Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-24
1 of California's 58 counties — 2% — set no minimum dwelling size. That is the 12th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Tehama County (54/100). 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 381 counties nationwide → California: owner-builder → California: tiny homes → Full California profile →
1 of 58 California counties · sorted by Index score
Residential development in Tehama County residential zones in unincorporated areas. The County defaults to minimum unit sizes defined by the California Building Code.
Tehama County Housing Element ↗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.
