California ADU rules · Monterey County
Can I Build an ADU in Sand City?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Sand City. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Sand City, 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 ruleconversions (>=1 or 25% of units, rounded up, not to exceed number of existing units) + up to 8 detached (not to exceed number of existing units); for proposed multifamily, up to 2 detached
Detached ADUs on multifamily lots are capped at the number of existing units; for new/proposed multifamily, only 2 detached ADUs allowed.
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.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, not to exceed 1,200 sq ft; if more than one bedroom, max 1,000 sq ft
Attached ADUs are capped at 1,200 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft if more than one bedroom.
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
CA state law4 ft
A city cannot require more than 4 ft side or rear setback; conversions of existing structures are exempt.
Rear setback
CA state law4 ft
Front setback
Local ruleGeneral zoning front setback applies unless overridden by state law for 800 sq ft ADUs
No specific front setback for ADUs; state override applies for 800 sq ft ADUs.
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
No separation required; ADU may be attached or detached.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
Max 1 space per ADU or per bedroom (whichever is less); JADUs require no parking.
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
Local ruleNot required
No replacement required for garage/carport/covered parking converted to ADU.
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
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
Local code recites an owner-occupancy requirement, but California Gov. Code § 66315 bars owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs — enforceable for JADUs only. Verify the JADU covenant with the city.
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
Local ruleZoning compliance statement (ministerial), Building permit
Both zoning compliance and building permit required.
Sand City-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Fire sprinklers
Fire sprinklers not required for ADU/JADU if not required for primary dwelling.
Sand City requires owner-occupancy for all ADUs and JADUs starting in 2025 and sets a 1,200 sq ft cap for both attached and detached ADUs, with a lower cap for attached ADUs with more than one bedroom. Detached ADU height is 16–18 ft depending on transit proximity or multifamily context; attached ADUs may be up to 25 ft.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Sand City?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Sand City 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 Sand City?
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 Sand City?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. General zoning front setback applies unless overridden by state law for 800 sq ft ADUs.
Is parking required for an ADU in Sand City?
Up to 1 space. 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 Sand City?
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 Sand City?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Sand City Municipal Code Chapter 18.63 (Ord. 25-01, effective 2/18/2025)
- §18.63.040
- §18.63.050(B)(3)(b)
- §18.63.050(B)(3)(a), (d)
- §18.63.050(B)(5)
- §18.63.050(B)(2)
- §18.63.050(B)(6), §18.63.060(B)(4)
- §18.63.050(B)(6)(c)
- §18.63.100(A)-(D), §18.63.060(B)(2)
- §18.63.120
- §18.63.100(F)
- 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 § 66311.5 (impact fees: none for an ADU ≤ 750 sq ft or JADU ≤ 500 sq ft)
Last updated February 18, 2025. This is an AI-assisted summary of Sand City'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 Sand City Planning before relying on it.
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