ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: Community Development Item No: D1
Prepared by: Patsy Chow, Assistant Director Meeting Date: February 10, 2026 Approved by:
Joe Vacca, Director
John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion
SUBJ
ECT: MOVABLE TINY HOMES PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS (P25-0150) RECO
MMENDATION: Discuss movable tiny homes (MTH) requirements from other cities/counties , review proposed draft staff recommendations for MTH regulations, and provide direction to staff.
CORRE
LATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Relates to but does not directly support the following City Council goals: Homelessness and Housing and Economic Development.
PRI
OR ACTION: On October 28, 2025, held a discussion to address MTH and provided direction to staff to bring this item back for further discussion (Vote: No Vote).
PRI
OR PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: None.
ST
ATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: In recent years, Vista has seen some interest in MTH as another way to promote more affordable homeownership and owner- occupied housing opportunities for individuals seeking ownership in Vista. Because the City’s Development Code does not currently identify or define an MTH, there is not a mechanism in place to support their development in the city. Based on direction received from City Council at their discussion on October 28, 2025, staff investigated three cities and two counties that already have MTH regulations in place. Staff researched and compared their regulations, presented in Exhibit 1. Following the direction of the City Council from the October 2025 discussion, and based on this preliminary research, staff developed the following draft recommendations for MTH regulations.
Pr
oposed Recommendations. The proposed recommendations would eventually consist of a new ordinance that creates a new Chapter in the City’s Development Code to introduce development standards and requirements for MTH. Staff’s draft recommendations are summarized below:
All c
itywide residential zones (R-1, R-1-B, A-1, E-1 zones): Staff recommends new regulations for MTH to be applicable only within the above specified citywide zones where single-family residential and accessory dwelling units are currently allowed (Exhibit 2). Staff recommends excluding specific plan areas since these were uniquely created to address specific characteristics within those neighborhood areas from a zoning and design standpoint.
Pr
oposed requirements for MTH : Ensure that standards, such as size, height, design standards, third party certification and inspection, placement on the lot, and utility connections are met. After reviewing AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Directed staff to have the Planning Commission review the item and provide recommendations for City Council consideration. Vote: 5-0