Accessory Structures in Menifee, CA (2026)
9 verified accessory structures rules for Menifee, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Menifee allows one ADU plus one junior ADU on residential lots through ministerial building-permit review, with a 1,500-square-foot size cap, 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and an 18-foot height limit for detached units.
Menifee ADU Rules: 1,500 Sq Ft Max, Ministerial Approval
Some RestrictionsMenifee Development Code Section 9.295.020 (Title 9, Article 5)
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish development standards for accessory dwelling units and to ensure the accessory dwelling unit is constructed and operated in a manner that is consistent with the requirements and allowances of state law, specifically Government Code Section 65852.2. [...] Building Permit Required. Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units...
ADU Permits
ADUs and JADUs are approved ministerially through building plan check — no discretionary review or hearing — consistent with Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(b). The City must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days of receipt (§9.295.020.C.2). If denied, the City must return a written list of deficiencies (§9.295.020.C.3). Menifee also offers City-approved Permit Ready ADU Plans that skip building plan check, requiring only a site plan for Planning/Building/Engineering/Fire review (§9.295.020.C.1).
Ministerial ADU permitting — Menifee Dev. Code §9.295.020.C
Few RestrictionsADU Impact Fees
Menifee Development Code §9.295.020.C.6 waives development impact fees for any ADU under 750 sq ft. ADUs of 750 sq ft or larger are charged impact fees proportional to the square footage of the primary dwelling, tracking Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(f)(3). §9.295.020.D.3 separately bars treating an ADU as a 'new residential use' for water/sewer connection fees or capacity charges. JADUs are categorically excluded from connection fees under §9.295.020.E.4.m.
ADU impact fees — waived under 750 sq ft (§9.295.020.C.6)
Few RestrictionsADU Owner Occupancy
Menifee follows the state-mandated split: ADUs do NOT require owner-occupancy of the primary dwelling, but Junior ADUs (JADUs) DO. §9.295.020.E.4.j requires the owner of a single-family property with a JADU to record a covenant stating that either the remaining portion of the primary dwelling or the JADU itself will be occupied by the property owner. Owner-occupancy is waived if the owner is a governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization. ADUs permitted between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2025 are statutorily owner-occupancy-free under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7).
Owner-occupancy — required for JADUs, not for ADUs (§9.295.020.E.4.j)
Some RestrictionsADU Rental Restrictions
Menifee Development Code §9.295.020.E.1.d and §9.295.020.E.2.d expressly prohibit renting an ADU for less than a 30-day period. §9.295.020.E.4.c applies the same 30-day minimum to Junior ADUs. This effectively bars short-term/vacation rental of ADUs (no Airbnb-style stays). Long-term rentals (30+ days) are explicitly permitted under §9.295.020.E.1.c and §9.295.020.E.2.c, consistent with Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6).
ADU rental rules — 30-day minimum stay (§9.295.020.E.1.d, .E.2.d, .E.4.c)
Some RestrictionsShed Rules
Menifee restricts sheds to rear and interior side yards with 3-foot setbacks, a 16-foot height cap, and size limits tied to lot size. Any accessory structure over 120 square feet needs Plot Plan approval.
Menifee Shed Rules: 3-Foot Setbacks, Permit Over 120 Sq Ft
Some RestrictionsMenifee Development Code Sections 9.165.030-9.165.040 (Title 9, Article 4)
A. Location. Accessory structures shall be located only in rear and interior side yards or within the allowable buildable area. B. Height. Accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 16 feet, except they shall be allowed up to the maximum building height in the agricultural and rural residential zones. C. Separation. Accessory structures shall be located at least 10 feet from the primary ...
Garage Conversions
Menifee lets homeowners convert attached or detached garages into ADUs or junior ADUs ministerially, with no replacement parking required for the main house and existing-structure conversions exempt from normal setback rules.
Menifee Garage Conversions: No Replacement Parking for ADUs
Few RestrictionsMenifee Development Code Section 9.295.020(C)(5), (E) (Title 9, Article 5)
5. Demolition Permit. The review and issuance of a demolition permit for a detached garage that is replaced by an accessory dwelling unit shall be reviewed with the application for the accessory dwelling unit and issued at the same time. [...] h. If a garage, carport or covered parking structure providing required parking for the primary dwelling is demolished or converted in conjunction with t...
Carport Rules
Menifee bars carports from front yards and requires a 5-foot rear setback for support columns and a 2-foot interior side setback, with a 16-foot height cap and Plot Plan approval over 120 square feet.
Menifee Carport Rules: Rear and Side Yards Only
Some RestrictionsMenifee Development Code Section 9.165.030, Table 9.165.030-1 (Title 9, Article 4)
A. Location. Accessory structures shall be located only in rear and interior side yards or within the allowable buildable area. B. Height. Accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 16 feet, except they shall be allowed up to the maximum building height in the agricultural and rural residential zones. C. Separation. Accessory structures shall be located at least 10 feet from the primary ...
Tiny Homes
Menifee allows tiny homes only as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) under Development Code §9.295.020 implementing Gov. Code §65852.2 — they must be on a permanent foundation, meet California Residential Code, and conform to the 1,500 sq ft ADU maximum (no minimum). Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are treated as RVs under Health & Safety Code §18009.3 and cannot be used as permanent residences except in licensed RV parks.
Tiny Home Rules in Menifee, CA
Some RestrictionsLooking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Menifee city rules.
Accessory Structures in Riverside County →