Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-06
2 of California's 58 counties — 3% — allow living in an RV on private land. That is the 19th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is San Luis Obispo County (47/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 456 counties nationwide → California: owner-builder → California: tiny homes → California: no minimum home size → Full California profile →
From the California guide
California RVs are not intended as permanent dwellings; unless a local ordinance allows otherwise, RV occupancy generally belongs in mobilehome or special occupancy parks.6 County-specific RV answers exist for 47 counties: 2 classified as allowed, 17 temporary-only, 23 limited and 5 prohibited; 11 remain unanswered.11 The allowed entries need care: San Luis Obispo County concerns principal residence on a mobilehome space, while Riverside County describes personal RV parking rather than residential occupancy.11 Ask the county planning office about residential occupancy of the proposed parcel before relying on the California RV guide.6
Tiny-home answers exist for 29 counties: 12 allow qualifying homes and 17 impose limitations; another 29 remain unanswered.12 Mendocino County, Nevada County and Trinity County have allowances for movable tiny homes subject to local conditions.12 California requires an approved housing classification and an approved location for tiny-home occupancy; use the California tiny-home guide to narrow the search.7
From the California guide, written from the cited official sources and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: confirm with the office before you buy or build.
2 of 58 California counties · sorted by Index score
Use of an RV as the owner's principal residence on a mobile-home space in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County. California Civil Code 798.22 prohibits renting mobile-home space…
RVs in Mobile Home Parks ↗Parking a personal recreational vehicle on private property in unincorporated Riverside County. Private Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions may impose additional restriction…
planning.rctlma.org ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the California state page for all 58 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these California counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
