Permanent Off-Road use of airstream in CA

[4taxabel]

https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub52.pdf

Read this publication. This is not a sales tax but a use tax. This tax is paid when the trailer is used in California. It sounds like you received a exemption from the use tax because of the family transfer for no consideration. I recommend to pay the registration fees because it appears to be required by DMV and will simplify the process when selling the trailer. The trailer is considered a trailer coach by DMV and not PTI, see below.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2/permanent-trailer-identification-pti/trailers-excluded/.

[mrgpsman]

Check with your county, not the DMV. If you take the wheels off it an tie it into sewer or septic , it’s the same rules as a mobile home. Look at your HUD laws. Also you can also consider it an ADU, which has less regulation with the building department. Cut the DMV out of the decision.

[Ndcctrucks]

Originally Posted by 4taxabel

https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub52.pdf

Read this publication. This is not a sales tax but a use tax. This tax is paid when the trailer is used in California. It sounds like you received a exemption from the use tax because of the family transfer for no consideration. I recommend to pay the registration fees because it appears to be required by DMV and will simplify the process when selling the trailer. The trailer is considered a trailer coach by DMV and not PTI, see below.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2/permanent-trailer-identification-pti/trailers-excluded/.

I second that.

The annual registration is less than $50 / month; it’ll be more as a second house, and not paying at all will be a minor disaster when the trailer is sold some day.

Insuring it may be tricky. If it’s fenced-in, your auto insurance may not cover loss. But your homeowner’s insurance may not cover loss either.

You’re going to have annual cost no matter what you do. No getting out of that.

[SYC2Vette]

Originally Posted by mrgpsman

Check with your county, not the DMV. If you take the wheels off it an tie it into sewer or septic , it’s the same rules as a mobile home. Look at your HUD laws. Also you can also consider it an ADU, which has less regulation with the building department. Cut the DMV out of the decision.

Most counties in California do not allow you to use a travel trailer as a residence or camping on private property for more than a couple of weeks per year (taking the wheels off is something new to me, but worth looking into I guess). Personally I think better to ask forgiveness than permission (which you will likely not get) in this case if neighbors ever complain. just sayin....

Regarding registration, once you have it properly titled in your name I don't see the downside of nonop status.

[wkerfoot]

You cannot non op a trailer in California.


Bill

Originally Posted by SYC2Vette

Most counties in California do not allow you to use a travel trailer as a residence or camping on private property for more than a couple of weeks per year (taking the wheels off is something new to me, but worth looking into I guess). Personally I think better to ask forgiveness than permission (which you will likely not get) in this case if neighbors ever complain. just sayin....

Regarding registration, once you have it properly titled in your name I don't see the downside of nonop status.

[SYC2Vette]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

You cannot non op a trailer in California.


Bill

Well you are correct. I thought "Trailer coaches" applied to something different than a travel trailer, and that "camper trailer" was not limited to 16' or less. Odd thing is that you can Nonop a RV (motorhome)

[wkerfoot]

Probably because a motor home is a vehicle. At one time mobile homes were issued license plates and the owner paid DMV fees each year. Now they are taxed by the county similar to real property.


Bill

Originally Posted by SYC2Vette

Well you are correct. I thought "Trailer coaches" applied to something different than a travel trailer, and that "camper trailer" was not limited to 16' or less. Odd thing is that you can Nonop a RV (motorhome)

[Ndcctrucks]

“Non-op” applies to self-propelled vehicles.

Registration applies to anything built to use a road, both paved or not (in California that includes dirt motorcycles and ATVs in the form of “green stickers”; yes, we have to register dirt bikes and pay an annual tax, even though they can only be used on dirt roads or off-highway use recreational areas).