Accessory Structures in Palm Desert, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Palm Desert, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
In the City of Palm Desert, California, every accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU needs an ADU permit and a building permit, approved ministerially without a hearing. The City must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days, and Class 2 ADUs are capped at 850 or 1,000 square feet.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules in Palm Desert
Some RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 25.34.030
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow and regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) in compliance with Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code. ... 1. Ministerial ADU and Building Permits Required. Every ADU and JADU requires an ADU permit and a building permit. ... b. Limited Detached on Lot with Single-Fami...
ADU Owner Occupancy
In the City of Palm Desert, California, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not subject to an owner-occupancy requirement. Junior ADUs (JADUs) are, and the owner must live in either the primary dwelling or the JADU unless the JADU has separate sanitation facilities or a government, land trust, or housing organization owns the property.
ADU Owner Occupancy Rules in Palm Desert
Light RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 25.34.030
7. Owner Occupancy. a. ADUs. ADUs are not subject to an owner-occupancy requirement. b. JADUs. i. Generally. As required by state law, JADUs are generally subject to an owner-occupancy requirement. A natural person with legal or equitable title to the property must reside on the property, in either the primary dwelling or JADU, as the person's legal domicile and permanent residence. ii. Excepti...
ADU Rental Restrictions
In the City of Palm Desert, California, no ADU or JADU can be rented for a term shorter than 30 days, regardless of when the unit was created. Units can be rented but cannot be sold or conveyed separately from the lot and primary dwelling, except as Government Code Section 66341 allows.
ADU Rental Restrictions in Palm Desert
Significant RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 25.34.030
4. Rental Term. No ADU or JADU may be rented for a term that is shorter than 30 days. This prohibition applies regardless of when the ADU or JADU was created. 5. No Separate Conveyance. An ADU or JADU may be rented, but, except as otherwise provided in Government Code Section 66341, no ADU or JADU may be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the lot and the primary dwelling (in the case of...
Shed & Carport Rules
In the City of Palm Desert, California, Palm Desert Municipal Code § 25.40.050 ties shed size to height and lot size. An enclosed building 8 feet or less in height is allowed on any residential lot and must sit back from the property line a distance equal to its height. Taller buildings need lots over 12,000 or 40,000 square feet.
Palm Desert Accessory Building and Shed Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 25.40.050
B. Enclosed buildings. ... Enclosed buildings including, but not limited to, storage sheds, greenhouses, and detached garages are permitted subject to the following: 1. Enclosed buildings less than, or equal to, 8 feet in height are permitted on all residential lots, with a minimum set back from a property line a distance equal to its height. 2. Enclosed buildings greater than 8 feet in height,...
Garage Conversions
In the City of Palm Desert, California, a garage becomes living space through the ADU or JADU rules in § 25.34.030. An attached garage counts as part of the single-family structure for a JADU, and the replacement of demolished or converted garage parking is not required.
Garage Conversion to Living Space in Palm Desert
Some RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 25.34.030
2. It is contained entirely within an existing or proposed single-family structure. An enclosed use within the residence, such as an attached garage, is considered to be a part of and contained within the single-family structure. ... f. Concurrent Review of Demolition. A demolition permit for a detached garage that is to be replaced with an ADU is reviewed with the application for the ADU and i...
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Palm Desert city rules.
Accessory Structures in Riverside County →