Accessory Structures in Fresno County, CA (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Fresno County, California.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Fresno County caps detached and attached accessory dwelling units at 850 to 1,200 square feet depending on bedroom count and limits single-story units to 16 feet in height, under the ministerial ADU standards in the county's Zoning Ordinance.
Fresno County Accessory Dwelling Unit Size Standards
Some RestrictionsFresno County Zoning Ordinance § 834.4.030(B)(7)(a)-(b)
(1) Detached. May not exceed 850 square feet if it has fewer than two bedrooms or 1,000 square feet if it has two bedrooms. No more than two bedrooms are allowed. A detached ADU shall not exceed 50% of the floor area of the primary dwelling and have a maximum of 1,200 square feet. (2) Attached. May not exceed 850 squar...
ADU Impact Fees
Fresno County charges no impact fees, including school fees, on an accessory dwelling unit under 750 square feet; larger ADUs pay a fee prorated to their square footage against the primary home rather than the full new-dwelling rate.
Fresno County ADU Impact Fee Waiver Rule
Light RestrictionsFresno County Zoning Ordinance § 834.4.030(B)(6)(i)
i. Impact Fees. No impact fees (including school fees) shall be charged to an Accessory Dwelling Unit that is less than 750 square feet in size. Any impact fee charged to an Accessory Dwelling Unit 750 square feet or greater shall be charged proportionately in relation to the square footage ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Fresno County requires the titled owner of a parcel with a junior accessory dwelling unit to live in either the main house or the JADU as a legal domicile, with a recorded deed restriction enforcing the rule, unless a government agency or housing organization owns the property.
Fresno County JADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsFresno County Zoning Ordinance § 834.4.030(B)(4)(c)(2)
Owner Occupancy Requirements. Junior Accessory Dwelling Units shall be subject to an owner-occupancy requirement. A person with legal or equitable title to the property shall reside on the property in either the primary dwelling or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit as that person's legal domicile and permanent residence. However, the owner-occupancy requirement of this paragraph does not apply if ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Fresno County lets owners rent out an ADU but bars any rental term shorter than 30 days and prohibits selling or conveying the ADU separately from the main parcel, closing off short-term rental use of the unit.
Fresno County ADU Sale and 30-Day Rental Rule
Some RestrictionsFresno County Zoning Ordinance § 834.4.030(B)(6)(g)-(h)
g. No Separate Conveyance. An Accessory Dwelling Unit may be rented, but no Accessory Dwelling Unit, unless otherwise permitted by State law, may be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the parcel and the primary dwelling in the case of a single-family parcel or from the parcel and all of the dwellings in ...
Shed & Carport Rules
Fresno County treats a shed or other accessory structure as a full primary structure for setback purposes once it shares a wall with the house or sits within six feet of it, forcing full front, side and rear yard compliance instead of a relaxed accessory setback.
Fresno County Accessory Structure Setback Rule
Some RestrictionsFresno County Zoning Ordinance § 834.4.020
1. Where an accessory structure is part of, or joined to the primary structure by a common wall, or where any accessory structure has sleeping or living accommodations, the accessory structure shall be deemed a primary structure for purposes of applying the property development standards of this Zoning Ordinance. 2. Where an accessory structure, either attached to or detached from the primary s...
Tiny Homes
Fresno County allows a displaced homeowner whose residence burned down or was destroyed to place a Tiny House built to Appendix Q of the California Residential Code on the property for up to one year. The rule sits in the county's disaster-response chapter, not its general accessory-structure code, so it only applies after a documented total loss.
Fresno County Tiny House Disaster Rule
Some RestrictionsFresno County Code §§ 15.70.010, 15.70.030
Recognizing availability of affordable temporary housing when a single-family residence is made inhabitable or destroyed by fire, vehicle accident, or other natural cause, Temporary Housing as described herein may be allowed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter are applicable only to the resident who is identified as the property owner of record. ... A.Temporary housing, also refer...
Accessory Structures by City in Fresno County
2 cities in Fresno County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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