Watsonville, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Section 14-23.110 of the Watsonville Municipal Code, the Restrictions section of Chapter 14-23, carries the City's owner-occupancy rule, and it is written for junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs), not for full ADUs. Subsection (c), Owner Occupancy of JADUs, requires that for all proposed JADUs, owner-occupancy in the single-family dwelling or the newly created JADU is required, or as per California Government Code Section 66333(b). The owner can therefore live in either the main house or the JADU, but one of the two must be the owner's residence.

Subsection (d), JADU Deed Restriction, backs that rule with a recorded document. A deed restriction on any JADU unit shall be recorded at the County of Santa Cruz Recorder's Office per the requirements of California Government Code Section 66333(c). Proof of recordation must be provided to the City before building permit issuance, so the recording comes first and the permit second.

JADUs are allowed under Section 14-23.010 only in zones that permit single-family dwellings. Section 14-23.030(c) holds nonexempt JADUs to Government Code Sections 66323 and 66333 through 66339, except where the City of Watsonville sets more permissive standards. No parking spaces are required for JADUs under Section 14-23.060(a), and Section 14-23.050 applies the residential sprinkler standards of Chapter 8-11 to newly constructed ADUs and JADUs unless the primary dwelling does not require a sprinkler system. Section 14-23.120(b) sends JADU permit applications through the review requirements of Government Code Sections 66317, 66323 and 66334 through 66339. The chapter was last amended by Ordinance 1481-25, effective October 9, 2025.