Mendocino County, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum rental term (JADU)
- 30 days, no sale allowed
- Minimum rental term (exempt ADU)
- 30 days, deed-restricted
- Enforcement mechanism
- Recorded deed restriction
- Governing sections
- Sec. 20.166.030(C)(8)(b); 20.166.045
Summary
Mendocino County bans short-term rentals of accessory dwelling units: a junior ADU cannot be sold and cannot be rented for less than 30 days, and any ADU built under the exempt-from-standards path must be deed-restricted to rentals longer than 30 days.
(b)A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit shall not be sold, and rentals for terms shorter than thirty (30) days shall be prohibited. ... The types of accessory dwelling units provided for in this section shall not be required to comply with the development standards included in sections 20.166.030 and 20.166.035 and shall only be rented for a term longer than thirty (30) days. Prior to obtaining a building permit for an accessory dwelling unit pursuant to this section, a deed restriction, approved by the County, shall be recorded with the County Recorder's office, which shall include a restriction that the accessory dwelling unit only be rented for a term longer than thirty (30) days, which shall run with the land, and be binding upon any future owners, heirs, or assigns.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 030(C)(8)(b) bars selling a junior ADU separately from the main property and prohibits renting one for a term shorter than thirty days, closing off short-term/vacation rental use of the smallest ADU category (JADUs top out at 500 square feet within an existing home's footprint). A parallel restriction reaches broader ADU development under Sec. 045, which lets the County approve certain ADUs without meeting the standard development standards in Sec. ' Before a building permit issues for one of these standards-exempt ADUs, the owner must record a deed restriction with the County Recorder limiting rentals to terms over thirty days, running with the land and binding future owners and heirs.
Together the two sections mean the County's ADU program is not built to host nightly or weekly vacation rentals: whichever path an ADU or JADU is permitted under, the 30-day floor on rental terms is either a direct statutory bar (JADUs) or a recorded deed condition (standards-exempt ADUs).
Violations & Fines
Renting a JADU or a standards-exempt ADU for less than 30 days violates Chapter 20.166 and is enforced as a Title 20 zoning violation under Sec. 20.216.010: an infraction under Government Code Section 25132 or an administrative enforcement action under Chapter 1.08, with each day of a short-term rental in operation treated as a separate offense, plus possible permit revocation and a recorded notice of violation and lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent a junior ADU on Airbnb in Mendocino County?
Are all ADUs in Mendocino County subject to a 30-day rental minimum?
What happens if I violate the deed restriction on ADU rental terms?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mendocino County
California rules heatmap·Compare Mendocino County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.