Accessory Structures in Merced, CA (2026)
7 verified accessory structures rules for Merced, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Merced allows one attached ADU, one detached ADU and one JADU per single-family lot under Municipal Code Section 20.42.030, with a detached ADU capped at 1,200 square feet, 16 feet in height, and four-foot side/rear setbacks, plus a state-exemption path for ADUs up to 800 square feet.
Merced ADU Size, Height and Setback Standards
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.42.030(A),(C),(E)
A.Location. ADUs shall be permitted in districts zoned to allow single-family or multi-family residential or mixed use as provided in Part 2 (Zoning Districts)... C.Number of Accessory Dwelling Units Permitted Per Parcel.1.Parcels with a Single-Family Dwelling. One (1) attached ADU (new or converted), one (1) detached ADU (new or converted), and one (1) JADU shall be allowed per lot with a prop...
ADU Impact Fees
Merced exempts accessory dwelling units under 750 square feet from all development impact fees. Larger ADUs pay impact fees prorated to their share of the primary home's square footage, and utility connection or capacity charges cannot exceed the actual cost of service under Municipal Code Section 20.42.040(D).
Merced ADU Impact Fee Exemption Under 750 Sq Ft
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.42.040(D)(1)-(3)
1.ADUs are not a new residential use for the purposes of calculating connection fees or capacity charges for utilities, including water and sewer service unless the ADU or JADU is constructed with a new single-family dwelling; and any utility fee or charge imposed on the creation of a detached ADU must not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service.2.ADUs contained within the existing ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Merced imposed no owner-occupancy requirement on ADUs permitted between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2025. Starting January 1, 2025, owners in R-1 zones (or equivalent planned developments) may rent only the primary home or the ADU, not both, under Municipal Code Section 20.42.040(A).
Merced ADU Owner Occupancy Rule After 2025
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.42.040(A)
A.Owner Occupancy. The city shall not impose owner occupancy requirements on any ADUs or associated primary dwellings permitted between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2025. After January 1, 2025, the following section shall apply. The owner of a parcel with an ADU shall be permitted to rent either the primary unit or the ADU, but not both, and may reside in either the primary dwelling unit or ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Merced bars short-term and transient rentals of accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs, requiring a minimum continuous rental term of 30 days under Municipal Code Section 20.42.040(B). The same section blocks selling or conveying an ADU separately from the main house except through a narrow nonprofit-affordability exception.
Merced ADU Minimum 30-Day Rental Term
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.42.040(B),(C)
B.Rental Term. An ADU or JADU may be rented, provided the rental term is at least thirty (30) continuous days or more. Non-continuous or transient occupancy is prohibited.C.Separate Conveyance. An ADU shall not be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the principal residence, except when sold by a qualified nonprofit corporation to a qualified buyer in accordance with Government Code Secti...
Shed & Carport Rules
A shed or other detached accessory structure in a Merced residential yard can rise up to 35 feet, the same as the house, but must sit at least 3 feet from interior property lines, 5 feet if it's a garage or exceeds 120 square feet.
Merced Backyard Shed Height and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.28.020, Table 20.28-1 (Height and Setback Standards for Residential Accessory Structures)
4.Accessory buildings and uses customarily appurtenant to a permitted use, such as garages, carport, off-street parking areas, personal storage buildings, fences, etc. ... Table 20.28-1 Height and Setback Standards for Residential Accessory Structures Height (max.) 35 ft. Setbacks (min.) Interior Yard 3 ft. [1] Exterior Yard Same as required for primary structure ... [1] Five (5) feet minimum f...
Garage Conversions
Merced allows an attached garage to be converted into an accessory dwelling unit through ministerial approval, but converted-ADU garages on multi-family parcels are capped at 25 percent of the total dwelling units, and displaced parking never has to be replaced.
Merced Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.42.030(B)(3)(a)
3.Converted. An ADU may be located within areas converted to habitable space that complies with the California Building Code for a dwelling, such as:a.An area within an existing single-family dwelling (e.g. an attached garage); orb.An existing accessory structure (e.g. a detached garaged or pool house) located on the same parcel as the single-family dwelling; orc.Portions of existing multi-fami...
Tiny Homes
Merced permits tiny homes on wheels as a form of accessory dwelling unit under Municipal Code Section 20.42.060, requiring DMV registration, ANSI/NFPA certification, a 400-square-foot floor area cap, 14-foot height limit, and five-foot side/rear setbacks, with ministerial approval renewed every five years.
Merced Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) Standards
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.42.060(A),(D)
A.Permit. All other provisions for ADUs in this chapter shall also apply to THOWs except as provided below. In addition to building permit issuance as a detached THOW as an accessory dwelling unit, a THOW shall be approved ministerially by the director if the following additional conditions are met:1.The THOW is licensed and registered by the California Department of Motor Vehicles;2.The THOW h...
Looking for Merced County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Merced city rules.
Accessory Structures in Merced County →