Accessory Structures in Riverside, CA (2026)
7 verified accessory structures rules for Riverside, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Riverside's ADU rules set real numbers: a detached ADU can't exceed 1,200 square feet, new one-story ADUs under 16 feet need just a four-foot side/rear setback, height tops out at 20 feet for single-story units, and a single-family lot can host a primary home plus one ADU and one JADU, per §19.442.030.
Riverside ADU Size, Setback & Height Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Sec. 19.442.030(D); (C)(2)(a)(i); (G)(2)-(3)
D.Unit Size.1.Attached ADUs.a.The total floor area of an attached ADU, including conversion of existing floor area, shall not exceed 50 percent of the existing or proposed primary dwelling floor area or 1,200 square feet, whichever is less.b.The total floor area requirements shall not prevent the establishment of an ADU that is at least:i.850 square feet for units with one bedroom or less; orii...
ADU Impact Fees
ADUs under 750 square feet pay no City impact fees at all in Riverside, per §19.442.030(K)(1); larger ADUs are charged proportionately to the primary dwelling's square footage instead of a flat rate, and most ADUs added to an existing home skip new water and sewer connection fees entirely.
Riverside ADU Impact Fee Exemption Rules
Light RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Sec. 19.442.030(K); (J)(2)-(3)
K.Impact Fees.1.For ADUs under 750 square feet, no City impact fees shall apply.2.For ADUs 750 square feet and over, impact fees shall be charged proportionately in relation to the square footage of the primary dwelling unit. ... J.Utilities.2.ADUs shall not be considered a new residential use for the purposes of calculating connection fees or capacity charges for utilities, including water and...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Riverside doesn't require an ADU or MADU to be owner-occupied: neither the primary home nor the accessory unit needs an owner on-site, per §19.442.030(F)(a). JADUs are the exception: one is allowed only if the primary dwelling or the JADU itself is owner-occupied, recorded as a deed restriction.
Riverside ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirements
Light RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Sec. 19.442.030(F); (A)(5) & (A)(10)
F.Owner Occupancy.a.On a single lot with a primary dwelling and ADU/MADU, neither is required to be owner-occupied.b.On a single lot, one JADU is allowed if the primary dwelling or JADU is owner-occupied which shall be recorded with the deed restriction. ... 5.ADUs, MADUs and JADUs, when rented, must be used for rentals of terms longer than 30 days. ... 10.For JADUs, a deed restriction shall be...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Riverside's Zoning Code bars short-term rentals of accessory dwelling units. Municipal Code Section 19.442.030(A)(5) requires that any ADU, movable ADU (MADU), or junior ADU (JADU) that is rented be leased for terms longer than 30 days, closing off Airbnb-style stays in secondary units citywide, regardless of zone.
Riverside ADU & JADU 30-Day Rental Minimum
Some RestrictionsRiverside Municipal Code § 19.442.030(A)(5)-(10)
5.ADUs, MADUs and JADUs, when rented, must be used for rentals of terms longer than 30 days.6.No actions to correct zoning nonconformities related to physical improvements are required for ADUs.7.There shall be no minimum lot size requirement to establish an ADU, MADU or JADU.8.The floor area of an ADU, MADU or JADU shall not be counted when calculating lot coverage.9.ADUs may not be sold or ot...
Shed & Carport Rules
Carports and garages taking access from an alley in Riverside must be set back at least 25 feet from the alley's far boundary line under Zoning Code Section 19.440.030.D. Broader accessory-structure rules also cap coverage of the required side/rear yard at 35% and generally bar accessory structures from front yards.
Riverside Carport Alley Setback Is 25 Feet
Some RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Sec. 19.440.030.B-D (Accessory Buildings and Structures)
B.Accessory structures shall not cover more than 35 percent of the required side or rear yard setback area.C.Accessory structures shall be located a minimum of five feet from the principal building or the distance required by the Building Code, whichever is greater. Eave line separation from the principal building shall conform to the provisions of the Building Code. Accessory structures locate...
Garage Conversions
Converting an existing garage, carport, or covered parking space into an accessory dwelling unit does not trigger a requirement to replace the lost parking or add a new setback. Riverside Municipal Code Section 19.442.030 removes the ADU parking requirement, the replacement-parking mandate, and any nonconformity correction for the conversion.
Riverside Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules
Few RestrictionsRiverside Municipal Code § 19.442.030(A)(6), (C)(1)(a), (H)
A.6.No actions to correct zoning nonconformities related to physical improvements are required for ADUs. ... C.Setbacks.1.Attached or Detached - Existing Structures.a.Existing structures converted to an ADU or JADU, if applicable, shall require no additional setback. ... H.Parking.1.No parking shall be required for an ADU, MADU or JADU.2.No replacement parking shall be required for the primary ...
Tiny Homes
Riverside recognizes a specific tiny-home-on-wheels category called a Movable Accessory Dwelling Unit, or MADU. Municipal Code Section 19.910.050 defines it as a towable, DMV-registered living unit between 150 and 430 square feet, built to ANSI 119.5 or NFPA 1192 park-model standards, permitted as an ADU on a residential lot.
Riverside Movable Tiny Home (MADU) Rules
Some RestrictionsRiverside Municipal Code § 19.910.050 (MADU definition)
Dwelling unit, movable accessory (MADU) means a complete independent living facility that provides for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence that shall include provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling is or will be situated and meets the following requireme...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Riverside city rules.
Accessory Structures in Riverside County →