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1. Is parking required for an Accessory Home?

An Accessory Home must provide one parking space. The parking space may be covered or uncovered and can be provided on an existing driveway. If the required parking for primary residence is displaced by Accessory Home and one additional parking space is provided for the Accessory Home, then the replacement parking spaces for the primary residence may be covered, uncovered, tandem, or spaces created by mechanical automobile parking lifts.

2. Can parking for an Accessory Home be waived?

Parking for an Accessory Home may be waived in any of the following instances:

1. The Accessory Home is located within one-half mile of public transit, including transit stations and bus stations.
2. The Accessory Home is located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district.
3. The Accessory Home is part of the existing primary residence or an existing accessory structure.
4. When on-street parking permits are required but not offered to the occupants of the ADU.
5. When there is a car share vehicle located within one block of the ADU.

3. What if my HOA does not allow an Accessory Home?

Homeowner associations (HOAs and CC&Rs) must allow the construction of Accessory Homes according to recent state legislation (AB 670).

4. Can I build an accessory home in North Lake Tahoe?

Additional regulations apply for homeowners wishing to build an accessory home in the Tahoe Basin as determined by Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Determine if your residence is restricted within the TRPA coverage area by going to parcels.laketahoeinfo.org.

5. What is the minimum lot size required for an accessory home?

There is no minimum lot size required for an accessory home in most of Placer County.

6. Can an ADU have a covered porch?

Yes, a cover porch is allowed. It does not subtract from the maximum square footage of the ADU. The covered porch also gets the same reduced setbacks as the ADU, 4 feet side and rear.

7. What is the maximum square footage of a covered porch?

The size of the covered patio cannot be more than 25% of the maximum living space.

8. Do ADUs/JADUs need to have a kitchen?

Yes, ADUs/JADUs need to have a kitchen facility, by definition: any appliances for the preparation or preservation of food, including, but not limited to, gas or electric ranges, ovens or stovetops, refrigerators or freezers of more than five cubic feet capacity, and cabinets designed to accommodate such appliances. Microwaves alone would not constitute "cooking facilities." That is more aligned with a guest house or wet bar.

9. What about a combined ADU/JADU?

When attaching a JADU to an ADU the total square footage of both dwellings combined, cannot exceed 1,200 sf.