5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in San Joaquin County, California.
Verified from official government sources
San Joaquin County permits ADUs by right in residential zones under state law (CA Gov. Code §65852.2) and Development Title 9. Detached ADUs up to 16 ft, attached ADUs up to 25 ft; 4 ft rear/side setbacks; one ADU + one JADU per single-family lot. ADUs <750 sq ft exempt from impact fees.
Sheds up to 120 square feet without electricity or plumbing are generally exempt from building permit requirements in unincorporated San Joaquin County. Single-story accessory buildings in the rear one-third of a parcel may be placed within 3 feet of rear or side property lines.
Garage-to-ADU conversions in unincorporated San Joaquin County are permitted by right under state law with no replacement parking required. SB 987 requires simultaneous review of demolition and ADU permits. Building permits are required for all habitable space conversions.
Carports in unincorporated San Joaquin County require a building permit and must meet Development Title §9-605 setback rules: generally 3 feet from side, 5 feet from rear, and 20 feet from front (matching garage setback). Maximum height typically 15 feet. Attached carports count toward the primary dwelling setback. Stockton, Lodi, and Manteca apply similar zoning but some older R-1 neighborhoods have tighter front setbacks.
Tiny homes on a permanent foundation in San Joaquin County are regulated as dwellings or ADUs under Gov. Code §65852.2, with no statewide minimum size for ADUs (local minimums are preempted). Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) are classified as RVs or manufactured homes under CA Vehicle Code and HSC §18000 — they cannot be occupied full-time on a residential lot except in approved RV parks. California Residential Code Appendix Q applies to dwellings under 400 sq ft.
4 cities in San Joaquin County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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