Afa Garrigan and Aurea Wolf, co-founders of the YEAH Movement, smiling and holding paint rollers outside a community building being renovated in Siskiyou County, California, with golden evening sunlight through the pines behind them.

Mount Shasta Just Passed a Tiny Houses On Wheels Ordinance — Here's What It Means for Families

Housing
September 30, 2025•3 min read

Mount Shasta Just Passed a Tiny Houses On Wheels Ordinance — Here's What It Means for Families

In September 2025, something significant happened at Mount Shasta City Council: community members packed the meeting room to support a groundbreaking initiative, and the council approved the Tiny Houses On Wheels ordinance CitizenPortal.ai. The vote was unanimous.

For families struggling to find stable, affordable housing in Siskiyou County, this is more than a policy win. It's a door opening.

The YEAH Movement was proud to be part of making it happen.

What the Ordinance Actually Does

Before this ordinance, tiny houses on wheels existed in a legal gray zone. The city had been exploring two approaches: modifying existing regulations to treat tiny homes like recreational vehicles, or creating a comprehensive ordinance that would classify them as residential structures CitizenPortal.ai. They chose the right path.

The new ordinance adds Chapter 18.18 to the Mount Shasta Municipal Code, allowing permanent tiny homes on wheels in specified zones. The Planning Commission retains approval authority over site designs and objective standards CitizenPortal.ai.

In plain English: families can now legally place a tiny home on an approved lot in Mount Shasta and call it home — permanently.

Why This Matters for Real People

At the September 8th council meeting leading up to the vote, residents shared their struggles openly. Seniors on fixed incomes described being priced out as properties converted to short-term rentals. Single mothers described living in mold-infested housing. Carpenters noted that tiny homes could be more affordable due to their size and the possibility of renting land for placement. CitizenPortal.ai

These aren't statistics. These are our neighbors.

The housing crisis in Siskiyou County is real and accelerating. The Mill Fire displaced families. Vacation rentals have eaten up long-term rental inventory. Working people — teachers, tradespeople, healthcare workers — are leaving because they can't afford to stay.

A tiny home on wheels isn't a compromise. For many families, it's the difference between stability and chaos.

What the YEAH Movement Is Doing Next

Passing the ordinance was step one. Now we're building.

The YEAH Movement (Yes to Expedite Affordable Housing), operating under Ohana Malamalama, is actively pursuing the first Tiny House On Wheels property within Mount Shasta city limits under the new ordinance. We've also secured a donated 0.24-acre parcel in Lake Shastina for a 3-unit development.

Our model is simple: neighbors helping neighbors create real, actionable solutions. We don't wait for perfect conditions or government grants that may never come. We organize, mobilize, and build.

What This Could Mean for Siskiyou County

Mount Shasta's ordinance puts it ahead of many California communities still debating this issue. And momentum is building regionally — Yreka's City Council has already expressed interest in adopting a similar ordinance.

If you're a landowner with unused property, a family looking for affordable housing options, a builder interested in tiny home construction, or simply someone who believes working families deserve a place to live — now is the time to get involved.

How You Can Help

Housing isn't a privilege. It's the foundation everything else is built on.

— Aurea Wolf & Afa Garrigan, Co-Founders, YEAH Movement / Ohana Malamalama

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Aurea Wolf

Aurea Wolf - Co-Founder, YEAH Movement I know what it's like to rebuild from nothing—twice. After escaping domestic violence as a single mom with two young kids, I've lived the reality of housing instability with kids: hotels, temporary rooms, listings that weren't what they seemed - always one crisis away from having nowhere to go. After a few years navigating these same city issues in Siskiyou County, I met Afa. We saw the same housing crisis playing out for families all around us. Good people, working hard, priced out of dignity. We knew we had to do something—not someday, but now. The YEAH Movement started because we refuse to accept that safe, affordable housing is some impossible dream. We've already helped pass the Tiny Houses On Wheels Ordinance, secured donated land for development, and mobilized record numbers of community members to show up at City Council meetings. We're building real solutions with real people—neighbor helping neighbor. Housing isn't just about walls and roofs. It's about stability, dignity, and the freedom to pursue your purpose without constantly fighting to survive. That's what drives this work. Every family deserves that foundation.

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