Del Norte County, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Per the County Planning Division, ADUs are allowed wherever the zoning district or General Plan permits residential uses and a primary dwelling exists or is proposed. New-construction and conversion ADUs may be 150 to 1,200 square feet; a Junior ADU is 150 to 500 square feet converted from within the walls of a single-family dwelling with an efficiency kitchen and separate exterior entrance. Detached ADUs are limited to about 16 feet in height; attached ADUs follow the zone standard (roughly 25 feet in the Coastal Zone). Side and rear setbacks are 4 feet for new construction. Conversions and JADUs require no parking; new-construction ADUs require one space (with exceptions). The County allows one attached ADU, one detached ADU, and one JADU on single-family lots, and reports no overall cap on the number of ADUs countywide. Owner-occupancy is required only when a JADU is present. These standards mirror California ADU law (Gov. Code 66314-66342), which preempts conflicting local rules, requires ministerial approval within 60 days, and guarantees at least one 800 sq ft ADU. The County implements ADUs under Title 20 (Non-Coastal) and Title 21 (Coastal Zoning).