5 rules for unincorporated Merced County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Merced County, accessory dwelling units are governed by Zoning Code Chapter 18.62. Detached ADUs are capped at 1,200 sf, only one ADU is allowed per parcel, and an owner-occupancy affidavit must be recorded. The chapter implements California ADU law (now Gov. Code §§66310-66342).
Detached sheds in unincorporated Merced County are accessory structures under Zoning Code Chapter 18.32. In residential zones, no accessory structure may exceed 600 sf on a parcel under one-quarter acre, height is capped at 15 feet, accessory structures may not occupy more than 15 percent of the rear yard, and no more than two are allowed per parcel.
Converting an existing garage to an ADU is expressly allowed in unincorporated Merced County under Zoning Code Section 18.62.030. When a garage is converted to an ADU, no setback is required, and California Gov. Code §66314 bars the county from requiring replacement of displaced covered parking.
A carport in unincorporated Merced County is a roofed, not-fully-enclosed parking structure (Zoning Code Article 8). As an accessory structure it follows Chapter 18.32 setbacks; in the R-1-5000 zone, carports and garages facing the front parcel line must be 20 feet from the right-of-way.
Unincorporated Merced County expressly addresses tiny homes: under Zoning Code Sections 18.10.040 and 18.12.040, tiny homes are considered single-family dwellings and must be placed on a permanent foundation system. A movable tiny home not on a permanent foundation is not recognized as a permanent dwelling.
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