Accessory Structures in Elk Grove, CA (2026)
6 verified accessory structures rules for Elk Grove, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Elk Grove allows accessory dwelling units by right in all residential, agricultural-residential, and agricultural zones through zoning clearance, not a discretionary hearing. EGMC Ch. 23.90 caps attached ADUs at 850-1,000 sq ft, detached units at 1,200 sq ft, and sets 4-foot side/rear setbacks and tiered height limits.
Elk Grove ADU Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 23.90.040 (Development standards)
Pursuant to Section 66314 et seq. of the California Government Code, accessory dwelling units shall be permitted on single-family and multifamily residential parcels by the Community Development Director when the following conditions are met... E. The minimum size for an accessory dwelling unit shall be one hundred fifty (150 ft2) square feet. F. An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed the ...
ADU Impact Fees
Elk Grove exempts accessory dwelling units of 750 square feet or less from its Measure A transportation impact fee. Larger ADUs pay a prorated fee under EGMC § 16.96.150, calculated as the ADU's floor-area ratio to the primary unit multiplied by the fee a newly built primary home would owe.
Elk Grove ADU Transportation Impact Fee
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code §§ 16.96.020, 16.96.150
"Accessory dwelling unit" (ADU) means an attached or detached permanent dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities (permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation) for one (1) or more persons and which is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary dwelling. ... § 16.96.150. Calculation of fee for ADUs. ADUs greater than seven hundred...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Elk Grove requires the property owner to live in either the primary home or the junior accessory dwelling unit under EGMC § 23.90.050(G). Standard (non-junior) ADUs carry no such owner-occupancy condition, matching current state law.
Elk Grove Junior ADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 23.90.050(G) (Junior accessory dwelling units)
G. Either the primary dwelling unit or the junior accessory dwelling unit shall be occupied by the property owner. Owner-occupancy shall not be required if the owner is another governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization. The junior accessory dwelling unit shall not be sold separate from the primary dwelling unit. A deed restriction shall be recorded against the single-family resid...
ADU Rental Restrictions
An ADU in Elk Grove cannot be rented as a short-term vacation stay. EGMC Section 23.90.040(I) allows an accessory dwelling unit to be rented separately from the main house, but only on a lease of thirty days or longer, ruling out nightly or weekly rentals through platforms like Airbnb.
Elk Grove ADU Minimum Rental Term
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 23.90.040(I) (Development standards)
An accessory dwelling unit may be rented separately from the primary unit. Rentals shall be for terms of thirty (30) days or longer.
Shed & Carport Rules
Elk Grove lets most sheds and detached accessory buildings skip a planning permit under EGMC Section 23.46.030, but structures 800 square feet or larger in RD zones need minor design review, and Table 23.46-1 sets a sliding scale of setbacks and height limits based on size and enclosure.
Elk Grove Accessory Structure Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 23.46.030 (Permit requirements and exceptions); § 23.46.040, Table 23.46-1 (Development standards)
Except as otherwise provided, no special planning permit or entitlement shall be required for accessory structures that are consistent with the standards herein, except that zoning clearance/ plan check shall be conducted in the event that a building permit is required. Accessory buildings in RD zones with a building footprint of eight hundred (800 ft2) square feet or more shall obtain a minor ...
Garage Conversions
Elk Grove lets homeowners convert an attached or detached garage into livable space by permitting it as an accessory dwelling unit under EGMC Section 23.90.040, with a 150-square-foot expansion allowance and no added setback if the garage keeps its footprint.
Elk Grove Garage Conversion Rules
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 23.90.040(A), (D)(1) (Accessory Dwelling Units, Development Standards)
A. Accessory dwelling units may be located either attached to or located within the proposed or existing primary dwelling, including attached garages, storage areas, or similar uses, or an accessory structure, or detached from the proposed or existing primary dwelling... D.1. One (1) accessory dwelling unit and one (1) junior accessory dwelling unit that is within the proposed space of a single...
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