In adopting this chapter it is the intent of the board of supervisors to enact provisions that allow for the construction and installation of tiny homes or the placement of shipping containers adapted for residential use in order to increase the variety and supply of housing products permitted in the unincorporated area and thereby potentially increase housing affordability by allowing for a smaller housing product while at the same time considering an enhancement or maintenance of community aesthetics, preserving property values, and protecting the public health, safety and welfare.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Tiny home:" A tiny home is a detached structure built and designed to resemble a single-family home for permanent year round occupancy by one household with functional areas that support normal daily routines including cooking, sleeping and sanitation.

"Residential shipping container:" A residential shipping container is a dwelling made from a steel shipping container. The residential shipping container is adapted from either a twenty-foot by eight-foot or forty-foot by eight-foot container with a height of either eight and one-half feet or nine and one-half feet for permanent year round occupancy by one household with functional areas that support normal daily routines including cooking, sleeping and sanitation.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)

A.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, tiny homes and residential shipping containers are allowed as a use by right in the R-7 and MU zone classifications as well as in all zoning classifications that permit one-family dwellings or accessory dwelling units.

B.

Tiny homes or residential shipping containers located on lots adjacent to a lot containing a place, building, structure, or other object listed on the National Register of Historic Places, shall be allowed with an approved plot plan in accordance with chapter 17.216 of this ordinance.

C.

Tiny homes and residential shipping containers are prohibited in areas that are constrained by water availability, water quality, sewage disposal or other health and safety concerns.

D.

Tiny homes and residential shipping containers are prohibited in areas where a development moratorium is imposed by the county or another public agency with authority to impose such a development moratorium due to a deficient water supply, inadequate sewer or septic capacity.

E.

Applications for a tiny home or residential shipping container shall include a site design plan demonstrating compliance with the development standards provided in this chapter, and processed in accordance with this ordinance, Ordinance No. 671 and Ordinance No. 457, as applicable.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)

An application for a tiny home or residential shipping container shall be approved if it complies with all of the following, as applicable:

A.

The requirements and development standards set forth in this chapter.

B.

Certification is provided demonstrating that the residential shipping container is constructed pursuant to ISO standards and is a new or single use shipping container.

C.

All required approvals are obtained from the department of environmental health and the fire department including that the residential shipping container is not compromised in any way including, but not limited to, physical or structural integrity, use of hazardous material for coating or fumigating, or having been used to transport hazardous material.

D.

All applicable laws and regulations related to flood control, seismic safety, and health and safety including, but not limited to, fire and building code regulations.

E.

Written confirmation has been provided from the department of environmental health for the use of an existing or new septic system.

F.

A percolation test is completed and certified within the last year or recertified by the department of environmental health.

G.

All required approvals are obtained from the applicable water and sewer purveyor(s).

H.

If applicable because of geographic location and constraints, all required approvals are obtained from the fire department, Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Coachella Valley Water District, or the environmental programs division of the planning department.

I.

Tiny homes that are factory-built off-site and transported to a residential site shall comply with Health and Safety Code Sections 19960, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 3000, et seq. as may be amended.

J.

Tiny homes and residential shipping containers shall not be subject to section 17.172.070 of this ordinance related to size of dwellings.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)

A.

A tiny home shall be installed on a concrete slab foundation.

B.

Residential shipping container shall be installed on a pier foundation, concrete slab foundation, piling foundation or platform foundation.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)

Tiny homes or residential shipping containers located in the R-7 or MU zoning classifications and meeting the requirements below may be clustered with an approved plot plan in accordance with chapter 17.216 of this ordinance.

1.

In a residential subdivision where the underlying lot and tiny home or residential shipping container are purchased in fee;

2.

As a condominium product where the tiny home or residential shipping container is owned and the underlying lot is owned as an undivided interest derived from the number of tiny homes or residential shipping containers provided;

3.

Where the tiny home or residential shipping container is owned, but the underlying space or site is leased; or

4.

Where the underlying lot and the tiny home or residential shipping container are both in the possession of an owner or entity and the tiny home or residential shipping container on the designated space or site are rented.

B.

Clustered tiny homes and residential shipping containers shall be compatible with the surrounding area's characteristics including, but not limited to, density.

C.

Open space or recreation facilities are not required for clustered tiny homes or residential shipping containers.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)

Tiny homes and residential shipping containers shall comply with the development standards for the applicable zoning classification and the development standards listed below. If there is an inconsistency between the development standards of the zone classification and these standards, the more restrictive standard applies.

A.

Lot size. The minimum lot size shall be one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet.

B.

Height. The maximum height for a building or structure shall be twenty-five (25) feet.

C.

Setback. Side and rear setbacks shall not be less than five feet. No front setback is required except as may be needed to accommodate off-street parking pursuant to subsection E. below.

D.

Wall. When clustering, a masonry wall six feet in height shall be erected along the perimeter of the lot.

E.

Vehicle parking. Off-street automobile parking space shall be provided as required by chapter 17.188 of this ordinance. When clustering, parking spaces shall be delineated on the plot plan or as a separate attachment to the plot plan.

F.

Building size.

1.

A tiny home shall not exceed five hundred (500) square feet, excluding patios, porches, garages, and similar structures. A split level tiny home shall include a first floor living space of at least one hundred fifty (150) square feet.

2.

A residential shipping container may consist of multiple shipping containers, but shall not exceed one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet, excluding patios, porches, garages, and similar structures.

(Ord. No. 348.4950, § 36, 3-2-2021)