Accessory Structures in Clovis, CA (2026)
7 verified accessory structures rules for Clovis, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Clovis allows one accessory dwelling unit and one junior ADU per single-family lot under Municipal Code Section 9.40.020. Detached units may reach 1,200 square feet, attached units up to 50% of the primary home's floor area, and every ADU or JADU must be at least 220 square feet. A four-foot side and rear setback applies, with height capped at 16 feet for most detached units.
Clovis ADU Size, Setback and Height Rules
Some RestrictionsClovis, CA Municipal Code § 9.40.020(D)(2)-(4)
Unit size. Detached ADUs may have a total floor area of one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet or less. ADUs attached to an existing primary dwelling may have a total floor area of fifty percent (50%) or less of the area of the existing primary dwelling or one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet, whichever is greater. ADUs and JADUs shall be at least two hundred twenty (220) square f...
ADU Impact Fees
Clovis exempts a qualifying accessory dwelling unit from paying its own garbage, greenwaste, and recycling fees when the ADU and the main house function as one household. Owners must file a sworn affidavit and renew it annually to keep the exemption under Municipal Code Section 6.3.26.
Clovis ADU Garbage & Recycling Fee Exemption
Light RestrictionsClovis, CA Municipal Code § 6.3.26 (Fee Exemption for Certain Accessory Dwelling Units)
An accessory dwelling unit, as defined in Section 9.40.020, shall be exempt from the payment of a separate garbage and rubbish fee, greenwaste recycling fee, and curbside recycling fee where the persons occupying the accessory dwelling unit and the primary dwelling unit function together as a bona fide single housekeeping unit... The exemption shall be valid for a maximum of one (1) year, and m...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Clovis does not require the owner to live on site for a standalone accessory dwelling unit, but Municipal Code Section 9.40.020(G)(3) does require owner-occupancy whenever a single-family lot adds a junior accessory dwelling unit. The owner may live in either the main house or the new JADU, and government agencies, land trusts and housing organizations are exempt entirely.
Clovis ADU vs. JADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Light RestrictionsClovis, CA Municipal Code § 9.40.020(G)(3)
Owner-occupancy is not required for ADUs. Owner-occupancy is required for a single-family residence with a JADU. The owner may reside in either the single-family residence or the newly created JADU. Owner-occupancy is not required if the owner is a governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization.
ADU Rental Restrictions
Clovis Municipal Code Section 9.40.020(G)(2) lets homeowners rent an ADU or JADU separately from the main house, but bars selling or otherwise conveying the accessory unit apart from the primary residence. Any rental booked for fewer than 30 days must instead comply with the city's short-term rental operating standards in Section 9.58.065.
Clovis Rules on Renting Out an ADU
Some RestrictionsClovis, CA Municipal Code § 9.40.020(G)(2)
An ADU or JADU may be rented separate from the primary residence, but may not be sold or otherwise conveyed separate from the primary residence. Rentals of ADUs and/or JADUs for less than thirty (30) days must comply with the requirements for short-term rentals pursuant to Section 9.58.065.
Shed & Carport Rules
Clovis defines storage sheds as accessory structures under Municipal Code Section 9.40.030, requiring at least 64 square feet of floor area and, if placed in the required rear setback, a rear yard encroachment permit. Sheds over 120 square feet also need a building permit and must follow Table 4-1's setback chart, while sheds of 120 square feet or less can sit against the side and rear property lines.
Clovis Storage Shed Size, Setback & Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsClovis, CA Municipal Code § 9.40.030(A), (D)(1)-(2)
A. Definition. Accessory residential uses and structures include any that are: 1. Customarily related to a residence, including garages, greenhouses, storage sheds, studios, above ground swimming pools/spas, and workshops; 2. Not counted as or containing a living area; and 3. A minimum of sixty-four (64) square feet in gross floor area...D. Detached structures. 1. Detached accessory structures ...
Garage Conversions
Clovis lets homeowners convert an existing garage into an accessory dwelling unit under Municipal Code Section 9.40.020(D), since ADUs may be built inside any existing accessory structure. On lots with an existing multifamily building, garages and other nonlivable space (storage rooms, basements, attics, passageways) can become ADUs up to 25% of the existing unit count, on top of two allowed new detached units.
Clovis Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules
Some RestrictionsClovis, CA Municipal Code § 9.40.020(D), (D)(1)
ADUs may be attached, detached, or located within existing primary residences, or accessory structures...1. Number of units. One ADU and one JADU are allowed per single-family residential lot. Lots with existing multifamily dwellings may construct up to two (2) detached ADUs, or ADUs up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of existing multifamily dwelling units in nonlivable space (e.g., ...
Tiny Homes
Clovis defines a tiny home as a structure on wheels intended for separate, independent living quarters, and Table 2-2 of the Development Code permits the use only in the MHP Mobile Home Park District. Every other residential zone, including R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4, leaves the use blank, meaning tiny homes are prohibited there.
Clovis Tiny Home Zoning Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsClovis, CA, Municipal Code § 9.120.020 (Definitions - "Tiny Home")
Tiny home. A structure on wheels intended for separate, independent living quarters.
Looking for Fresno County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Clovis city rules.
Accessory Structures in Fresno County →