Accessory Structures in Sacramento, CA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Sacramento, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
A single-unit lot in Sacramento may add up to two accessory dwelling units, one ADU plus one junior ADU, or two junior ADUs; duplex and multi-unit lots may add up to two ADUs. Detached units are capped at 1,200 square feet total, and attached units are capped at the greater of 50% of the primary home's floor area or 850-1,000 square feet depending on bedroom count.
Sacramento ADU Unit Count and Size Limits
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.228.105(B)(1)(a)
A lot developed with a single-unit dwelling may have a maximum of two accessory dwelling units, one accessory dwelling unit and one junior accessory dwelling unit, or two junior accessory dwelling units. A lot developed with a duplex or multi-unit dwelling may have a maximum of two accessory dwelling units.
ADU Owner Occupancy
A Sacramento junior accessory dwelling unit, capped at 500 square feet and built within the walls of the primary home, requires the property owner to live on site, unless the property is owned by a government agency, land trust, or housing organization. The requirement is locked in with a recorded deed restriction under Government Code section 66333.
Sacramento Junior ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.228.105(B)(3)(a)-(b)
a. Maximum area. The floor area of one junior accessory dwelling unit may not exceed 500 square feet. b. Owner occupancy. Unless owned by a government agency, land trust, or housing organization, the property owner must reside onsite.
Shed & Carport Rules
A carport attached to a Sacramento home must follow the zone's height, setback, and lot coverage rules and meet minimum interior dimensions set in Sacramento City Code § 17.624.040 -- 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep for a single-unit or duplex dwelling, reducible to 8 feet wide with an 8-foot side-yard setback. Multi-unit dwelling carports follow the same 10-by-20 minimum.
Sacramento Carport Setback and Size Rules
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.624.040
17.624.040, footnote 1: "Height, setbacks, and lot coverage. The height, setback, and lot coverage standards of the zone in which the attached accessory structure is located apply to the structure." Footnote 2: "Maximum lot coverage of required rear yard for attached garages and carports. a. Single-unit and duplex dwellings on reversed corner lot. Attached garages and carports may project into ...
Garage Conversions
Converting an existing garage or other accessory structure into an ADU in Sacramento does not trigger the interior side-yard and rear-yard setbacks that apply to new ADU construction. Section 17.228.105(B)(2)(c)(iii)(3)(a) waives setback compliance for an existing structure, or one rebuilt in the same footprint, that is converted into an ADU.
Sacramento Garage-to-ADU Conversion Setback Waiver
Light RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.228.105(B)(2)(c)(iii)(3)(a)
No setback is required for an existing living area or accessory structure or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure that is converted to an accessory dwelling unit or to a portion of an accessory dwelling unit.
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sacramento city rules.
Accessory Structures in Sacramento County →