California is a popular state for tiny house builders. California has many different climates and landscapes, which means that this state can be the perfect place to live in a tiny home.
Whether you are in Sacramento or Los Angeles, there are plenty of opportunities to find land, build your own home, and start living the tiny life! This blog post will give you all the information about building a California-style tiny house. We will cover laws and regulations, so you know what to expect before taking on this project yourself.
What to Know Before I Build a Tiny House in California?
- Building a tiny house is illegal on most private land unless you have permission from the property owner. If it is not permitted or there are restrictions against the building, you might need to find public space for your new abode!
- Tiny houses smaller than 120 square feet (including sleeping loft) do not require permits under CA law as long as they’re parked on someone else’s property. This is excellent news because finding free parking spots outside of cities is not always easy! You will also save money by avoiding these permit fees too.
- Remember to get your site plan and small structure plans approved by the city before starting construction!
- California has set up specific zoning rules for tiny houses, so ensure that these regulations are followed when considering where to park your new home. For example, if you are going to live in an area with strict height limits or near wetlands, it might be tough to find a place that will allow parking.
- One hurdle is finding landowners who want this type of house on their property without asking for anything in return, such as rent. Fret not – one way around those restrictions is through owning land outright yourself! Depending on how much money you have saved up and where you want to live, this could be an option for you.
- Another option is joining a tiny house coop! If you cannot find landowners willing to let you park your home on their property, investigate into sharing space with others in similar situations.
Get Started Building a Tiny House in California
Tiny houses are popping up all over the country. California is one of the states where they are most popular, and it is not hard to see why. You can enjoy beautiful weather, a relaxed lifestyle, and living in an affordable environment!
We want to help as many people start their tiny house journey as possible by teaching them about building regulations for California. This way, everyone has enough information before starting construction on their own home.
Buying Land in California for a Tiny House
Buying land in California can be expensive, especially if you are looking at buying the property outright. One option is to buy a small piece of raw land and build your tiny house on it. This way, you will have some space for your yard or garden area without paying for something much larger than what’s necessary!
You may need more time to find the perfect spot instead of just purchasing a lot with an existing building that many people are selling. If this sounds like too much work, then another idea is finding someone who will sell their already developed plot of land (with buildings) so that all you have left to do is move into your new home! These lots come with everything you need to live comfortably.
If you are looking to build a house on land that is not already owned, it is essential to research what kind of restrictions will be put in place for the area and how many square feet are needed to remain untouched by development.
California Land Laws
Two laws govern tiny homes in California: California Government Code Section 65302 and California Health and Safety Code Sections 17975-17980.
California Government Code Section 65302 deals with restrictions on tracts of land in California. A tract is defined as any area that has been divided into lots, parcels, or homesteads and is not contiguous parts of a larger tract.
The first point to note here is that the regulation only applies if you intend to divide your lot into smaller pieces for sale rather than using it just for one home. These laws also do not apply to properties used exclusively for agriculture purposes regardless of whether they have residential use associated with them or not.
The parcel must have at least 20 acres if located in an agricultural zone as designated under law. The parcel cannot exceed 500 acres outside of an agricultural zone unless with approval from the department. County board of supervisors, city council, or other local governmental entity having jurisdiction over such things.
Hire a Professional
If you can afford it, it is recommended to hire a professional. This is much information to look up to yourself, so hiring someone to provide knowledgeable legal advice for your project is a great resource. This can save you a giant headache in the future, especially as laws and regulations change and are updated.
Summary
After reading this article, we hope that you have gained some valuable insight into how to make your dream TINY HOME come true. Building a tiny house in California may have some hurdles to jump over, but it is very doable. So why not start building your tiny home today in one of the most beautiful states in the country?