Tiny House Permitting in San Luis Obispo

Tiny houses are a rising trend in housing that provide affordable, environmentally friendly dwellings for those inclined to a minimalist lifestyle. Across the Unites States, municipalities have begun creating special provisions for tiny houses, but there remain many barriers to building and permitting tiny houses affordably. There has been much progress in the acceptance of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), specifically in the state of California. Legislation on ADUs leads the way for the community integration of tiny houses. This study investigates the current state of legislation and permitting for tiny houses in San Luis Obispo, California. An interview was conducted with a local authority on tiny house legislation, and three mini case studies were conducted on model practices in other municipalities. Information from the interview and the case studies was synthesized into a recommendation for the City of San Luis Obispo on how to alter their current legislation model