Accessory Structures in Palmdale, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Palmdale, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Palmdale allows one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot under PMC § 17.91.010, approved ministerially through zoning clearance review rather than a discretionary hearing. Detached ADUs top out at 1,200 square feet and 16 feet in height (18 feet near transit), with just a 4-foot side/rear setback, or none at all for conversions of existing space.
Palmdale Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards
Some RestrictionsPalmdale, CA, Municipal Code § 17.91.010 (Accessory Dwelling Unit and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards)
(B) Applicability. Except as authorized by Federal or State law regulations, accessory dwelling units are allowed only in zones where single-family or multifamily residential units are allowed... (F)(3)(a) Attached Accessory Dwelling Units. The maximum floor area of an attached accessory dwelling unit shall be the higher of: (i) Eight hundred fifty square feet for an accessory dwelling unit wit...
ADU Impact Fees
Palmdale charges zero impact fees on any junior accessory dwelling unit and on any accessory dwelling unit under 750 square feet; larger ADUs still owe a full new-dwelling utility connection fee if built alongside a new single-family home.
Palmdale Waives Impact Fees on Small ADUs
Few RestrictionsPalmdale, CA, Municipal Code § 17.91.010(E)(6)(a)-(c)
Utilities Required. All accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units must be properly connected to public utilities, including water, electric, and sewer (or septic) services. ... Impact Fees. No impact fees shall be imposed on a junior accessory dwelling unit or an accessory dwelling unit less than 750 square feet in size. Separate Connections. If an accessory dwelling unit or ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Palmdale requires the property owner to live on-site whenever a junior accessory dwelling unit shares a bathroom with the main house, occupying either the primary residence or the JADU itself as their principal residence, with narrow exceptions for public agencies and land trusts.
Palmdale JADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsPalmdale, CA, Municipal Code § 17.91.010(G)(1)
Owner Occupancy. Pursuant to Government Code Section 66333(b), owner occupancy shall be required if the junior accessory dwelling unit shares sanitization facilities with the existing primary dwelling. In such cases, the owner shall reside in either the single-family residence or the junior accessory dwelling unit as the owner's principal residence. Owner-occupancy is not required if the owner ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Palmdale bars short-term rentals of accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs outright: every rental period must run at least 31 days, and JADU owners must record that restriction with the County before getting a permit.
Palmdale ADU Minimum 31-Day Rental Rule
Some RestrictionsPalmdale, CA, Municipal Code § 17.91.010(E)(3), (E)(4)(b)-(c)
Rental Restrictions. Rental periods for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units shall not be less than 31 days. ... The junior accessory dwelling unit shall not be rented for periods of less than 31 days; ... The restrictions shall be binding upon any successor in ownership of the property, and lack of compliance shall result in legal action against the property owner for n...
Shed & Carport Rules
Detached sheds, garages, and workshops in Palmdale must sit outside required front, side, and rear setbacks under PMC § 17.82.020, using Table 17.82.020-1's height-based rule: a rear or interior-side setback of 5 feet applies to structures 10 feet tall or shorter, rising to 10 feet for anything taller, plus a 15-foot alley clearance for detached garages.
Palmdale Accessory Structure Size and Setbacks
Some RestrictionsPalmdale, CA, Municipal Code § 17.82.020 (Accessory Structures); Table 17.82.020-1 (Accessory Structure Setbacks and Height Limits)
(A)(1) No accessory building or structure shall be located within a required front, side, or rear setback except as otherwise provided in this Title. The requirements contained in this Section shall apply to detached accessory structures on private property... These include, but are not limited to, garages, carports, sheds, workshops, gazebos, pergolas, and covered patios that are detached from...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Palmdale city rules.
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