Sacramento County, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- New-ADU short-term rental
- banned
- Grandfather exception
- permitted before 1/1/2020
- JADU short-term rental
- banned, no exception
- Short-term defined as
- 30 days or less
- Governed by
- Zoning Code § 3.9.3.D
Summary
Unincorporated Sacramento County bars ADUs from short-term rental use unless the unit was legally permitted before January 1, 2020, and bans short-term rentals in JADUs outright, with no exceptions.
An ADU shall not be used for short-term rental/lodging purposes (30 days or less) unless it was legally permitted as an ADU prior to January 1, 2020.
JADUs shall not be used for short-term renal/lodging purposes (30 days or less) in any circumstance.
3.9.3.E. Family Contractor’s Business Section titled “3.9.3.E. Family Contractor’s Business”
The purpose of this Section is to provide for the storage of contractor’s equipment and supplies at the residence of one of the family members engaged in this business. A family contractor’s business shall comply with the following standards:
Property developed with a family contractor’s business shall be not less than one gross acre in size.
No more than two vehicles used in the operation may be parked on site. This limitation does not apply to trailers for hauling equipment or supplies.
All vehicles, supplies, and equipment shall be stored in the rear buildable portion of the lot. The storage and driveway areas shall be paved and maintained in a dust-free condition.
A minimum 20-foot width shall be maintained between any structures and the property lines to provide access to the rear of the parcel.
Repair of equipment on site is specifically prohibited.
Full Breakdown
The Zoning Code treats accessory dwelling units as long-term housing stock, not vacation rentals. An ADU cannot be rented for stays of 30 days or less unless it was already legally permitted as an ADU before January 1, 2020: new ADUs built after that grandfather date are permanently barred from short-term rental use. Junior ADUs face an absolute ban: they may never be used for short-term rental or lodging, regardless of when they were permitted.
Violations & Fines
Advertising or renting an ADU or JADU for stays under 30 days without qualifying for the pre-2020 grandfather exception violates Zoning Code Section 3.9.3.D and can trigger code enforcement action and permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my Sacramento County ADU on Airbnb?
Can a JADU be a short-term rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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