An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) contains permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. ADU’s must be placed on a permanent foundation in Calaveras County.
 

• Calaveras County Municipal Code - Accessory Dwellings

ADU’s are permitted in zones where a single-family residence is permitted: R1, R2, R3, RR, GF, TP, A1, AP, RA, RC, RM, REC.

Yes! There are no minimum lot size or lot coverage restrictions for a Statewide Exemption ADU.

Every jurisdiction must allow at least a Statewide Exemption ADU that is freestanding, up to 800 sq. ft., 16 feet in height, and 4’ side and rear yard setbacks. This includes when you have exceeded your lot’s maximum building square footage or lot coverage.
 

• CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook

The maximum floor area for ADU’s is 1,200 square feet for attached or detached ADU’s. If the accessory dwelling is attached, any increase in floor area to accommodate the accessory dwelling cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of the pre-existing living area.
 

• Calaveras County Municipal Code - Accessory Dwellings

Existing structures converted into an ADU are not subject to size requirements.  
 

• CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook, pg. 11

Allowed zones may have one single-family home of any size, one ADU, and one Junior ADU (JADU). The ADU must be 1,200 square feet or less, and the JADU must be entirely within an existing home, and meet other state requirements.
 

• JADU CA Govt Code § 65852.22

For a lot with existing multifamily dwellings, up to two detached ADU’s on a lot that are subject to height limits of 16 feet and 4 foot rear and side yard setbacks.

Multiple ADU’s within the portions of multifamily structures that are not used as livable space; and up to 25 percent of the existing multifamily structures.
 

• CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook, Assembly Bill 68 CA ADU Law

A Junior ADU (JADU) is defined as:

• No more than 500 square feet in size.
• Up to an additional 150 square feet to create its own entry/exit.
• Is contained entirely within an existing or proposed single-family structure.
• Includes its own separate bathroom or shares them with the existing or proposed single-family structure. 
• Includes an “efficiency kitchen”:  Cooking facility with appliances and a food preparation counter and storage cabinets that are of reasonable size in relation to the size of the junior accessory dwelling unit. HCD Handbook pg. 47
  • CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook
• Includes a separate entrance from the main entrance of the proposed or existing single-family residence.
• JADU law requires owner-occupancy of either the newly created JADU, or the single-family residence.
  • JADU CA Govt Code § 65852.22

An application and associated fees for an ADU are filed with the Building Department, (209) 754-6390.
Proposed plans for a single-family dwelling and an ADU can be done at the same time and will significantly lengthen the process. 

ADU’s are built to the same building standards as the primary residence unless it is a Limited Density Owner-Built Rural Dwelling.

No, ADU’s cannot be used by paying guests occupying a dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 days.
 

• Assembly Bill 68 CA ADU Law, Calaveras County Municipal Code - Accessory Dwellings

Homeowner associations’ covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) cannot either effectively prohibit or put unreasonable restrictions on the construction or use of an ADU or JADU on a lot zoned for single-family residential use, and are void and unenforceable.
 

• CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook

No setbacks are required for a pre-existing garage that is converted to an ADU or to a portion of an ADU.

If an ADU is constructed above a pre-existing garage, it must be set back at least 5 feet from the side and rear lot lines of the parcel.

If an existing parking structure is converted to an ADU, no parking replacement is required. This exception does not apply to JADU.

Potential items for consideration: topography, access, solar, fire safety, snow load, heating, electricity, public water and sewer (hookups), and onsite septic and wells.

Off-street parking is one parking space per accessory dwelling, and/or tandem parking (one car behind another on a driveway) where feasible. Other parking exemptions may apply.
 

• CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook

Contact Environmental Management for your property specific questions at (209) 754-6399. 

It is essential to contact the appropriate utility providers to find out feasibility, capacity, and costs to add an ADU. If you do not know your district utility provider, contact the Planning Department at (209) 754-6394 or The Environmental Management Department can also assist you at (209) 754-6399 or use the county GIS Public Viewer.
 

• Calaveras County Water District (CCWD): Phone: (209) 754-3543    Website: https://ccwd.org/ 
• Union Public Utility District:  Phone: (209) 728-3651    Website: https://www.upudwater.org/
• Calaveras Public Utility District (CPUD): Phone: (209) 754-9442     Website: https://www.cpud.org/ 
• San Andreas Sanitary District: Phone: (209) 754-3281      Website:  http://sasanitary.org/ 
• Valley Springs Public Utility District (VSPUD): Phone: (209) 772-2650 or 2641 Website: https://www.vspud.com
• Mokelumne Hill Sanitary District: Phone: (209) 728-3094     Website:  https://www.murphyssd.org/   
• Angels Camp Utility Department: Phone: (209) 736-2181   Website: https://angelscamp.gov/water/

An accessory dwelling unit does not need fire sprinklers if they are not required for the primary residence, otherwise it is required for new development.

Solar panels are required for detached ADU’s that are newly constructed and for non-manufactured or owner-built Limited Density Rural Dwelling (LDRD) structures.
 

• Solar panels are not required on all other types of ADU, including a detached conversion of an existing space.
• Solar panels can be installed on the ADU or on the primary dwelling. 

ADU’s located on property listed in the California Register of Historic Places needs to conform to any standards adopted by the state or county that prevent impacts to the historic quality of the site.

Not yet, there is a grace period for owner-occupancy requirements for ADU’s approved between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2025. – AB 68 & 881, SB 13.  After 2025, owner-occupancy requirements will apply.
 

• CA Housing & Community Development ADU Handbook