Accessory Structures in Milpitas, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Milpitas, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Milpitas regulates ADUs under Municipal Code Section XI-10-13.08 (Accessory Dwelling Units), implementing California's ADU law. One ADU plus one Junior ADU are permitted ministerially on a single-family lot not subdivided under SB9. The streamlined detached ADU may be up to 800 sq. ft. with four-foot side/rear setbacks and a 16-foot height limit; a JADU is capped at 500 sq. ft.
Milpitas Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules
Few RestrictionsShed Rules
Sheds and other detached accessory buildings are governed by Milpitas Municipal Code Section XI-10-54.08 (Accessory Buildings and Structures). In residential (R) districts a detached accessory building must sit on the rear half of the lot, at least six feet from any dwelling on the same lot, and no closer than three feet to a rear lot line. Cumulative rear-yard accessory coverage is capped at 30% of the required rear yard.
Milpitas Shed & Accessory Building Rules
Some RestrictionsGarage Conversions
Converting a garage in Milpitas requires a building permit and a Garage Conversion plan submittal; the City advises contacting Planning and Engineering first to confirm feasibility. Converting a garage to an ADU or JADU is allowed under Section XI-10-13.08 and the Safe ADU Legalization Program, but the conversion must meet specific California Building/Residential Code separation, vapor-retarder, and heating requirements.
Milpitas Garage Conversion Rules
Some RestrictionsCarport Rules
Milpitas treats carports as covered off-street parking. A carport is a 'type of parking allowed' under Off-Street Parking Regulations (Municipal Code Section XI-10-53), and as a roofed structure it is also subject to the accessory-building placement rules in Section XI-10-54.08. Residential parking layouts must provide at least 25 feet of unobstructed backing/maneuvering distance measured from the garage or carport opening.
Milpitas Carport & Covered Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsTiny Homes
Milpitas has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A tiny house on a permanent foundation is regulated as a dwelling/ADU under Municipal Code Section XI-10-13.08 and must meet the same building code as any home. A movable tiny house on wheels is a vehicle under California law (it must be registered and plated) and is not a permitted permanent dwelling on a residential lot; some California cities allow movable tiny houses as ADUs, but Milpitas's code does not establish that pathway.
Milpitas Tiny Home Rules
Some RestrictionsLooking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milpitas city rules.
Accessory Structures in Santa Clara County →