ADU rules in El Dorado County, CA — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
El Dorado County allows ADUs and Junior ADUs (JADUs) in residential and mixed-use zones under Title 130 (Zoning), updated to align with California ADU law (Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22). A detached ADU may not exceed 1,200 sq ft, an attached ADU may not exceed 30% of the primary dwelling's square footage (excluding garages, patios, and decks), and a JADU is limited to 500 sq ft within an existing or proposed single-family dwelling. Detached ADUs are allowed up to 16 feet in height; attached ADUs up to 25 feet. Minimum 4-foot rear and interior side setbacks for new ADU construction.
El Dorado County's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) rules are codified in Title 130 (Zoning) of the County Code and were updated to align with California state ADU law - California Government Code Sections 65852.2 (ADUs) and 65852.22 (JADUs). The County's update extends ADUs to multi-family residential and mixed-use zones in addition to single-family residential zones, revises maximum square footage by parcel size, revises parking and owner-occupancy requirements, and adds Junior ADUs. Definitions and limits: A JADU (Junior ADU) is no more than 500 square feet contained within an existing or proposed single-family dwelling, including attached garages, must contain a kitchen with appliances, requires owner occupancy of either the primary residence or JADU, and is subject to a deed restriction. A freestanding (detached) ADU cannot exceed 1,200 square feet as measured by exterior dimensions. An attached ADU cannot exceed 30% of the square footage of the primary dwelling, excluding garages, patios, and decks. Height: detached ADUs are allowed up to 16 feet on a lot with an existing or proposed single-family home (consistent with the State ministerial floor), and attached ADUs are allowed up to 25 feet, consistent with the underlying zone. Setbacks: minimum 4 feet from the rear and interior side property lines for new construction ADUs; ADUs converted from existing legal accessory structures retain their existing setbacks. Parking: under state law, no additional parking is required for ADUs within 1/2 mile of public transit, in historic districts, when part of an existing primary residence, or in other listed exemptions; otherwise, one off-street space is generally required. Owner occupancy is required for JADUs but not for ADUs permitted under state ministerial provisions. Short-term rental of ADUs (less than 30 days) is prohibited under state ADU law and El Dorado County's Chapter 5.56 - ADUs may be rented for terms of 30 days or more only. In the Tahoe Basin, TRPA Code of Ordinances additionally regulates ADU coverage, scenic, and stormwater impacts. In High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, ADUs must comply with Chapter 7A construction standards.
ADUs built without permits, exceeding the size and height limits in Title 130, or violating setback rules are subject to Code Enforcement action under Chapter 130.41, including stop-work orders, citations, and required modifications or removal. Short-term renting an ADU under 30 days violates Chapter 5.56 and Government Code Section 65852.2(a)(6), and can trigger fines and loss of ADU permit. Failure to record a required JADU deed restriction renders the JADU non-conforming and can void permits. In the Tahoe Basin, additional TRPA enforcement applies to coverage and scenic violations.
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