Santa Cruz To Allow Tiny Houses On Wheels As Primary Home

Local attorney and author, Jenifer Levini, Esq., who writes books about tiny homes laws and safety introduced the idea of using tiny homes as part of the solution for the housing shortage to Manu Koenig when he was first running for office. Koenig was a quick study and tiny homes became one of his top campaign promises. After winning the election, Koenig instructed Planning Department staff to research the possibility of legalizing THOWs. The county’s supervisors unanimously approved the first resolution which set the process in motion to write a concept Ordinance. The beta version included rules for THOWs and the codes for all accessory dwelling units (ADUs). It went through many public hearings and then the staff decided to bifurcate and focus first on ADUs not including THOWs. The THOW ordinance was placed on the back burner. Finally, a year later, they returned to the process and held all new public hearings much to the relief of Levini and several thousand people who have been hopefully waiting for housing relief. These hearings allowed the staff to modify the tentative ordinance. Levini kept thousands of local tiny home enthusiasts and supporters across the country aware of each step and they flooded the meetings with support. Commissioners at the Housing Advisory Commission and the Planning Commission debated the merits and alternatives to each section of the ordinance, making numerous revisions. Levini remained engaged answering questions for commissioners and County Planning staff, explaining the merits of the ordinances in other jurisdictions and pointing them to state laws would be supreme over the local ordinance. The final hearing for the ordinance at the Board of Supervisors was November 15, 2022. It passed unanimously.