Skip to content

Division 9 — Zoning Administrator›Article 70 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

§ 33-1474. Development standards.

Escondido Zoning Code · 2026-05 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Escondido

  • (a) Accessory dwelling units shall be subject to all development standards of the zone in which the property is located, except as modified below. Notwithstanding, this section shall be interpreted liberally in favor of accessory dwelling unit construction. Furthermore, any property development standard provided herein that regulates the minimum or maximum size for an accessory dwelling unit, size based upon a percentage of the proposed or existing primary dwelling, or limits on lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, and minimum lot size, for either attached or detached dwellings shall permit at least an 850 square foot accessory dwelling unit to be constructed in compliance with all other local development standards and building code requirements.

    • (1) Number of bedrooms. There is no allowed limit on the number of bedrooms provided that the accessory dwelling unit and/or junior accessory dwelling unit complies with local building and fire code requirements.

    • (2) The accessory dwelling unit shall be provided with a separate exterior entry. The accessory dwelling unit shall not have direct, interior access into the main building.

    • (3) The accessory dwelling unit shall include separate bath/sanitation facilities and include a separate kitchen.

    • (4) Setbacks. An attached or detached accessory dwelling unit, including a detached accessory unit that is attached to another accessory structure, shall be required to maintain minimum side and rear yard setbacks of at least four feet, and shall comply with front yard setbacks for the underlying zone. For attached accessory structures, whether attached to the primary unit or another detached accessory structure, the portion of the structure which does not include the habitable floor area of the accessory dwelling unit shall comply with setback requirements for the underlying zone. Roof eaves and other architectural projections for accessory dwelling units shall comply with section 33-104.

      • (A) No setback shall be required for an existing living area or accessory structure or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure that is converted to an accessory dwelling unit or to a portion of an accessory dwelling unit. The accessory dwelling unit may include an expansion of not more than 150 square feet beyond the same physical dimensions as the existing accessory structure. An expansion beyond the physical dimensions of the existing accessory structure shall be limited to accommodating ingress and egress, subject to the terms and limitations of this article.

    • (5) Maximum unit size. The maximum accessory dwelling unit size is determined by the

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/ES4926 on 2026-05-23

City of Escondido, CA § 33-1474

ZONING

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸ Contents — Escondido Zoning Code
Escondido Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 6
  2. Division 2 — Routing
  3. Division 2 — Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program
  4. Division 1 — Generally
  5. Division 1
  6. Division 2 — Variances and Administrative Adjustments
  7. Division 3 — Nonconforming Uses and Structures
  8. Division 4 — Amendments and Zone Changes
  9. Division 5 — Reasonable Accommodation
  10. Division 6 — Public Hearings, Notices, Fees and Appeals
  11. Division 7 — Enforcement and Penalties
  12. Division 8 — Plot Plans
  13. ▸ Division 9 — Zoning Administrator
    Overview
    1. § 33-1318. Office established—Authority.
    2. § 33-1319. Powers and duties and procedure.
    3. Article 62 — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS
    4. Article 63 — TRANSIENT LODGING FACILITIES
    5. Article 64 — DESIGN REVIEW
    6. Article 65 — OLD ESCONDIDO NEIGHBORHOOD
    7. Article 66 — SIGN ORDINANCE
    8. Article 67 — DENSITY BONUS AND RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVES
    9. Article 68 — GROWTH MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE
    10. Article 69 — ESCONDIDO BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT ZONE
    11. ▸ Article 70 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWE…
      Overview
      1. § 33-1470. Purpose and intent.
      2. § 33-1471. Permitted zones.
      3. § 33-1472. Permit required.
      4. § 33-1473. Occupancy limitations.
      5. § 33-1473 main building or attached garages, storage areas, or…
      6. § 33-1474. Development standards.
      7. § 33-1474 size of the lot as provided in Table 33-1474.
      8. § 33-1475. Other regulations.
      9. § 33-1476. Existing nonpermitted accessory units.
      10. § 33-1477. Application and procedure.
      11. § 33-1478. Findings for approval and denial.
      12. § 33-1479. Appeal.
      13. § 33-1480. Fees.
    12. Article 71 — (RESERVED)
    13. Article 72 — (RESERVED)
    14. Article 73 — TEMPORARY USES, OUTDOOR DISPLAY AND SALE OF RETAI…
    15. Article 74 — DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
    16. Article 75 — SAN DIEGUITO RIVER VALLEY FOCUS PLANNING AREA
    17. Article 77 — CENTRE CITY RESIDENTIAL (CCR) OVERLAY ZONE
    18. Article 78 — MERCADO AREA PLAN OVERLAY
    19. Article 79 — EAST VALLEY PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE
    20. Article 80 — PUBLIC FACILITIES OVERLAY ZONE

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.