Elk Grove, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Elk Grove, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Attached ADU max
- 850/1,000 sq ft or 50% of home
- Detached ADU max
- 1,200 square feet
- New-construction setback
- 4 ft interior side/rear
- Detached height, ag zones
- Up to 30 feet
- Minimum rental term
- 30 days
- Multifamily lot cap
- Up to 8 detached ADUs
- Review type
- Zoning clearance, not a hearing
Summary
Elk Grove allows accessory dwelling units by right in all residential, agricultural-residential, and agricultural zones through zoning clearance, not a discretionary hearing. EGMC Ch. 23.90 caps attached ADUs at 850-1,000 sq ft, detached units at 1,200 sq ft, and sets 4-foot side/rear setbacks and tiered height limits.
Pursuant to Section 66314 et seq. of the California Government Code, accessory dwelling units shall be permitted on single-family and multifamily residential parcels by the Community Development Director when the following conditions are met... E. The minimum size for an accessory dwelling unit shall be one hundred fifty (150 ft2) square feet. F. An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed the following maximum total floor areas: 1. Accessory dwelling units that are attached to the primary dwelling unit shall not exceed the greater of the following: a. Fifty (50%) percent of the existing total floor area of the primary dwelling; or b. Eight hundred fifty (850 ft2) square feet if the accessory dwelling unit has one (1) bedroom or less, or one thousand (1,000 ft2) square feet if the accessory dwelling unit has more than one (1) bedroom. 2. Accessory dwelling units that are detached from the primary dwelling shall not exceed one thousand two hundred (1,200 ft2) square feet... I. An accessory dwelling unit may be rented separately from the primary unit. Rentals shall be for terms of thirty (30) days or longer.
Full Breakdown
030, ADUs are an accessory residential use that does not count against lot density and are approved via zoning clearance/plan check by the Community Development Director, consistent with Government Code § 66314 et seq. 040 sets the numbers: minimum ADU size is 150 sq ft; an attached ADU cannot exceed the greater of 50% of the primary home's floor area or 850 sq ft (one bedroom or less) / 1,000 sq ft (more than one bedroom); a detached ADU is capped at 1,200 sq ft.
New construction must keep a 4-foot interior side and rear setback, though converted existing structures need no additional setback. Height limits scale with location: 25 feet (or the primary home's height) for attached units within the building envelope, 16 feet generally for detached units, 18 feet within a half-mile of a major transit stop or on multifamily lots, and up to 30 feet in agricultural and agricultural-residential zones. 050, and multifamily lots can add up to eight detached ADUs or convert up to 25% of existing units internally.
One parking space per bedroom is required unless the unit qualifies for one of six listed exemptions, including proximity to transit or a car-share vehicle. 26.
Violations & Fines
Building, expanding, or converting space into an ADU without the zoning clearance required by EGMC § 23.90.030 leaves the addition unpermitted; it cannot pass final building inspection or be occupied until it is brought within the size, setback, height, and parking standards of § 23.90.040. Renting an ADU for under 30 days violates the minimum-term requirement in § 23.90.040(I), and selling an ADU apart from the primary home outside the Government Code § 65852.26 process is likewise prohibited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my Elk Grove ADU on a short-term basis?
How big can a detached ADU be in Elk Grove?
Do I need a public hearing to build an ADU?
How many ADUs can I add to a single-family lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elk Grove
How Elk Grove compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare Elk Grove to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle adu rules.