Accessory Structures in San Jose, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for San Jose, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
San Jose allows one accessory dwelling unit plus one junior ADU on any single-family lot by right, capping floor area at 1,000 to 1,200 square feet and requiring no side or rear setback under Municipal Code § 20.80.175.
San Jose ADU Size, Height, and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.80.175
b.One thousand (1,000) square feet for an Accessory Dwelling on a lot with an area of up to nine thousand (9,000) square feet.c.One thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet for an Accessory Dwelling on a lot with an area greater than nine thousand (9,000) square feet. [...] 3.Setbacks.a.Front setback: Front setback of the zoning district, unless such setback prohibits an eight hundred (800) squ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
San Jose lets homeowners rent an accessory dwelling unit long-term, but Municipal Code § 20.80.160 flatly bars incidental transient occupancy, stays under 30 days, inside an ADU, so short-term hosting must stay in the primary residence.
ADU Short-Term Rental Ban in San Jose
Significant RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.80.160
Incidental Transient Occupancy meeting the criteria of this Part is an allowed use in any One-Family Dwelling, Two-Family Dwelling, Multiple Family Dwelling, Mobilehome, Live/Work Unit, or Guest House. Incidental Transient Occupancy shall not be allowed in an Accessory Dwelling Unit.
Shed & Carport Rules
San Jose treats carports as open accessory structures under Table 20-70: a 60-foot front setback, no side or rear setback, and a 12-foot height cap in residential districts, unless it qualifies as a garage instead.
San Jose Carport Setback and Height Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.30.500
All accessory buildings and accessory structures in the residential zoning districts shall conform to the development regulations set forth below in Table 20-70.B.When the right column of Table 20-70 includes a reference to a section number or a footnote, the regulations cited in the section number or footnote apply. Table 20-70 Accessory Buildings and Structures Development Regulations Fr...
Garage Conversions
San Jose lets homeowners convert an existing garage into livable space by treating it as an accessory dwelling unit, with no floor-area cap and no requirement to replace the lost covered parking anywhere else on the lot.
Garage Conversion to ADU in San Jose
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.80.175(D)(1)(d)
d.No maximum for conversion of an existing detached Accessory structure into an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Table 20-55 Lot size Maximum floor area Up to 9,000 square feet 1,000 square feet Greater than 9,000 square feet 1,200 square feet
Tiny Homes
San Jose allows one Tiny Home on Wheels per single-family lot under SJMC § 20.30.495, with rear-yard placement, a paved pad, utility hookups, and a detailed design checklist.
San Jose Tiny Home on Wheels Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.30.495
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title to the contrary, Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) shall be allowed on a lot consisting of One-Family Dwelling, subject to all of the following criteria: 1.The lot does not contain a detached Accessory Dwelling Unit, except the lot may contain an attached Accessory Dwelling Unit or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit;2.Only one THOW is allowed on a lot;3...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Jose city rules.
Accessory Structures in Santa Clara County →