City looks at creating ordinance to allow movable tiny homes

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe City Council took the first steps in creating an ordinance that will allow park-model RVs less than 400 square feet in size on parking pads at South Lake Tahoe properties to help alleviate the housing crisis.

The Council addressed several issues but since some major adjustments to the staff's proposal were requested, Council will vote on a first draft at a future meeting.

The "movable tiny homes" will be allowed in South Lake Tahoe if on a chasis, set on permanent parking pads with full utility hookups. Tiny homes that are "stick built" are already allowed through another new ordinance.

Depending on their use, the movable tiny home would have to meet the rules homes are subject to - accessory dwelling unit (ADU), single family or multi-family requirements will have to be met.

The movable home will have to be not only 400 sq.ft. or less, but also no wider than 8.5 feet. The ordinance will not allow for slide outs, tip-outs or other types of room extensions. They must be ten feet away from other structures and follow all set back requirements of the city code. They must also follow the same standards for snow removal as other homes.

The biggest change the Council wanted to see is allowing a zero clearance eave and no required overhang.

While the units will not be subject to property tax, they will have motor vehicle fees.

The new type of accommodations will be for local housing uses only and not vacation rentals, and will also be subject to parking and installation requirements associated with the type of housing the movable is being used for. There will be specific fire safety and energy efficiency rules, and appearance must meet permitting and review requirements.

When the Planning Commission voted on the ordinance they has issues with the movable homes being uses in multi-family projects. They had reccommended they not be allowed.

During public comment, Chris Proctor of Barton Health said they are supportive of the new ordinance as it helps with their housing of traveling nurses. The Tahoe Home Connection Board said they are in support of the decision, including use in multi-family projects.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency only limits where mobile home parks are allowed, and have indicated they would support amendments to code once the City Council adopts an ordinance.

If the City were to adopt regulations that the movable homes are allowed as multi-family, a special occupancy park permit would be required from the state.

The movable home must also be approved by El Dorado County Environmental Health. South Tahoe Public Utility District's administrative code currently does not address utility hookups specifically for tiny homes. Its board of directors would have to establish utility hookup language that meets standards.

The drafted ordinance reads:

“Moveable tiny house” means a Park Model Recreational Vehicle functioning as a separate, independent dwelling unit that is no larger than 400 square feet (excluding lofts) providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation; is mounted on a wheeled trailer chassis; and is titled and registered to tow with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Park Model Recreational Vehicle” means a towable recreational vehicle
designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, seasonal,
camping or travel use. Park Model Recreational Vehicles are built on a
single trailer chassis, mounted on wheels and have a gross trailer area not
exceeding 400 square feet. A Park Model Recreational Vehicle shall be
considered a moveable tiny house for the purpose of Section 6.85.060 if it
otherwise satisfies all requirements of this Section.

Movable tiny houses shall not be used as vacation home rentals or hosted
rentals.

Development Standards. Moveable tiny houses shall conform with the
requirements for a new detached accessory dwelling unit or a new primary
single-family residenceas applied to the proposed use and Plan Area
Statement, Community Plan or Area Plan in which the site of the proposed
moveable tiny house is located, except as modified by this subsection.