dwelling units.
Tiny Homes on Wheels are also referred to as Recreational Vehicles (RV) according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and is required to receive certification from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Pacific West Associates certifies our homes. See certification.
Director’s Action Permit
After March 7th, 2019, you can apply for a Director’s Action Permit to place a tiny home on wheels in your backyard.
Tiny Home On Wheels Application Checklist
Wheels Must Stay On
A Tiny Home on Wheels shall not have its wheels removed, all wheels and leveling/support jacks shall sit on a concrete, paved, or compacted gravel surface sufficient to support its weight. Tiny Homes with wheels removed and placed on a foundation are defined as a Dwelling Unit, or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), subject to additional requirements and California Building Code.
Entire List Of Requirements And Limitations: 17.86.210 Use as Dwelling; Parked on a Private Lot
E. Recreational Vehicles as Tiny Houses in Residential Zones
Moveable tiny houses shall be considered an additional type of accessory dwelling unit, allowed as an accessory use to single-unit residential dwelling unit, consistent with Government Code, Section 65852.2, subdivision (g) which allows cities to adopt less restrictive requirements than the State-mandated minimums for accessory dwelling units. A moveable tiny house that meets the definition in this subsection may be built and occupied as a new detached accessory dwelling unit, subject to the Director’s review and approval of a Director’s Action application if it complies with the standards of this subsection.
1 – Development Standards
Moveable tiny houses shall conform with the requirements for new detached accessory dwelling units, including but not limited to setbacks, height, and other applicable zoning requirements of the zone in which the site of the proposed moveable tiny house is located, as except as modified by this subsection.
- A- Number: No parcel may be approved for more than one moveable tiny house in a 12-month period. No parcel may contain more than one moveable tiny house at a time. No parcel may contain both a moveable tiny house and a conventional accessory dwelling unit.
- B-Renewal: The Director shall renew the approval of a movable tiny home for a period of three to five years upon receipt of a complete application and inspection by the City to confirm continued compliance with the standards in this section.
- C-Maintenance: The site shall be maintained as set forth in Chapter 17.76 (Property Maintenance Standards )
- D-Location: The moveable tiny house shall be located toward the rear of the property.
- E-Size: The maximum square footage or habitable floor space for a moveable tiny house shall be 400 square feet, as measured by exterior wall dimensions (lofts shall not be counted toward the maximum square footage. The moveable tiny house shall have at least 100 square feet of first floor interior living space.
- F- Replacement Parking: Where a moveable tiny house occupies a required parking space, a replacement parking space is required. A replacement parking space may be located in any configuration on the same lot as the moveable tiny house, including but not limited to covered spaces, uncovered spaces, or tandem spaces. Parking shall be permitted only in those locations specified in these Zoning Regulations.
- G-Design:The design of a tiny house shall resemble the general appearance, siding, and roofing of a traditional home.
- H-Energy Efficiency: Applications submitted for tiny houses shall demonstrate that the tiny home has been constructed to exceed ANSI energy standards through one of the following methods:i.Include insulation with values of R13 for the walls and R19 for the floor and ceiling; Ensure that the stud/joist/rafter space in the walls, floors and ceiling are completely filled with insulation.
2 Parking Spaces: Moveable tiny houses shall not require additional parking.
3 Mechanical Equipment: All mechanical equipment for a moveable tiny house shall be incorporated into the structure and shall not be located on the roof.
4 Utility Connections and Requirements.Moveable tiny houses shall not require separate utility meters from the primary unit. Moveable tiny houses may be off-grid and not connected to one or more utility systems, but only if the applicant provides sufficient proof, to the satisfaction of the Director and the Building Official, that the moveable tiny house has adequate, safe, and sanitary utility systems providing water, sewer, heating, cooling, and electric po
5 Addresses. Moveable tiny houses shall not have separate street addresses from the primary unit
6 Foundation Requirements. Once sited on the parcel ofthe primary unit, moveable tiny houses shall meet the following foundation requirements:a.The moveable tiny house shall not have its wheels removed, and all wheels and leveling/support jacks shall sit on a concrete, paved, or compacted gravel surface sufficient to support its weight.
7 Emergency and Rescue Openings. Moveable tiny houses shall meet the requirements of Section R310 of the California Building Code for emergency escape and rescue openings. Egress roof access windows in lofts used as sleeping rooms shall be deemed to meet this requirement if installed such that the bottom of the opening is not more than 44 inches above the loft floor, provided the egress roof access window complies with the minimum opening area requirements of California Building Code Section R310.2.1.
8.Procedure Requirements. A Director’s Action application shall be required to establish a moveable tiny house including the application materials and information required by Section 17.86.020 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Guest Quarters) for an accessory dwelling unit, an applicant fora moveable tiny house shall submit proof that:
A- The proposed moveable tiny house is licensed and registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles;
B- The proposed moveable tiny house has been certified by a qualified third-party inspector as meeting ANSI, 119.2 or 119.5 requirements or comparable standards, or was built to meet ANSI 119.2 or 119.5 requirements as demonstrated by sufficient evidence satisfactory to the Director; at a minimum this inspection shall verify that the unit is in good working order for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, including the absence of any exterior shell water leaks;
C-The applicant is the property owner, or has sufficient written permission from the property owner, of the intended location of the proposed moveable tiny house
D-Prior to the issuance of building permits, a covenant agreement shall be recorded which discloses the structure’s approved floor plan and status as a movable tiny home and agreeing that the property will be owner-occupied. This agreement shall be recorded in the office of the County Recorder to provide constructive notice to all future owners of the property. The covenant agreement also may contain authorization for annual inspections for compliance with the agreement and to verify continued compliance with requirements of this Section and health and safety codes. If a property can no longer be occupied as the owner’s primary place of residence, the movable tiny home shall no longer be used as overnight sleeping quarters.
City Of San Luis Obispo, California
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