Accessory Structures in Camarillo, CA

If you live in Camarillo or are thinking about moving there, accessory structures are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Camarillo has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of accessory structures, and some of them might surprise you.

ADU Impact Fees

Camarillo exempts every accessory dwelling unit from the Park Impact Fee that new development otherwise pays under Municipal Code Chapter 16.52. The exemption applies automatically at building permit issuance, alongside exemptions for government buildings, single-family remodels that stay single-family, and lower-income housing units.

Key details: Fee exempted: Park Impact Fee (Municipal Code Chapter 16.52). Exempt use: Accessory dwelling units, Sec. 16.52.080(C). Collecting agency: Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District. Payment trigger for others: Due before building permit issuance. State law overlay: Gov. Code § 66310 et seq. caps ADU fees.

There's no penalty for correctly claiming the ADU exemption, but Section 16.52.040 still requires the Park Impact Fee to be paid to the district before the city issues a building permit for any non-exempt unit. Underpaying or misrepresenting a project's eligibility can hold up permit issuance until the correct fee, plus any accrued interest, is paid to the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District.

Camarillo is more permissive than most cities when it comes to adu impact fees. That said, there are still limits.

ADU Rules

Camarillo allows one attached or internal ADU plus a JADU, or one detached ADU, on any single-family lot under Municipal Code Chapter 19.56. Size caps run 800 to 1,200 square feet depending on bedroom count and lot size, with four-foot side and rear setbacks for compliant detached units.

Key details: Max detached ADU (1BR): 850 sq ft. Max detached ADU (2+ BR, 1+ acre lot): 1,200 sq ft. Max height, standard lot: 16 feet. Setback for protected 800 sq ft ADU: 4 feet side/rear. Parking required per ADU: 1 space.

ADUs built without the required community development department permit under Chapter 19.56 are subject to the city's standard zoning code enforcement process, including stop-work orders and correction notices for unpermitted structures. Renting an ADU for stays of 30 days or less violates Section 19.56.090(H) and can trigger code enforcement action and revocation of the unit's ministerial approval. Converting an existing structure that crosses a property line into an ADU is barred outright under Section 19.56.060(L)(3) unless a survey confirms no encroachment.

Shed & Carport Rules

Camarillo caps detached accessory buildings like sheds and garages at 15 feet in height and 40 percent of the required rear yard, holding them six feet off the main house under Municipal Code Section 19.36.050. A separate rear-lot rule lets small outbuildings sit as close as three feet to the rear or interior lot line.

Key details: Max rear yard coverage: 40 percent. Max height, detached accessory building: 15 feet. Setback from main building: 6 feet. Setback on rear one-third of lot: 3 feet from lot line. Corner lot exception: standard side setback applies.

A shed or detached garage that exceeds 40 percent of the required rear yard, tops 15 feet in height, or sits closer than six feet to the main dwelling violates Section 19.36.050 and is subject to the city's zoning code enforcement process, including correction notices and required removal or relocation of the noncompliant structure. Building without the required permit under Chapter 19.48 can trigger a stop-work order in addition to the zoning violation.

ADU Rental Restrictions

Camarillo bars short-term rentals of accessory dwelling units built under Municipal Code Chapter 19.56: any ADU created under Section 19.56.090 and any junior ADU under Section 19.56.100 must be rented for a term longer than thirty days, closing off Airbnb-style stays even on units the city must approve ministerially under state ADU law.

Key details: Minimum ADU rental term: More than 30 days. Minimum JADU rental term: More than 30 days. JADU maximum size: 500 square feet. JADU owner-occupancy: Required, with exceptions. ADU review type: Ministerial, no hearing.

Chapter 19.56 does not carry its own penalty section, so a violation, renting an ADU or JADU short-term, is enforced through the city's general code-violation scheme in Chapter 1.12: a misdemeanor conviction can bring a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail, and an infraction escalates from a $100 fine on a first offense to $500 for repeat violations of the same section within a year. The city may also issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.13 rather than pursue criminal charges.

The Bottom Line

Camarillo's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Camarillo is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Camarillo's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.