Yucaipa, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Section 84.0570 of the Yucaipa Development Code governs accessory dwelling units on residential lots in the City of Yucaipa, San Bernardino County, California. The City Council last amended it by Ord. 426 in 2023. An ADU is an attached or detached unit with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. A junior ADU, or JADU, is a unit of no more than 500 square feet contained entirely within an existing single-family residence.

Only one ADU is permitted on a lot with single family development. A lot with multifamily units can have two detached ADUs, and a conversion of existing non-habitable space can add at least one ADU and up to 25 percent of the existing or proposed multifamily units. Every ADU is subject to applicable Development Impact Fees.

The standard route is an application for Land Use Compliance Review. An ADU that meets subsections (2) through (12) is approved by the Community Development Director or designee within 60 days of a completed application when a single-family dwelling already stands on the lot. The owner must still obtain a building permit and any other construction permits before building. An applicant can instead skip Land Use Compliance Review and seek a building permit alone for a project that satisfies the California Building Standards Code, as amended by the City, and Government Code Section 65852.2(e)(1).

An attached ADU cannot exceed fifty (50) percent of the primary dwelling or 1,200 square feet, whichever is smaller, with a minimum allowance for an 800 square foot ADU. A newly built detached ADU is limited to 1,200 square feet of habitable space, though enclosed parking of no more than 400 square feet or non-habitable features such as a patio cover of no more than 250 square feet do not trigger Special Use Permit review. Side and rear setbacks are four feet, with no setback for a conversion or a rebuild in the same location and dimensions. The code lists heights of 16 feet for a detached ADU, 18 feet near a major transit stop or for a multifamily multistory dwelling, and 25 feet for an attached ADU no taller than the unit it is attached to.

One independent off-street parking space is required in addition to the primary dwelling's spaces. It can sit in a setback area or be tandem. No added space is required within one-half mile walking distance of public transit, in a historic district, inside the primary residence or an existing accessory structure, or within one block of a car share pick-up location. The ADU must match the primary unit's roof pitch, window trim and color, and a paved pathway must connect the primary street to the ADU front door. Within 30 days of permit issuance the owner records a covenant with the County of San Bernardino and files a copy with the City Clerk.