Tracy Municipal Code Art. 12 Tiny Homes

The purpose of this section is to provide for and regulate tiny homes in order to provide needed housing for City residents and to further the housing goals of the housing element of the City of Tracy General Plan.

All such tiny homes shall be designed and located so as to be compatible with neighboring conventionally built dwellings. The specifications provided by this section are designed to ensure the compatibility of tiny homes in single-family zones with the aesthetic and architectural character of the surrounding neighborhood, in the same manner as that used by the City to approve other building permits for dwellings.

(Ord. No. 1385, § 6 (Exh. D), 4-7-2026)

A tiny home shall be defined as an independent dwelling unit, maximum 400 gross square feet, excluding loft area space if that loft area space meets the requirements of Government Code Section 18009.3(b) and Section 18033 and maximum fourteen (14) feet in width at the maximum horizontal projection. It provides complete independent living facilities; including basic functional areas for cooking, sleeping, and toilet and bathing facilities for one or more persons and is built upon a single chassis and is towable by a hitch mechanism and cannot move under its own power. It may only be transported upon the public highway with a permit issued pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 35780. The term "tiny home" can refer to a tiny home on a foundation and/or a tiny home on wheels.

(Ord. No. 1385, § 6 (Exh. D), 4-7-2026)

(a) A tiny home may function as a single-family dwelling as the primary unit or in place of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) such that the total number of dwelling units on a parcel does not exceed the total number of dwelling units allowed on that parcel per provisions of state and local regulations.

(b) A tiny home will be constructed to meet the requirements of City of Tracy Title 9 Building Regulations, or stamped and licensed by California Department of Housing and Community Development, or stamped and licensed by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or an alternative method approved by the Building Official.

(c) A tiny home may be permanently installed on a foundation and occupied as a single-family dwelling in any zone district in which a single-family dwelling is an allowed use, if and when the requirements of Title 9, Building Regulations, for issuance of a building permit have been met.

(d) A tiny home left on wheels and not placed on a permanent foundation may only be located in a designated mobile home park by City of Tracy Zoning Code and approved by California Department of Housing and Community Development.

(Ord. No. 1385, § 6 (Exh. D), 4-7-2026)

A tiny home shall be allowed under the provisions of this section only if it meets all of the following specifications:

(1) Will be occupied only as a single-family dwelling.

(2) A tiny home that functions as the primary dwelling shall be subject to all provisions of this Code that apply to single family dwellings in addition to the requirements of this section.

(3) The tiny home maximum size is as required to allow for towing on public roadways, but not to exceed 400 square feet.

(4) Will be anchored to a permanent foundation to withstand wind and seismic forces of Zone D as shown on the Seismic Risk Map of the United States, according to the regulations of the Uniform Building Code currently adopted for the City of Tracy.

(5) Will meet the following residential design standards:

a. Finished with an exterior material compatible with conventionally built residential structures in the neighborhood.

b. Exterior covering material extending to the ground or to the top of a concrete foundation. (Alternative skirting materials commonly found on conventionally built residential structures are acceptable.)

c. The tiny home will connect to all required municipal utility services.

(6) A tiny home that functions as an ADU shall be subject to all provisions of Article 23, Section 10.08.3180 as they apply to new construction ADUs in addition to the requirements in this section.

(7) A tiny home used as a primary residence will not be required to build a garage or a carport, but will have one on-site paved parking space.

(Ord. No. 1385, § 6 (Exh. D), 4-7-2026)

A clustered development including tiny homes shall be permitted in any zoning district consistent with General Plan and Zoning policy upon the granting of a clustered development approval consistent with Article 11, Section 10.10.200.

(Ord. No. 1385, § 6 (Exh. D), 4-7-2026)

An application for a building permit to install a tiny home on a permanent foundation shall meet the standards of the Uniform Building Code adopted by the City of Tracy.

(Ord. No. 1385, § 6 (Exh. D), 4-7-2026)