Addressing Tiny Homes And Accessory Dwelling Units
Thank you for your interest in tiny homes and accessory dwelling units! Santa Cruz County Planning Staff is continuing to work on developing regulations for tiny homes.
There are two upcoming opportunities for you to participate in this process!
PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION FEBRUARY 9, 9:30 AM:
The Planning Commission will discuss potential Santa Cruz County tiny home regulations at a study session on February 9, 2022. At this meeting, staff will summarize discussions from the community meetings that were held in December 2021 and the Housing Advisory Commission meeting that was held on January 12, 2022, and we will also present the survey results and public comments received so far. The Planning Commission will provide direction to staff on whether to move forward with drafting a tiny homes ordinance and what to include in the ordinance. Members of the public are welcome to attend the Planning Commission meeting and make oral comments.
Attend The Meeting
Planning Commission meeting and make oral comments.
- Meeting Information: Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 9:30 AM. The staff report will be available one week prior to the hearing date with the meeting agenda.
- How to participate: You may connect via ZOOM or via phone. Please visit the Planning Department Home Page one week prior to the hearing date for the meeting link and phone number.
Tiny Home Survey
Please take a few minutes to answer our 10-question survey about tiny homes on wheels and let us know what kind of regulations YOU would like to see for tiny homes on wheels in Santa Cruz County.
Next Steps
Stay tuned for additional opportunities to participate in the preparation of tiny homes regulations at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings as they are scheduled.
For More Information, see the Planning Department TINY HOMES WEBSITE.
To ask questions or provide comments via email, contact Daisy Allen, Senior Planner, 831-454-2801, daisy.allen@santacruzcounty.us
Related Information
Big Thanks To Manu Koenig
The credit should go to our new County Supervisor Manu Koenig. During the election process it became clear that Supervisor Koenig was interested in solving some of the long-standing problems in Santa Cruz County. Housing is one of our major problems since very little housing has been built here since the 1970s when Santa Cruz was a much smaller town.
I introduced him to the idea that tiny homes would be an expedient solution to increase housing, and thus reduce the housing shortage. He campaigned on this idea and won! True to his word, his first action as Supervisor was to work with the other Supervisors to build consensus and a unanimous vote directing the Planning Department to write tiny home ordinances. We have two approaches. One is adopting California’s 2020 Appendix Q to allow tiny homes on foundations (THOF) as accessory dwelling units. The second is a new ordinance allowing tiny homes on wheels (THOW) as accessory dwelling units adjacent to single-family and multifamily housing. The details are in the works right now. But please know that the new ordinances may help lead the way to expanded uses for tiny homes.
Santa Cruz has always been a leader in creative expression. And under the leadership of Supervisor Koenig, we may set an example of creative problem solving using tiny homes.
Hello, I am the COE/Executive Director of TentMakers Inc., a Community Housing Development Corp in Richmond CA. We have partnered with UC Berkeley student Organization Tiny House In My Backyard, (THIMBY), to build and install a tiny house in a City of Richmond residence bayk yard via the City of Richmond’s Tiny House In My Backyard ordanance. Can we connect to discuss your proposed Tiny House program and our project?
Thank you,
Joe