Title
Workshop: Preliminary Framework for Regulating Cottages on Wheels (LR26-001)
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FileID
File ID: 2026-00399
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Review and comment on a preliminary draft framework for a local ordinance to allow cottages on wheels.
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Contact
Contact: Angel Anguiano, Associate Planner, (916) 808-5519, aanguiano@cityofsacramento.org; Greta Soos, Senior Planner, AICP, (916) 808-2027, gsoos@cityofsacramento.org; Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Angel Anguiano, Associate Planner, (916) 808-5519, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Background
3-Jurisdictional Standards Matrix
4-Staff Presentation
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element outlines an eight-year strategy to support housing production at all income levels and meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 45,580 housing units by 2029. As part of this effort, Housing Element Program H23 directs the City to consider amendments to the Planning and Development Code to allow moveable tiny homes as accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Within the tiny home industry, a tiny house is generally referred to as a “moveable tiny house”, “tiny house”, or “tiny house on wheels”. To avoid conflation with other commonly used building code terminology, these units will be referred to as Cottages on Wheels (COWs). The Cottages on Wheels initiative will establish a local ordinance and review process to permit moveable Cottages on Wheels as accessory dwellings to primary residential uses only.
The purpose of this workshop is to provide the Commission and the public an opportunity to comment on the preliminary draft framework for regulating Cottages on Wheels as well as discuss key policy and program considerations.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations
The consideration of an ordinance to allow Cottages on Wheels as accessory dwellings to primary residential uses is consistent with the City’s goals, policies and programs established in the 2040 General Plan and the 2021-2029 Housing Element, including:
2040 General Plan
• Goal LUP-1 A compact urban footprint and sustainable development pattern with infrastructure that supports efficient delivery of public services while protecting surrounding open space lands.
o LUP-1.1 Compact Urban Footprint. The City shall promote a land- and resource-efficient development pattern and the placement of infrastructure to support efficient delivery of public services and conserve open space, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and improve air quality.
• Goal LUP-6 A city of healthy, livable, “complete neighborhoods” that provide for residents’ daily needs within easy walking or biking distance from home.
o LUP-6.2 Range of Residential Development Intensities. The City shall allow for a range of residential development intensities throughout the community to cultivate a mix of housing types at varying sales price points and rental rates, provide options for residents of all income levels, and protect existing residents from displacement.
o LUP-6.3 Variety of Housing Types. The City shall promote the development of a greater variety of housing types and sizes in all existing and new growth communities to meet the needs of future demographics and changing household sizes, including the following:
• Single-unit homes on small lots,
• Accessory dwelling units,
• Tiny homes,
• Alley-facing units,
• Townhomes,
• Lofts,
• Live-work spaces,
• Duplexes,
• Triplexes,
• Fourplexes,
• Cottage/bungalow courts,
• Neighborhood-scale multi-unit buildings, and
• Senior and student housing.
2021-2029 Housing Element
• Goal 1. Increasing Overall Housing Production
o H-1.4 Facilitate Infill Housing Development. The City shall facilitate infill housing along commercial corridors, near employment centers, near high-frequency transit areas, and in all zones that allow residential development as a way to revitalize commercial corridors, promote walkability and increased transit ridership, and provide increased housing options.
• Goal 4: Advancing Equity and Inclusion
o H-4.1 Expand Housing Types Throughout the City. The City shall take meaningful actions to allow for a greater array of housing types throughout the city to create more inclusive and equitable neighborhoods and to affirmatively further fair housing.
• Program H23. Moveable Tiny Homes as ADU’s. The City shall consider amending the Planning and Development Code to allow moveable tiny homes to be considered an ADU.
o Implements which Policy(ies): H-3.1
o Timeframe: 2024
o Responsible Department or Agency: Community Development
o Objective: Streamline and reduce costs for ADUs throughout the City, but with a specific focus on areas of high opportunity to affirmatively further fair housing.
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EnvironmentalConsideration
Environmental Consideration: This workshop is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is a request for input as an administrative activity that will not result in any direct or indirect physical change in the environment (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5)) and is not subject to CEQA (Guidelines section 15060(c)(3)). Future efforts associated with Cottages on Wheels will be reviewed in accordance with CEQA Guidelines sections 15060 and 15061(a).
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: A sustainable community provides housing for current and future households across all income levels within a sustainable development pattern. The City’s Cottages on Wheels initiative supports this goal by facilitating infill development and expanding housing options that reduce housing costs and promote inclusive and equitable neighborhoods, consistent with affirmatively furthering fair housing.
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Commission/CommitteeAction
Commission/Committee Action: None.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: This workshop provides an opportunity for Commission input and discussion to inform staff on how to proceed with the program.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: None.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise(LBE)
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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