Accessory Structures in Westminster, CA (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Westminster, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Westminster approves accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs ministerially under Municipal Code Section 17.400.135 once they meet the city's numeric standards. A detached ADU tops out at 16 feet, or 18 feet near a major transit stop; an attached ADU can rise to 25 feet or the zone height limit, whichever is lower, but never more than two stories. Floor area runs 850 to 1,200 square feet depending on bedroom count and whether the unit is attached or detached.
Westminster ADU Height, Size and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsWestminster Municipal Code § 17.400.135
ADUs shall be subject to the following height limitations: i. A height of 16 feet for a detached ADU on a lot with an existing or proposed single unit or multi-unit dwelling unit. ... iv. A height of 25 feet or the height limit of the applicable zone that applies to the primary dwelling, whichever is lower, for an ADU that is attached to a primary dwelling. In no event shall the ADU exceed two ...
ADU Impact Fees
Westminster caps the parks and recreation development impact fee for an accessory dwelling unit at the same amount charged for a full single-family or multifamily unit, but never more, and defers to the state cap under Government Code Section 65852.2(f) when that cap is lower.
Westminster ADU Parks Impact Fee Cap
Some RestrictionsWestminster Code § 3.62.040(A)(1)(b), (A)(2)(b)
For an accessory dwelling unit on a single-family property, the maximum fee allowed by law, but in no event more than the amount authorized by subsection (A)(1)(a), above. See California Government Code Section 65852.2(f)... For an accessory dwelling unit on a multifamily property, the maximum fee allowed by law, but in no event more than the amount authorized by subsection (A)(2)(a). See Calif...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Westminster does not force accessory dwelling unit owners to live on-site, but junior accessory dwelling units are different. City Code Section 17.400.135(M)(8)(d) requires every JADU owner to record a deed restriction binding the owner to reside in either the primary dwelling or the JADU, with a narrow carve-out for public agencies, land trusts, and housing organizations.
Westminster JADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsWestminster Code § 17.400.135(M)(8)(d)
Deed restriction. The owner of any new JADU shall record against the property a deed restriction, which shall run with the land, in a form that meets the approval of the city attorney and which establishes the following: ... d. A restriction that the owner must reside either in the primary dwelling or in the JADU. This restriction shall not apply if the owner of the single-family dwelling is a ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Westminster bars short-term rentals of accessory units citywide. Code Section 17.400.135(I) states plainly that ADUs and JADUs may not be rented for periods of less than 30 days, echoing the broader residential short-term rental ban the city codified under Section 17.200.020(G).
Westminster ADU 30-Day Rental Minimum
Significant RestrictionsWestminster Code § 17.400.135(I)
ADUs as Transient Lodging. ADUs and JADUs may not be rented for periods of less than 30 days.
Shed & Carport Rules
A backyard shed, playhouse, or similar accessory structure in Westminster is exempt from building-permit development standards only if it is 120 square feet or less and 7 feet or less in height, per Municipal Code Section 17.400.130. Anything larger triggers a full set of standards: a 200-square-foot cap on combined non-garage accessory buildings, a 15-foot roof peak height limit, and setbacks that depend on where the structure sits on the lot.
Westminster Accessory Structure Size and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsWestminster Municipal Code § 17.400.130
An accessory building or structure 120 square feet or less and 7 feet or less in height including children's play houses shall be exempt from development restrictions (except Building and Fire codes) provided it is placed behind a line extending from the exterior wall of the main dwelling unit nearest the streets but not closer than the minimum setback line and no part of the building or struct...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Westminster city rules.
Accessory Structures in Orange County →