Park model tiny homes in Placer County, California

What Placer County allows

Placer County's moveable tiny house ordinance treats a certified unit as its own use category, distinct from standard RVs and mobile homes, with three separate paths: as the sole dwelling on a parcel in several residential and agricultural zones, as an accessory dwelling unit in a wider set of zones, or as part of a moveable tiny house community under the county's cluster lot development standards.

• Unit is no larger than 400 square feet, one story, and no larger than California road-legal towing dimensions
• Licensed and registered with the California DMV or California Department of Housing and Community Development
• Certified to California HSC 18027.3, with third party ANSI and/or NFPA inspection documentation on file
• Undercarriage, including wheels, axles, tongue and hitch, concealed once sited, with wheels skirted or removed and set on leveling or support jacks over an approved paving surface
• Sited at least 4 feet from adjacent lot lines and at least 10 feet from any other structures on the property
• Built to meet the equivalent of Title 25 snow load requirements for its specific site, with manufacturer-certified roof live load capacity
• Connected to water supply and sewage disposal approved by the county's environmental health department, with its own address via electrical, sewer or septic permit
• Designed to look like a conventional residential structure, using typical siding, roofing, pitched roofs and residential windows, rather than resembling an RV

How the process generally works

1. Confirm your zoneCheck your parcel's zoning district against the primary-dwelling or ADU zone lists above, or use the county's online zone lookup tool for your address.
2. Choose a certified modelEvery Snake River Tiny Homes model already carries NOAH+ certification. Confirm it also meets Placer County's HSC 18027.3 documentation and site-specific snow load requirements.
3. Apply for zoning clearancePlacer County requires zoning clearance for a moveable tiny house, whether it is a primary dwelling, an accessory dwelling unit, or part of a moveable tiny house community.
4. Complete registration and inspectionRegister the unit with the California DMV or HCD, and provide third party ANSI and/or NFPA inspection documentation to the county's building services and planning services divisions.
5. Finalize sitingSkirt or remove the wheels, connect approved water and sewer service, and confirm the unit's design, siding and roofline meet the county's residential-appearance standard before final sign-off.

Source and verification

This page is based on Placer County Code, Title 17, Article 17.56, Section 17.56.400 (Moveable Tiny Houses), and the county's official 'Tiny Homes in Placer County' page and moveable tiny house permit checklist.

Last verified by Snake River Tiny Homes: September 5, 2026

This page is provided for general information and is not legal advice. Zoning rules change and individual parcels vary. Buyers should confirm current requirements directly with Placer County Community Development before purchase.