California ADU rules · El Dorado County
Can I Build an ADU in Placerville?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Placerville. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Placerville, to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit by right, plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot. What varies city to city are the local specifics below.
Can you build one?
ADUs allowed
CA state lawYes — by right
ADUs and JADUs are allowed by right in all residential and mixed-use zones; ministerial approval, no hearing.
Units on a single-family lot
CA state law1 ADU + 1 JADU
At least one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot (a conversion ADU may also be possible).
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleUp to 3 ADUs total: 2 detached ADUs plus at least 1 conversion ADU within the existing structure (up to 25% of existing units, or 1 unit, whichever is greater)
Placerville limits multifamily lots to a maximum of 3 ADUs, which is more restrictive than the state default.
Junior ADU (JADU)
CA state lawAllowed
Up to 500 sq ft, within the walls of an existing single-family home (single-family lots only).
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,200 sq ft
Local maximum for detached ADUs is 1,200 sq ft, matching the state cap.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary dwelling, not to exceed 1,200 sq ft
Attached ADUs are capped at 50% of the primary dwelling, up to 1,200 sq ft.
Guaranteed minimum size
CA state law800 sq ft
An 800 sq ft ADU must be allowed regardless of FAR/lot-coverage caps; a city also cannot cap an attached ADU below 850 sq ft (1,000 for 2+ bedrooms).
Max JADU size
CA state law500 sq ft
Max height
CA state law16 ft
16 ft baseline; cities must allow 18 ft within ½ mi of a major transit stop or where the primary dwelling is two-story, and 20 ft on a lot with a multistory multifamily building.
Setbacks
Side setback
Local rule4 ft
Minimum 4 ft for interior side; 10 ft for street side on corner lots.
Rear setback
Local rule4 ft
Minimum 4 ft for rear setback.
Front setback
Local ruleSame as base zone, but must allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU
Front setback per base zone, but cannot preclude an 800 sq ft ADU.
Separation from main house
CA state lawNone required
No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleNone
No additional parking required for ADUs except on substandard streets, where 2 off-street spaces are required for the primary dwelling.
Transit parking exemption
CA state lawYes — no parking required near transit & for conversions
No parking may be required within ½ mi walking distance of transit, in a historic district, for an ADU within an existing structure, within one block of car-share, or in certain permit-parking areas.
Garage-conversion replacement parking
CA state lawNot required
When a garage/carport is demolished or converted to build an ADU, replacement parking cannot be required.
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
CA state law60 days
The agency must act within 60 days of a complete application — and the ADU is deemed approved if it does not.
Owner-occupancy
CA state lawOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs (the prior sunset was removed). A JADU may require owner-occupancy, principally where it shares sanitation with the main house.
Impact-fee waiver
CA state lawWaived under 750 sq ft
An ADU of 750 sq ft or less pays no impact fees (the 750 sq ft threshold itself is exempt under § 66311.5); larger ADUs pay fees proportional to the primary dwelling. JADUs (≤ 500 sq ft) are exempt.
Permits required
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Placerville-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic Resource Standards
Exterior improvements to buildings listed in the California Register of Historic Resources must comply with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.
Placerville limits multifamily properties to a maximum of 3 ADUs and requires historic resource compliance for exterior changes. No additional parking is required for ADUs except on substandard streets.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Placerville?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Placerville to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit ministerial (by right), plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot.
How big can an ADU be in Placerville?
A detached ADU of at least 1,200 sq ft must be allowed, and an ADU of 800 sq ft can never be zoned out by floor-area or lot-coverage limits. A JADU can be up to 500 sq ft.
What are the setback requirements for an ADU in Placerville?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. Same as base zone, but must allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU.
Is parking required for an ADU in Placerville?
None. No parking can be required within ½ mile of transit, for conversions, or for units inside the primary home. When a garage is converted, replacement parking is not required.
How long does ADU approval take in Placerville?
A complete application must be acted on within 60 days, with ministerial (by right) — no public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Placerville?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Placerville City Code Section 10-4-12 (Ord. 1714, 1-23-2024; Ord. 1724, 9-24-2024)
- Placerville City Code Section 10-4-12
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 (ADU Law)
- HCD 2025 Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66317 (ministerial approval, 60-day deadline)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66322 (ADU parking; § 66334 covers JADU parking)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66314 (local ordinance standards)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66315 (owner-occupancy)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66311.5 (impact fees: none for an ADU ≤ 750 sq ft or JADU ≤ 500 sq ft)
Last updated 2026-06-25. This is an AI-assisted summary of Placerville's ADU rules, drawn from its published ordinance and California ADU law — general information, not legal advice, and it may be incomplete or out of date. Verify the controlling rule for your specific parcel with Placerville Planning before relying on it.
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