San Leandro, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in San Leandro, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- ADUs per single-family lot
- 1 ADU + 1 JADU
- Detached ADUs on multi-family lot
- up to 2
- Max ADU size (single-family lot)
- 800-1,200 sq ft
- Side/rear setback
- 4 feet minimum
- Parking required
- None
- Review timeline
- Ministerial, 60 days
- Short-term rental
- Banned under 31 days
Summary
Section 2.04.388 lets any single-family lot add one ADU plus one JADU, or a two-family/multi-family lot add up to two detached ADUs, through ministerial review approved within 60 days. Setbacks drop to 4 feet, no parking is required, and short-term rentals under 31 days are banned.
§ 2.04.388. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This section is intended to implement Government Code Sections 65852.1, 65852.2, and 65852.22 et seq., by allowing the creation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and/or junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) through ministerial review subject to meeting the criteria defined below.
C. Setbacks and Separation.
1. Minimum four-foot side and rear yard setbacks are required for all attached and detached ADUs.
2. Detached ADUs shall maintain a minimum five-foot separation from other structures on the parcel.
3. ADUs shall not occupy a required front yard and shall be subject to the driveway visibility requirements of Section 4.08.148 Driveways—Visibility.
E. Parking. No parking spaces shall be required for an ADU or JADU. No replacement parking spaces shall be required when a garage, carport, or parking structure is repurposed as an ADU.
L. Review and Approval Authority. Application for an ADU and/or JADU shall be subject to ministerial building permit review and approval within 60 days of submission of a complete application.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4967405; v8 updated 2026-07-06).
Full Breakdown
On a single-family parcel, the code allows a repurposed, detached or attached ADU plus a separate JADU, and neither counts toward the zoning district's maximum density. A two-family or multi-family parcel can add a repurposed ADU (at least one, capped at 25 percent of existing units) and up to two detached ADUs, which may attach to each other but not to the existing building. Unit size for a single-family-lot ADU is the greater of 800 square feet, 850 to 1,000 square feet depending on bedroom count, or 50 percent of the primary dwelling's floor area up to 1,200 square feet; a JADU tops out at 500 square feet.
Detached ADU height is 16 feet generally, rising to 18 feet within a half-mile of a major transit stop, with an extra 2 feet allowed to match the primary roof pitch. Design standards require matching roofing, siding, color and trim on attached or repurposed units, and the code flatly bars balconies, upper-story decks and rooftop terraces on any ADU. Owner-occupancy is not required, and an ADU or JADU cannot be sold separately from the primary structure. 22, meaning state ADU law sets the floor and the city cannot impose stricter standards than the state permits.
Violations & Fines
An ADU or JADU built outside the permitted number, size, setback or height standards of Section 2.04.388, or rented for 30 days or less in violation of Subsection I, is treated the same as any other Zoning Code violation under Section 5.24.112: chargeable as a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine, up to one year in County Jail) or, at the Zoning Enforcement Official's discretion, as an infraction, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The City can also issue a Notice to Abate under Section 5.24.116 requiring correction before pursuing further enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ADUs can I build on a single-family lot in San Leandro?
Do I need parking spaces for a new ADU in San Leandro?
Can I rent my San Leandro ADU on Airbnb?
How long does San Leandro take to approve an ADU permit?
What is the required setback for a detached ADU in San Leandro?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Leandro
How San Leandro compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare San Leandro to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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How other cities in Alameda County handle adu rules.