Accessory Structures in Stockton, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Stockton, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Impact Fees
Stockton waives impact fees on any ADU under 750 square feet and on JADUs of 500 square feet or less. Larger ADUs pay impact fees scaled to the size of the primary dwelling, per Development Code Section 16.80.310(I)(2).
Stockton ADU Impact Fee Exemptions
Some RestrictionsStockton Development Code § 16.80.310(I)(2)
2. Fees. a. Connection Fees or Capacity Charges. An ADU shall not be considered a new residential use for the purposes of calculating connection fees or capacity charges for utilities, including water and sewer service, unless the ADU was constructed with a new single-unit dwelling. This only applies to ADUs, not JADUs. b. Impact Fees. Impact fees shall not be imposed on an ADU that is less tha...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Stockton does not require the property owner to live on site once an ADU is built. A JADU is the exception: if it shares a bathroom or kitchen with the main house, the owner must occupy the property.
Stockton ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Light RestrictionsStockton Development Code § 16.80.310(G), (H)(6)
G. Owner Occupancy. Owner occupancy is not required on a property with an ADU. ... H.6. Owner-occupancy is required if a JADU shares sanitation facilities with the existing structure. In such cases, the owner shall occupy the single-unit residence in which the JADU is permitted and may reside in either the remaining portion of the structure or in the JADU. Owner occupancy shall not be required ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Stockton lets homeowners rent out an ADU or JADU, but Development Code Section 16.80.310(F) sets a 30-day minimum rental term and bars selling the unit apart from the main house except through a narrow condominium pathway.
Stockton ADU 30-Day Minimum Rental Term
Some RestrictionsStockton Development Code § 16.80.310(F)
F. Rental or Sale of Unit. An ADU and JADU may be rented. The rental term shall be at least 30 days. The ADU shall not be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the main dwelling unit, except as provided at California Government Code Sections 66341 through 66342 and below. 1. An ADU may be conveyed separately from the primary dwelling unit as a condominium, pursuant to the following require...
Shed & Carport Rules
Detached sheds, garages, workshops, gazebos, and covered patios in Stockton must sit on a lot that already has a permitted main house, follow their zoning district's development standards, and stay under 15 feet tall. Any part of the structure inside a required setback also has to clear the Development Code's setback exception rules.
Stockton Shed and Accessory Structure Standards
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code § 16.36.035
A. Applicability. 1. Detached Structures. The provisions of this section apply to roofed structures, including, but not limited to, garages, carports, sheds, workshops, gazebos, and covered patios that are detached from and accessory to a main building on the site... B. Relation to Existing Structures. A detached accessory structure may only be constructed on a lot on which there is a permitted...
Tiny Homes
Stockton does not have a separate "tiny home" ordinance: a tiny structure used as a dwelling must qualify either as an ADU under Title 16 Development Code Chapter 16.40 (and Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2), as a manufactured home under California Health & Safety Code §18007, or as a recreational vehicle (RV), which cannot be used as a permanent residence under state law. Sleeping in a backyard shed is prohibited under the Stockton Property Maintenance Code (SMC Chapter 15.24, 2024 IPMC effective April 3, 2025).
Tiny Homes, Movable Tiny Houses, and Accessory Dwelling Units in Stockton
Some RestrictionsCity of Stockton — Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units guidance
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an attached or detached residential dwelling unit on the same lot as an existing or proposed single-family dwelling that is zoned for single-family or multifamily use. ADUs provide independent living quarters for one household on the same lot as an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily dwelling, including areas for sleeping, eating, cooking, and s...
Looking for San Joaquin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Stockton city rules.
Accessory Structures in San Joaquin County →