Woodland, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Woodland, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Where allowed
- Any zone permitting single-family or multifamily use
- Detached ADU height
- 16 ft (up to 20 ft near transit)
- Maximum ADU size
- 1,000 sq ft interior livable space
- Front setback
- 20 ft (or zone standard, greater)
- Side/rear setback
- 4 feet
- Approval timeline
- 60 days or deemed approved
Summary
In the City of Woodland, California, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are allowed on any lot zoned for single-family or multifamily residential use, including downtown and mixed-use districts. Detached ADUs are capped at 16 feet in height and 1,000 square feet, with a 20-foot front setback and four-foot side and rear setbacks under Woodland Municipal Code § 17.84.030.
§ 17.84.030. Accessory Dwelling Units. ... D. Locations Permitted. Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units are permitted in all zones that allow for any single-family or multifamily residential uses, including the downtown and corridor mixed-use districts if they allow for any residential use. ... F. General ADU and JADU Requirements. ... 1. Height. a. Except as otherwise provided by subsection F.1.b and F.1.c below, a detached ADU created on a lot with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily dwelling unit may not exceed 16 feet in height. ... G. Specific ADU Requirements. ... 1. Maximum Size. a. The maximum size of a detached or attached ADU subject to this subsection G.1, Maximum Size, is 1,000 square feet of interior livable space. ... 3. Setbacks. a. An ADU that is subject to this subsection must conform to a 20-foot front yard setback, or the front setback imposed by the underlying zone, whichever is greater, except as otherwise allowed under subsection G.1.c. b. An ADU that is subject to this subsection G, Specific ADU Requirements must conform to four-foot side- and rear-yard setbacks.
Full Breakdown
Woodland Municipal Code § 17.84.030 governs ADUs and junior ADUs (JADUs) citywide. Under subsection D, Locations Permitted, ADUs and JADUs are allowed in every zone that permits any single-family or multifamily residential use, including the downtown and corridor mixed-use districts where residential uses are allowed. Height is capped under subsection F.1.a at 16 feet for a detached ADU on a lot with a single-family or multifamily dwelling, rising to 18 feet on multifamily lots with more than one story, or up to 20 feet near a major transit stop to match a matching roof pitch.
Under subsection G.1, Maximum Size, a detached or attached ADU subject to Class 2 review is capped at 1,000 square feet of interior livable space, and an attached ADU cannot exceed 50% of the primary dwelling's existing floor area. Setbacks under subsection G.3 require a 20-foot front yard setback (or the underlying zone's front setback, whichever is greater) and four-foot side and rear yard setbacks, except along an alley or adjacent to non-residentially zoned property, where the setback can drop to zero. Total lot coverage from an ADU cannot push the lot over 50% coverage, and rear yard coverage from the ADU is capped at 30%.
Applications go through the Community Development Department; Class 1 ADUs meeting the state-law scenarios in subsection E.3.a are approved ministerially, and the City must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days under subsection E.4.c or the permit is deemed approved. A processing fee set by City Council resolution applies to ADU permits. Building Code violations are enforced through Chapter 17.128, with penalties running through Woodland Municipal Code § 1.08.070.
Violations & Fines
An ADU built without a building permit, or one exceeding the 16-foot/1,000-square-foot or 20-foot front/four-foot side-rear setback standards without an approved Zoning Administrator Permit exception, is enforceable under Chapter 17.128, Enforcement, and Woodland Municipal Code § 1.08.070, which sets misdemeanor penalties up to $1,000 or infraction fines of $100 to $500 escalating per repeat violation within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU on any residential lot in Woodland?
How tall and how big can a detached ADU be in Woodland?
What setbacks apply to a new ADU in Woodland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodland
How Woodland compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare Woodland to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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How other cities in Yolo County handle adu rules.