Fresno County

Fresno ADU rules

Research summary of local ADU rules on file for Fresno in Fresno County. Not a determination for a specific lot.

Last checked October 24, 2026.

City or county ADU page

Fresno rules on file

Local rules recorded in this project for this jurisdiction. Where a city figure on file is stricter than the state baseline on file, both are shown.

Which rules apply
Sec. 15-2754 was replaced in full by City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025). It says ADUs are reviewed ministerially under Gov. Code 66310 and following, and that state law prevails over the section in any conflict.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.A Purpose; B.1 Preemption, accessed 2026-10-24.

Where ADUs are allowed
ADUs: any zone district that allows single-unit or multi-unit homes or mixed-use development, or where a single-unit, duplex or multi-unit building exists or is proposed. Junior ADUs: single-unit districts, or where a single-unit home exists or is proposed.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.B.2, accessed 2026-10-24.

How many units
Single-unit lots: up to two ADUs and one junior ADU. Multi-unit lots: up to eight detached ADUs, not more than the number of existing units, plus conversions of non-livable space (garages, common rooms and similar) up to 25% of the existing units or one, whichever is greater.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.D.3, accessed 2026-10-24.

Size limits
ADU: up to 50% of the average floor area of the main home(s) or 1,400 sq ft, whichever is greater. A conversion ADU may expand up to 150 sq ft for entry and exit. Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft, inside a single-unit home (an attached garage counts as part of the home).
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.C.2; D.4, accessed 2026-10-24.

Lot coverage and density
ADUs and junior ADUs are not counted toward lot coverage or density.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.D.1-D.2, accessed 2026-10-24.

Height
The zone district's height limit or 30 feet, whichever is greater. ADUs may have more than one story or sit above the ground floor.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.D.5, accessed 2026-10-24.

Setbacks and placement
Side and rear: the zone district setback or 4 feet, whichever is less. Lots on an alley: 0 feet from the alley, or 2 feet if the ADU's main entrance faces the alley. Front: per the zone district, but it may not prevent an ADU of at least 800 sq ft. A recorded utility easement is included in the setback. Detached ADUs sit behind the front of the main home unless that would prevent an 800 sq ft ADU.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.D.6-D.7, accessed 2026-10-24.

Parking
No parking is required.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.E, accessed 2026-10-24.

Junior ADU features
Own entrance, a kitchen and a bedroom; an efficiency kitchen (cooking appliances, counter and storage cabinets) is allowed. A junior ADU may share a bathroom with the home, with an interior entrance to the main living area.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.C.2.a-b, accessed 2026-10-24.

Tiny houses on wheels
A tiny house on wheels may count as an ADU if it meets the section, meets the ANSI standard named in the code, sits on an engineered foundation system and has skirting to the ground.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.C.1.a, accessed 2026-10-24.

Owner occupancy (ADUs)
Owner occupancy is not required for ADUs.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.F.1.a, accessed 2026-10-24.

Rentals
Rented ADUs and junior ADUs must be rented for 30 consecutive days or longer. Junior ADUs that share facilities with the home need a recorded deed restriction against separate sale.
Source: City of Fresno, City Council file 25-903 (June 19, 2025), Exhibit A, Section 67: Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 15-2754 Second/Accessory Dwelling Units, Sec. 15-2754.F.2.b; F.3, accessed 2026-10-24.

City plans and fire sprinklers
The City offers five ready-made ADU plans (340 to about 625 sq ft, one over a garage), each with three elevation styles and solar panel plans. Fire sprinklers may be required, for example when the main home has them or the ADU is close to a property line or another home.
Source: City of Fresno Planning, ADU Program page, Ready-made plans section; fire sprinkler text, accessed 2026-10-24.

California state rules on file

The statewide baseline recorded from state law and the HCD ADU Handbook.

Detached size cap described in state law
1,200 sq ft. Recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66314.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Side and rear setback cap for a new ADU
4 ft. Recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66314, which describes a cap on side and rear setbacks for a new ADU.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Setback for a conversion of an existing structure
No additional setback, as recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66314 for a conversion of an existing structure.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Minimum lot size
A city may not impose a minimum lot size for an ADU, as recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66314.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Minimum unit the handbook says cities must allow
At least an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks. The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) describes this under section 66321(b)(3).
Source: HCD ADU Handbook, 66321(b)(3); handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-16.

Detached height described in the handbook
16 ft, or 18 ft or 20 ft in some cases. The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) describes this under section 66321(b)(4).
Source: HCD ADU Handbook, 66321(b)(4); handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-16.

Permit decision deadline
60 days. Recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66317(a)(3): the permitting agency must decide on (approve or deny) a completed ADU application within 60 days when an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling is on the lot. Section 66317(a)(1) says the application is considered ministerially, without discretionary review or a hearing.
Source: California Government Code section 66317, 66317(a)(1), (a)(3), accessed 2026-10-17.

Owner-occupancy requirement
None. Recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66315: a local agency may not impose an owner-occupancy requirement on an ADU. It may require that the property be used for rentals of terms 30 days or longer. The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) describes the same rule.
Source: California Government Code section 66315, 66315; HCD ADU Handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-17.

Parking near public transit
No parking standards within one-half mile walking distance of public transit. Recorded in this rules file from Government Code section 66322(a)(1). Section 66322(a) lists several other cases where parking standards may not be imposed.
Source: California Government Code section 66322, 66322(a), accessed 2026-10-17.

Ministerial categories
The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) states that Government Code section 66323 sets four ministerial categories. This rules file does not restate those four categories.
Source: HCD ADU Handbook, 66323; handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-16.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones
If your lot is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal says in Information Bulletin 25-004 (issued March 3, 2025): “Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) should not restrict the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). However, additional building standards may be necessary, including but not limited to California Fire Code Chapter 49 and California Building Code Chapter 7A.” State ADU law does not itself bar an ADU there. A city or county may still apply its building code, including wildfire-resistant construction (Gov. Code 66314(d)(8)); require side and rear setbacks “sufficient for fire and safety” for a unit converted under 66323(a)(1); and decline parking in setbacks on specific fire and life safety findings (66314(d)(10)(B)). It may also consider public safety when it designates where ADUs may be permitted (66314(a)). Sprinklers can't be required in an ADU or JADU if the primary residence doesn't need them (66314(d)(12), 66323(d)). Some cities and counties still apply their own fire-zone limits. Where this summary has one, it is listed with the local rules. This summary does not look up your lot. Check the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone map viewer linked from the State Fire Marshal's Fire Hazard Severity Zones page: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5065c998b4b0462f9ec3c6c226c610a9
Source: CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal Information Bulletin 25-004, page 4, issued March 3, 2025; Gov. Code 66314, 66323, accessed 2026-10-20.

State baseline on the directory → · State ADU rules on the homepage →

Can I build an ADU in Fresno?

State law sets a baseline for ADUs in Fresno, and the local standards on file are listed on this page. Whether a specific lot can add an ADU depends on zoning, utilities, and other site facts this page does not measure. Confirm with the City of Fresno Planning and Development Department, or run a free address summary.

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