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You still own the improvements (Home or other structures), if any on the land - hence homeowner...

yes, you own the improvements, but the point of stipulating you as a TENANT is to permit the county to make and enforce rules, since your improvement is ultimately on their land. not much to argue here, counties have been making and enforcing rules for centuries, there is no loophole to exploit

this is why, for example, foreclosure evictions often involve the sheriff's office - the county is protecting their own property rights. also, mineral rights, right to dispose of hazardous waste, etc etc

'Tenant' is not mentioned anywhere in my deed but perhaps California limits what the government can claim about my property. Were I to own a home on land restricted by a lease then perhaps you would have a legitimate point. I pay property tax and parcel tax on property assigned to me by the deed; the deed assigns ownership to me not the state.

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