5 rules for unincorporated Mariposa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
All of Mariposa County is unincorporated. The County does not yet have its own ADU ordinance and defers to California State ADU Law (Gov. Code 66310-66342). ADUs and JADUs are permitted ministerially in every zone that allows residential or multifamily uses, with no public hearing for compliant units.
In unincorporated Mariposa County, sheds and other accessory structures are governed by Zoning Code Title 17, Chapter 17.108. Setback standards apply to any building with roof area over 120 sq ft. Standard setbacks are 25 ft front, and 25 ft (or 10% of lot width/depth, whichever is less) on side and rear lot lines.
Converting a garage into living space in unincorporated Mariposa County is most often done as an ADU or JADU. Mariposa County has no local ADU ordinance and follows California State ADU Law, under which a garage can be converted to an ADU within its existing footprint with no added setback required.
Carports in unincorporated Mariposa County are accessory structures under Zoning Code Title 17, Chapter 17.108. They must meet the standard 25-foot setbacks, but County Code 17.108.130(D) allows garages and carports in the front yard on parcels above 4,000 feet elevation, provided carport walls do not exceed 3 feet above ground.
Mariposa County distributes the State HCD Tiny Homes bulletin (IB 2016-01). A tiny home is legal to occupy only if it qualifies as one of: a site-built California Building Code dwelling, a manufactured home, factory-built housing, a recreational vehicle, or a park trailer. A permanent tiny home on a foundation is typically permitted as an ADU under State ADU Law.
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