Sacramento County, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Sacramento County, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Single-family lots allowed
- 1 ADU + 1 JADU
- Multifamily lots allowed
- up to 2 new detached ADUs
- Conversion cap (multifamily)
- 25% of unit count
- Standards live in
- Zoning Code § 5.4.5.B
- Deviation route
- Special Development Permit
Summary
Unincorporated Sacramento County allows one ADU, attached or detached, plus one JADU on single-family and halfplex lots, with multifamily parcels permitted up to two new detached units or garage conversions, all built to Zoning Code Table 5.11 standards.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are residential units intended for ongoing habitation, independent of the primary residential dwelling.
Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) are residential units intended for ongoing habitation, located completely within the primary dwelling and sharing some cooking, common area, and/or sanitary facilities with the primary dwelling. JADUs may not be used for Short-Term Rentals.
A property developed with a Single Family Dwelling or Halfplex Unit may have:
One ADU, either attached or detached, and,
One JADU within the existing space of the primary dwelling.
A property developed as Multifamily Residential or Duplex may have:
Up to two new-construction detached ADUs, and,
Up to 25 percent of the total unit count in ADUs converted from existing non-living space. Non-living space can include storage rooms, boiler rooms, passageways, attics, basements, or garages.
An ADU or JADU shall comply with the Development Standards of Section 5.4.5.B of this Code or request a Special Development Permit for deviations, as allowed by that Section.
A structure used as an ADU or JADU shall meet the requirements of CA GOV §65852.2 and §65852.22, as those sections may be amended from time to time.
An ADU shall not be used for short-term rental/lodging purposes (30 days or less) unless it was legally permitted as an ADU prior to January 1, 2020.
JADUs shall not be used for short-term renal/lodging purposes (30 days or less) in any circumstance.
Full Breakdown
The County's Zoning Code recognizes ADUs as independently habitable units and JADUs as smaller units sharing space with the primary home. Single-family and halfplex lots may add one ADU and one JADU; multifamily or duplex lots may build up to two new detached ADUs or convert up to 25 percent of units from non-living space such as garages, basements, or attics. Every unit must meet the Table 5.11 development standards in Zoning Code Section 5.4.5.B, covering size, height, and setbacks, or the owner may apply for a Special Development Permit to deviate, and must independently satisfy California Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22.
Violations & Fines
An ADU or JADU built without permits, or exceeding Table 5.11's size and setback limits without an approved Special Development Permit, is subject to Building Inspection enforcement and can be red-tagged.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ADUs can a Sacramento County property have?
What standards must an ADU meet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
How Sacramento County compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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