California Tiny Home Communities — Are You In?

We're researching demand for legal, permanent tiny home communities in California's urban core — walkable neighborhoods with transit access, fully connected to city water, sewer, power, and internet. Think West Oakland, not the woods.

Full kitchen. Full bathroom. Real address. Professionally built units with designed common space and garden. Professional management.

Not a trailer park. Not off-grid. Apartment-quality living in a fraction of the environmental footprint — with more outdoor space and community than most apartments offer. Would you support such an experiment in rethinking housing?

5 questions, 2 minutes, no email required.

Which of these best describes your housing situation right now?

Renting, want to stay in the Bay Area / CA

Renting, open to relocating within CA

Own a home, curious about downsizing

In transition (moving, between leases, couch surfing)

Just here to learn, not actively looking

What's the maximum monthly rent you would seriously consider — meaning you'd actually fill out an application?

$1,700–$2,100/month — if the unit and community are genuinely high quality

$1,400–$1,700/month

$1,100–$1,400/month

Up to $1,100/month

My budget doesn't fit any of these

When you leave a tiny home community someday, what would you most want to have happened?

I rented the whole time — no asset, no hassle, just lived well

I owned my unit, sold it to the next resident when I left (like a condo)

I owned my unit through a land trust — limited resale value but stable while I'm there

I built my own unit and either moved it or sold it

Which of these would be a dealbreaker for you? Select all that apply.

Owned by private investors (even with professional management and long-term leases)

Nonprofit ownership that requires income verification to qualify

No formal resident input on community rules (quiet hours, pets, guests)

Renting rather than owning your unit

None of the above are dealbreakers for me

What's the smallest unit you'd seriously consider living in? These are professionally built, full-quality tiny homes.

8×20 (160 sq ft) — I can make it work

8×24 (192 sq ft) — sweet spot

8×28 (224 sq ft) — minimum I'd consider

400+ sq ft minimum — I need more space than a traditional tiny home offers