San Rafael, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in San Rafael, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Review deadline
- 60 days from complete application
- Review type
- Ministerial, no hearing required
- Citation
- SRMC § 14.16.285.D
- Delay tolling
- Applicant-requested delays pause the clock
Summary
San Rafael must act on a complete accessory dwelling unit application within 60 days under city code, with no discretionary hearing required: only an applicant-requested delay pauses that clock.
The city shall act on the ADU application within sixty (60) days from the date the city receives a completed application if there is an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling on the lot.2.If the ADU application is submitted together with a permit application to create a new single-family dwelling on the lot, the city may delay acting on the ADU permit application until the city acts on the permit application to create the new single-family dwelling.3.When Dependent on Separate Construction. When a proposed attached ADU or detached ADU is dependent on the construction of a new building or new portion of a building that is not a part of the ADU ("separate construction"), the city shall either:a.Accept and begin processing the ADU application only after acting on an application for the proposed separate construction; orb.Upon written request from the applicant, review and act on the ADU together with the separate construction as part of a single application. In this case the ADU is subject to the same review procedures and requirements as the separate construction.4.If the applicant requests a delay in the processing of an ADU application, the 60-day time period set forth in subsection D.1 of this section shall be tolled for the period of the delay.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
San Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.285.D requires the city to act on an accessory dwelling unit application within sixty (60) days of receiving a complete application, when an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling is already on the lot. If the applicant asks in writing for a delay, the sixty-day clock is tolled for the length of the delay. The city is deemed to have acted once it approves the ADU building permit, denies it, or determines the unit does not qualify for ministerial approval. No discretionary hearing is required. ADUs meeting the city's standards are approved administratively through building permit issuance.
Violations & Fines
An unaddressed application past the 60-day window does not void the ADU, but an applicant can treat an unexplained delay as grounds to compel city action on the building permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does San Rafael have to approve an ADU permit?
Is a public hearing required for an ADU in San Rafael?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
How San Rafael compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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