Accessory Structures in Rohnert Park, CA (2026)
6 verified accessory structures rules for Rohnert Park, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Rohnert Park allows an accessory dwelling unit as a permitted use on any single-family or multi-family zoned lot under RPMC § 17.08.040(A), capping interior living space at 850 square feet for a one-bedroom ADU and 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms. Detached ADU height is limited to sixteen feet on most lots, rising to eighteen or twenty-five feet in specific transit and multi-family situations.
Rohnert Park ADU Size and Height Standards
Some RestrictionsRohnert Park Municipal Code § 17.08.040(A), (D)(2), (D)(6)(a)
A.Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or junior accessory dwelling unit (JADUs) shall be a permitted use on any lot zoned to allow for single-family or multi-family residential uses, including mixed-use zones, subject to the requirements of this subsection. ... 2.The maximum square footage of interior livable space for either an attached or detached ADU shall be:a.Eight hundred fifty square feet fo...
ADU Impact Fees
Rohnert Park exempts small accessory dwelling units from impact fees entirely and prorates fees for larger ones. Under RPMC § 17.08.040(H), no impact fee applies to an ADU under 750 square feet or to any JADU, while an ADU of 750 square feet or more is charged proportionately to the primary dwelling's square footage rather than as a new residential unit.
Rohnert Park ADU Water, Sewer and Impact Fees
Light RestrictionsRohnert Park Municipal Code § 17.08.040(H)(1), (H)(4)
H.Capacity, Connection and Impact Fees.1.Except for the case where an ADU or JADU is constructed within an existing single-family dwelling unit in accordance with Section 17.08.840(E)(1), a new, separate or upgraded utility connection may be required between the primary residence/ADU and the public water or sewer utility if site specific conditions necessitate a new connection in order to provi...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Rohnert Park requires the property owner to live in either the primary home or the junior accessory dwelling unit whenever the JADU shares sanitary facilities with the main house. RPMC § 17.08.040(F)(5) exempts only government agencies, land trusts and housing organizations from this owner-occupancy condition, and the city records it as a deed restriction before occupancy.
Rohnert Park JADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsRohnert Park Municipal Code § 17.08.040(F)(5)
5.Owner occupancy shall be required for each JADU that has shared sanitary facilities with the primary dwelling. The owner shall reside either in the primary dwelling unit or the newly created JADU. Owner-occupancy shall not be required if the owner is another governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization.
ADU Rental Restrictions
Rohnert Park bars renting an accessory dwelling unit or junior ADU for fewer than thirty consecutive days, closing off short-term and vacation rental use of these units. RPMC § 17.08.040(J) applies the limit to every ADU and JADU citywide, on top of the separate ban on short-term rentals in accessory structures found in the city's short-term rental ordinance.
Rohnert Park ADU Thirty-Day Minimum Rental Rule
Significant RestrictionsRohnert Park Municipal Code § 17.08.040(J)
J.No ADU or JADU shall be rented for a period of fewer than thirty consecutive days.
Shed & Carport Rules
Rohnert Park exempts small detached sheds from a building permit only if they are 128 square feet or less, no taller than 12 feet, not habitable and have no utilities. Detached accessory structures must sit behind the front of the house and cover no more than 10 percent of the rear yard.
Rohnert Park Accessory Structure and Shed Rules
Some RestrictionsRohnert Park Municipal Code § 17.10.060
B.Detached/Attached. Detached accessory structures (i.e. structures separated from the main structure by five feet or more) shall be located behind the front elevation of the main structure and shall cover no more than ten percent of the rear yard area (unless an accessory dwelling unit), with total lot coverage for all structures on-site not to exceed that listed in Section 17.10.020 for the a...
Garage Conversions
Converting a single-family garage into an extra room in Rohnert Park needs an administrative permit from the planning manager under § 17.16.040(C), plus a replacement non-tandem parking space, a functional-looking garage door, and a lot at least fifty feet wide.
Rohnert Park Garage Conversion Rules
Significant RestrictionsRohnert Park Municipal Code § 17.16.040(C)
C.Garage Conversions to Create Additional Room in a Single-Family Property. The planning manager may grant exemptions to the off-street covered parking requirements for a single-family residential property subject to the granting of an administrative permit, in accord with the provisions of Section 17.25 Article V if the following findings can be made: ... 2.The garage conversion shall require ...
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rohnert Park city rules.
Accessory Structures in Sonoma County →