Ojai council advances draft ordinance to allow movable tiny houses with limits, workshop set

The Ojai City Council on April 8 introduced a draft ordinance that would create a standalone regulatory path for movable tiny houses in the city, direct staff to host a public workshop, and return with the item for a second reading after the workshop.

Council members framed the action as an attempt to broaden housing options while keeping controls in place. The draft ordinance would set a 440-square-foot maximum, cap height at 14 feet, apply 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and require design compatibility with the primary residence. The council also directed staff to include composting toilets as an allowable option for units that cannot reasonably connect to sewer, to prohibit connection to private septic as a means of compliance, and to limit approvals to 20 units in the first calendar year. Staff will hold a public workshop in May and return the ordinance for a second reading at the council's first meeting in June.

The ordinance separates movable tiny houses from accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Under the proposed rules, tiny houses may be sited in addition to an ADU when the property otherwise meets setback, coverage and zoning constraints; on multifamily-zoned parcels the draft would allow up to two tiny homes. The draft also removes a previous requirement for a third-party ANSI inspection for factory-built units, while retaining third-party inspection as an option for certain site-built tiny homes. Decks would no longer be mandatory. The draft allows leasing of land for tiny houses as a permitted use in appropriate zones.

Community development director Lucas Seibert said two tiny homes had previously been permitted during a 2021–2023 pilot program but that the earlier pilot had proven cumbersome to execute because of inspection, pad and hookup costs. Seibert told council staff had identified roughly eight residents who have expressed interest under the revised rules and recommended moving the draft forward to provide clarity and remove specific barriers that discouraged applicants.

Builders and residents spoke during public comment. Daniel Griffiths of Venture Tiny Homes, who built the two existing permitted units, described manufacturing and certification practices, estimated price ranges and said high-quality units typically sold for roughly $80,000 to $200,000 depending on features. One resident raised concerns about visual impacts and waste handling. Several council members and staff discussed greywater, sewer-connection costs and the functioning of composting systems; staff said composting systems considered would be external composting units sized for low-occupancy use and that detailed standards would be presented at the workshop.

Mayor Gilman moved to introduce the ordinance and direct staff to hold a workshop; Councilmember Rule seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Council also added the 20-unit first-year cap and directed staff to return with the ordinance revised to reflect the evening's direction.

Why it matters: The decision creates a new pathway for smaller, often market-lower-cost housing types while reserving several local limits and design controls. The workshop will be the next public opportunity for residents to review proposed technical standards—particularly wastewater handling, tree protections and site placement—before the council takes a final vote.