Accessory Structures in Santa Ana, CA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Santa Ana, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Santa Ana caps detached ADUs at 20 feet and 1,000 square feet, with 4-foot side, street-side and rear setbacks, under Table 41-194.3 of the zoning code. Attached ADUs generally can't exceed half the primary home's habitable space unless the unit stays under 800 square feet.
Santa Ana ADU Development Standards
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 41-194.3, Table 41-194.3(A), (E)
The development standards in Table 41-194.3 shall be applicable to all ADUs and JADUs... (A)Attached ADUs shall not exceed fifty (50) percent of the size of the habitable space of the primary residence on the lot. Attached ADUs may only exceed fifty (50) percent of the size of the habitable space of the primary dwelling to accommodate an ADU up to eight hundred (800) square feet in size. In no ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Building a junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) in Santa Ana comes with a rental catch: Municipal Code Section 41-194.5 requires an owner-occupancy covenant, recorded against the property before the city issues a building permit, stating either the main house or the JADU must be owner-occupied. That blocks renting both units to separate tenants with no owner on-site, a restriction that doesn't apply to full-size ADUs.
Santa Ana Junior ADU Owner-Occupancy Covenant
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 41-194.5
Prior to issuance of a building permit for a JADU, a covenant consenting that either the primary dwelling unit or the JADU be owner-occupied shall be recorded against the title of the property in the county recorder's office and a copy filed with the planning division. Said covenant shall run with the land, and shall bind all future owners, heirs, successors, or assigns. The form of the deed re...
Shed & Carport Rules
Santa Ana's zoning code fixes exact yard setbacks for sheds and other accessory buildings by height and lot type. An interior-lot structure up to 15 feet needs only a 3-foot side and rear yard; taller ones need 5 feet on the side and 10 feet at the rear. Alley-facing garages must clear the alley centerline by 12 feet, and every garage needs 20 feet of driveway clearance from the street.
Santa Ana Accessory Building Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code Ch. 41, Sec. 41-606
(a)On an interior lot an accessory building up to fifteen (15) feet in height shall have a side and rear yard of not less than three (3) feet, and an accessory building over fifteen (15) feet in height shall have a side yard of not less than five (5) feet and a rear yard of not less than ten (10) feet, except if the lot rears and/or sides upon an alley, said accessory building, if a garage, sha...
Garage Conversions
Santa Ana lets homeowners convert an existing garage, carport or accessory structure into an ADU under City Code §§ 41-194.2(E) and 41-194.3(C), with up to 150 square feet of expansion exempt from standard ADU development rules. Multi-family properties can convert up to eight detached garages or carports into ADUs.
Santa Ana Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules
Few RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code §§ 41-194.2(E), 41-194.3(C)
(E)Lots developed with a multi-family building are, in addition to units permissible by subsection (D), permitted to construct up to eight (8) detached ADUs; however, the number of detached ADUs shall not exceed the number of existing units on the lot. Those detached ADUs may be provided through conversion of existing detached accessory buildings, garages, carports, covered parking structures, ...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Ana city rules.
Accessory Structures in Orange County →