Accessory Structures in Cupertino, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Cupertino, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Cupertino allows accessory dwelling units on any residential or mixed-use residential lot with an existing dwelling, and ADUs never count toward the lot's maximum density. Under Municipal Code Section 19.112.020, ADUs must still meet the underlying zone's lot coverage, floor area ratio, height, setback and landscape standards unless Chapter 19.112 itself modifies them.
Cupertino ADU Zoning and Site Standards
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.112.020
Accessory dwelling units are permitted on lots within any residential or mixed-use residential zoning district. The lot must have an existing single family dwelling unit or if zoned multi-family or mixed use residential, at least one residential unit. If the lot is vacant, an accessory dwelling unit may only be proposed in conjunction with the development of at least one residential unit. Notwi...
ADU Impact Fees
Cupertino cannot charge impact fees on an accessory dwelling unit or junior ADU under 750 square feet. Larger ADUs pay impact fees only in proportion to the primary dwelling's square footage, under Municipal Code Section 19.112.020, which writes the state ADU impact-fee formula directly into city law.
Cupertino ADU Impact Fee Limits
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.112.020
No impact fees, as defined in Government Code Section 6324(c)(2), shall be imposed on any accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit with a gross floor area of less than 750 square feet. Impact fees imposed on accessory dwelling units greater than or equal to 750 feet shall be charged proportionally in relation to the square footage of the primary dwelling unit in compliance with...
ADU Owner Occupancy
A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit in Cupertino requires that either the main house or the JADU stay owner-occupied, unless the owner is a government agency, land trust, or housing organization. Municipal Code Section 19.112.020 also requires a recorded deed restriction locking in that limit and barring a separate sale of the JADU.
Cupertino JADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.112.020
For JADUs, either the single-family residence or JADU must be owner-occupied, unless the owner is a governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization. Further, the owner shall record a deed restriction, expressly enforceable against future purchasers, containing the following: (a) a prohibition on the sale of the JADU separate from the single-family residence, and (b) a restriction on th...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Cupertino lets homeowners rent an accessory dwelling unit separately from the main house, but Municipal Code Section 19.112.020 bars any rental term shorter than 30 days for an ADU or junior ADU, and forbids selling or conveying the unit apart from the rest of the lot.
Cupertino ADU 30-Day Rental Minimum
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.112.020
Accessory dwelling units may be rented separately from the single-family dwelling or multi-family dwelling structure but may not be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the other dwellings on the lot, except pursuant to Government Code Section 66340 – 66342. Any accessory dwelling unit, including a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU), shall not be used as a rental for a term less than 3...
Shed & Carport Rules
Cupertino limits detached sheds and accessory buildings in residential and agricultural zones to 30 percent of the usable rear yard, 20 feet in height and one story. Setbacks tighten for small portable sheds under six feet, and the rules sit in Municipal Code Section 19.100.030's site development table.
Cupertino Accessory Building and Shed Rules
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.100.030
General Regulations. ... Except as otherwise provided in this section, accessory buildings shall at all times be located in conformance with requirements for principal buildings, and shall not be located in any required front, sides, or rear yard setback area. ... Maximum lot coverage 30% of the usable rear yard area ... Minimum setback from principal dwelling 5 feet (measured between the eaves...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cupertino city rules.
Accessory Structures in Santa Clara County →