Accessory Structures in Compton, CA (2026)
6 verified accessory structures rules for Compton, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Compton's ADU ordinance, Section 30-11.2, lets homeowners build one accessory dwelling unit plus one junior ADU by right on any lot zoned for single- or multi-family use, ministerially approved through a building permit rather than discretionary review. Detached ADUs top out at 850 to 1,200 square feet depending on the zone and bedroom count, capped at 16 feet in height with 4-foot side and rear setbacks.
Compton Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules
Some RestrictionsCompton, CA, Municipal Code § 30-11.2.j (Accessory Dwelling Units, Standards for ADUs)
j. Standards for ADUs. Except for those ADUs approved pursuant to subsection b of this section ("Building Permit Approval Only"), ADUs shall comply with the following development standards: (a) Size Restrictions. Maximum Size. An Attached ADU that is proposed with a new Primary Dwelling or with a new multi-family structure shall not exceed 850 square feet in gross floor area for a studio or one...
ADU Impact Fees
Compton exempts small accessory dwelling units from development impact fees entirely. Section 30-11.2.e.2.a states that 'ADUs that are less than 750 square feet shall not be subject to impact fees,' while units of 750 square feet or larger are charged fees scaled proportionally to the size of the primary dwelling rather than a flat citywide rate.
Compton ADU Impact Fee Exemption
Light RestrictionsCompton, CA, Municipal Code § 30-11.2.e (Accessory Dwelling Units, Fees and Utility Connections)
e. Fees and Utility Connections. 1. ADUs and JADUs shall have adequate water and sewer services... Consistent with Government Code Section 65852.2(f), the connection may be subject to a connection fee or capacity charge that shall be proportionate to the burden of the proposed ADU. 2. The owner of an ADU or JADU shall be subject to the payment of all sewer, water and other applicable fees, incl...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Compton requires owner-occupancy only when a junior accessory dwelling unit is on the property: Section 30-11.2.d.3 requires the recorded covenant to state that 'either the JADU or Primary Dwelling shall be occupied by the owner of record.' Full-size detached or attached ADUs built without a JADU carry no such owner-occupancy covenant under this section.
Compton JADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsCompton, CA, Municipal Code § 30-11.2.d.3 (Accessory Dwelling Units, Covenant Required)
d. Covenant Required. Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for an ADU or JADU, the property owner shall record a declaration of restrictions, in a form approved by the City Attorney, placing the following restrictions on the property, the property owner, and all successors in interest: ... 3. If there is a JADU on the property, either the JADU or Primary Dwelling shall be occupie...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Compton bars accessory dwelling units from being used as short-term rentals. Before the city will issue a Certificate of Occupancy, Section 30-11.2.d requires the property owner to record a covenant promising the ADU will not be rented out for stays shorter than 30 consecutive days, alongside a promise never to sell or transfer the unit apart from the main house.
Compton ADU Short-Term Rental Ban
Heavy RestrictionsCompton, CA, Municipal Code § 30-11.2.d.2 (Accessory Dwelling Units, Covenant Required)
d. Covenant Required. Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for an ADU or JADU, the property owner shall record a declaration of restrictions, in a form approved by the City Attorney, placing the following restrictions on the property, the property owner, and all successors in interest: 1. The ADU or JADU shall not be sold, transferred, or assigned separately from the Primary Dwel...
Shed & Carport Rules
A backyard tool or storage shed in Compton can skip a building permit only if it's a single story, no bigger than 120 square feet, and no taller than 12 feet. Anything larger needs a full building permit application through the Building and Safety Department, under Municipal Code § 15-4.2.
Compton Accessory Shed Size Limits
Some RestrictionsCompton, CA, Municipal Code § 15-4.2 (CBC § 105.2(a)(1))
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11 m2) and maximum height of 12 feet.
Garage Conversions
Convert your garage to living space in Compton and the code locks a condition onto any future addition to that house. Section 30-21.2.d.2(a) bars expanding a residence with a legally converted garage unless the owner restores the original garage or builds a replacement garage first.
Compton Garage Conversion Restoration Rule
Some RestrictionsCompton, CA, Municipal Code § 30-21.2.d.2(a), (g)-(h)
(a) Residences with legally converted garages may not be expanded without restoration of the original garage or construction of a replacement garage. ... (g) All residences will be presumed to have been constructed with provisions for off-street parking that conformed to the standards in existence at the time of construction, unless substantial evidence to the contrary is presented. (h) All res...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Compton city rules.
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