Accessory Structures in Gardena, CA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Gardena, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Gardena allows one accessory dwelling unit on nearly any residential or mixed-use lot with an existing or proposed house. Section 18.13.050 caps a detached or attached ADU at eight hundred fifty square feet for a studio or one bedroom, one thousand square feet for more, with a four-foot side and rear setback and a height of sixteen to eighteen feet for a detached unit.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules in Gardena
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.13.050
E. Size. 1. The floor area of an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed eight hundred fifty square feet for a studio or one bedroom or one thousand square feet for a unit that contains more than one bedroom. ... ... F. Setbacks. Except as specified below, an accessory dwelling unit shall be required to comply with the setback requirements of the zone in which the unit is ...
ADU Impact Fees
In the City of Gardena, accessory dwelling units under seven hundred fifty square feet pay zero impact fee under Gardena Municipal Code Section 18.13.040(E)(1). Larger ADUs pay impact fees scaled to the primary dwelling's square footage, and utility connection or capacity charges are generally waived unless the ADU is built alongside a brand-new single-family home. The Community Development Department administers ADU permits and calculates any applicable fee at building-permit issuance.
Gardena ADU Impact Fees Waived Under 750 Sq Ft
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.13.040(E)(1)-(2)
E. Fees. 1. Impact Fees. a. No impact fee shall be imposed on any accessory dwelling unit less than seven hundred fifty square feet in size. b. For accessory dwelling units seven hundred fifty square feet or greater, impact fees shall be charged proportionately in relation to the square footage of the primary dwelling. c. All applicable public service and applicable recreation impact fees ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Gardena bars short-term rentals of accessory dwelling units outright. Section 18.13.040(C) says neither the ADU nor any other residence on the property may be rented for less than thirty-one consecutive calendar days, and a mandatory-approval unit under Section 18.13.060(D) carries the same thirty-day floor, closing off Airbnb-style stays for both the ADU and the primary house.
ADU Short-Term Rental Ban in Gardena
Heavy RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.13.040(C)
C. Neither the accessory dwelling unit nor any other residence located on the property, nor any part thereof, shall be rented out for less than thirty-one consecutive calendar days.
Shed & Carport Rules
A shed or other one-story accessory building on an R-1 lot in Gardena must sit at least four feet from the rear and side property lines when it stands in the rear third of the lot. Garages get a break: they may go right on the rear or side line in that same rear third, but a garage facing a public street still needs a twenty-foot front setback.
Shed Setback Rules in Gardena
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.12.050(G)(4)
4. Accessory buildings: one-story accessory buildings, other than a garage, shall be set back four feet from the rear and side property lines when located in the rear one-third of the lot. Garages may be constructed along the rear and side property line when located in the rear one-third of the lot. Garages fronting on public streets shall maintain a minimum twenty-foot yard setback. All garage...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gardena city rules.
Accessory Structures in Los Angeles County →