Dwelling, tiny home on wheels or THOW.
San José Municipal Code § 20.200.327
in effect"Tiny Home on Wheels" or "THOW" means a structure intended for separate, independent living quarters for one household that meets all of the following criteria: 1. Is a detached self-contained unit, designed and built to look like a conventional building structure, and which includes basic functional areas that support normal daily routines such as cooking, sleeping, toilet, and bathing facilities; and 2. Is licensed and registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles; and 3. Meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 119.5 requirements or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1192 standards, and is certified for ANSI or NFPA compliance. Certification must be made by a qualified third-party inspector; and 4. Is towable by a bumper hitch, frame-towing hitch, or fifth-wheel connection and cannot move under its own power; and 5. Is a minimum of 150 square feet and maximum of 400 square feet as measured within the exterior faces of the exterior walls. (Ord. 30395.)
Source: San José Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinancesFetched: 7/25/2026