How San Leandro Handles Accessory Structures: A Practical Guide

San Leandro maintains 151 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with accessory structures. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where San Leandro falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Shed Rules

Detached storage sheds 120 sf or less and under 8 ft tall are permit-exempt under the California Building Code as adopted by San Leandro, but still must meet Zoning Code Section 2.04.348 setbacks and lot coverage limits.

Key details: Permit threshold: Required if >120 sf, or has electrical/plumbing/habitable space. Interior side/rear setback (RS): 5 ft. Max single accessory structure: 500 sf (excludes ADUs). Yard coverage cap: 40% aggregate of required rear/side yard; 30% per structure. Front yard placement: Not permitted within required 20 ft front setback (RS).

Unpermitted accessory structures are handled by the Community Preservation (code enforcement) Division. Per the city's Unpermitted Work program, owners receive a Notice of Violation and must either obtain a retroactive permit (subject to investigation fee) or remove the structure. Continuing violations can be cited as administrative citations under San Leandro Municipal Code Title 1, Chapter 1-12, with escalating fines of $100/$200/$500 for first, second, and subsequent violations within a 12-month period.

ADU Permits

ADU and JADU permits in San Leandro are issued ministerially by the Building Division within 60 days of a complete application, separate from any main-house permit.

Key details: Reviewing body: Building Division (ministerial). Decision deadline: 60 days from complete application. Permit type: Building permit (separate from main house). Fee schedule: FY 2025-2026 Adopted Master Fee Schedule. Planning contact: (510) 577-3325 / planner@sanleandro.org.

Constructing or converting space to an ADU without a building permit is a code violation enforced by the San Leandro Building Division under California Building Code §113 and SLMC Title 7. Stop-work orders, double permit fees for after-the-fact permits, and abatement orders may apply.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find San Leandro gives residents more flexibility on adu permits.

ADU Rules

San Leandro Zoning Code §2.04.388 allows one detached ADU and one JADU per single-family lot through ministerial review, implementing California Government Code §§65852.1, 65852.2 and 65852.22.

Key details: Code section: Zoning Code §2.04.388. Review type: Ministerial (60-day clock). Units allowed: 1 ADU + 1 JADU per single-family lot. Max height (detached): 16 ft. Max height (attached): 25 ft.

ADUs constructed without permits are subject to building code enforcement, stop-work orders, and abatement under San Leandro Municipal Code Title 7. Unpermitted structures may be ordered modified or removed; civil penalties accrue per Building Division enforcement and California Building Code §113.

San Leandro is more permissive than most cities when it comes to adu rules. That said, there are still limits.

ADU Owner Occupancy

San Leandro Zoning Code §2.04.388 does not impose owner-occupancy for ADUs; for JADUs, owner-occupancy is required only when sanitary facilities are shared with the primary dwelling.

Key details: ADU owner-occupancy: Not required. JADU owner-occupancy: Required if sanitary facilities are shared. Recorded restriction: Deed restriction required for JADUs. State authority: Gov. Code §§65852.2(a)(7)(A), 65852.22. Code section: Zoning Code §2.04.388.

Violating a recorded JADU owner-occupancy covenant (e.g., renting the JADU when the owner does not occupy the property) is a zoning code violation subject to enforcement under SLMC Title 7, including administrative citations and abatement. The City may also pursue specific performance of the recorded deed restriction.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find San Leandro gives residents more flexibility on adu owner occupancy.

Tiny Homes

San Leandro has no separate tiny-home ordinance; site-built tiny houses are permitted only as ADUs under Zoning Code Sec. 2.04.388, and tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) are only allowed when they qualify as movable ADUs meeting California HCD registration and ANSI A119.5/NFPA 1192 standards.

Key details: Stand-alone tiny-home ordinance: None — defer to ADU code. Local ADU code: Zoning Code §2.04.388. State authority: Cal. Gov. Code §§66310-66342, §65852.22 (JADU). THOW standard: ANSI A119.5 or NFPA 1192; CA DMV registration. Mobilehome park authority: Cal. Health & Safety Code Div. 13, Pt. 2.1 (HCD).

Living in a tiny house on wheels parked on a residential lot outside the ADU framework triggers Community Preservation enforcement for illegal occupancy of a recreational vehicle. Administrative citations under SLMC Title 1, Chapter 1-12 begin at $100 and escalate to $500 per recurrence. Site-built tiny homes constructed without ADU permits are subject to the same legalize-or-remove remedy applied to all unpermitted accessory structures and ADUs.

Garage Conversions

Converting an existing attached or detached garage into an ADU or JADU is a ministerial 60-day approval under San Leandro Zoning Code Sec. 2.04.388, and California Government Code Sec. 66314 prohibits the city from requiring replacement of the displaced parking spaces.

Key details: Local code section: Zoning Code §2.04.388. State authority: Cal. Gov. Code §§66310-66342 (formerly 65852.2/65852.22). Approval timeline: 60 days (ministerial). Parking replacement: Not required (Gov. Code §66314(d)). Setbacks for conversion of existing space: None required.

Unpermitted garage conversions detected by Code Enforcement trigger a Notice of Violation requiring the owner to either (a) legalize through the ADU/JADU ministerial process, or (b) restore the garage to its original state via building permit. Administrative citations under SLMC Title 1, Chapter 1-12 escalate to $500 per offense. A converted garage without legalization may also be flagged at point of sale and during refinance appraisals.

The rules around garage conversions in San Leandro lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

ADU Rental Restrictions

Per San Leandro Zoning Code §2.04.388, if an ADU or JADU is rented, the rental term must be 30 days or longer; short-term rental (under 30 days) is prohibited.

Key details: Minimum rental term: 30 days. Short-term rentals: Prohibited for ADUs and JADUs. Code section: Zoning Code §2.04.388. State authority: Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(1)(D)(xi). AB 1482 cap: Long-term ADU tenancies may be covered (Civ. Code §1947.12).

Operating an ADU as a short-term rental violates §2.04.388 and is enforceable as a zoning violation under SLMC Title 7. Typical remedies include cease-and-desist orders, administrative citations, and revocation of any short-term-rental business activity. Repeat violations may be referred for civil abatement.

Carport Rules

A carport in San Leandro counts as a covered parking space and is regulated jointly by Zoning Code Sec. 2.04.348 (accessory-structure setbacks) and Chapter 4.08 (Off-Street Parking and Loading), which limits visible above-ground parking to 40% of street frontage and requires screening for carports serving five or more cars.

Key details: Required covered spaces (SFR): 2 (non-tandem, except RO). Setback from side/rear (RS): 5 ft. Front yard setback (RS): 20 ft — carport not allowed within. Street frontage cap: 40% maximum width of visible parking. Screening (5+ cars): 6 ft solid wall/fence required.

Unpermitted carport construction or enclosure is enforced through Community Preservation. A carport built within the front-yard setback, exceeding 40% frontage, or enclosed without permits triggers a Notice of Violation. Administrative citations under SLMC Title 1, Chapter 1-12 escalate to $500. Carports converted to habitable space without ADU permits face the same restore-or-legalize remedy as garage conversions.

ADU Impact Fees

Effective July 21, 2025, San Leandro City Council Resolutions 2025-106 and 2025-107 waive Park Impact Fees and Development Fees for Street Improvements (DFSI) for all ADUs; ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from all impact fees by state law.

Key details: Park Impact Fee (ADU): Waived (Res. 2025-106). DFSI Street Fee (ADU): Waived (Res. 2025-107). Effective date: July 21, 2025. State exemption: ADUs <750 sq ft: no impact fees (Gov. Code §66323). School fees: Exempt under 500 sq ft (Gov. Code §65852.2).

Improperly assessed impact fees may be challenged under the Mitigation Fee Act (Gov. Code §66020). A property owner has 90 days from fee imposition to file a written protest. Failure to pay legally required permit/utility fees may delay permit issuance or final inspection.

The rules around adu impact fees in San Leandro lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, San Leandro gives residents more room on accessory structures. 5 of the 9 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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