Can I Build Garage in Anaheim, CA? (2026)
Find out if you can build a garage in Anaheim, CA. Rules, permit requirements, costs, and next steps.
Building a detached garage in Anaheim, CA requires a building permit. Setback requirements and lot coverage limits apply.
Building a detached or attached garage in Anaheim, CA typically requires a building permit through the Anaheim Planning and Building Department — Building Division. Garages are governed by the same structural permit requirements as room additions, plus setback requirements that vary by zone. Detached garages must comply with accessory structure setbacks in Anaheim, and total lot coverage (all covered structures combined) must not exceed zone limits.
Garage Rules in Anaheim
Garage Construction Rules in Anaheim: Permit required: Yes. Thresholds: All structural additions. RS-2 zone setbacks (typical): Front 20 ft, Side 5 ft, Rear 20 ft. Check your zone's lot coverage limits — adding a garage may push total coverage over the maximum. Anaheim Building permit required. Seismic compliance per CBC. Resort District adjacency may require additional design review.
Costs & Fees
Garage/addition permit fees in Anaheim: Valuation-based — typically $2,000–$9,000.
Timeline
5-10 weeks
Next Steps
Next steps for building a garage in Anaheim: 1. Verify your zone setback requirements and lot coverage limits. 2. Prepare site plan showing garage location relative to property lines. 3. Submit a building permit application to the Anaheim Planning and Building Department — Building Division. 4. Once approved, begin construction with required inspections at foundation, framing, and final.
Anaheim Planning and Building Department — Building Division
Phone: (714) 765-5153
Website: https://www.anaheim.net/149/Planning-Building
Online Permits: https://epermits.anaheim.net/
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU on my Anaheim residential property?
Yes. California state law requires Anaheim to permit ADUs by-right on all residential lots. You can build a detached ADU up to 1,200 sqft or a Junior ADU (JADU) up to 500 sqft within your existing home. No owner-occupancy is required. Applications are processed ministerially through Anaheim's ePERMITS online portal. Contact Anaheim Planning and Building at (714) 765-5153 for guidance.
Does my Anaheim property use Southern California Edison (SCE) or Anaheim Public Utilities for electricity?
Most of Anaheim is served by Anaheim Public Utilities (APU), a city-owned municipal utility — not Southern California Edison. This matters for solar permits, net metering rates, and EV charger incentives. APU has its own solar interconnection process separate from SCE. Call APU at (714) 765-5158 to confirm your service territory and get solar interconnection requirements before starting a solar project.
Are there special rules for properties near Disneyland or the Anaheim Resort District?
The Anaheim Resort District (approximately 1,000 acres surrounding Disneyland) is zoned C-R (Resort Commercial) — it is not a residential zone. Residential properties adjacent to the Resort District boundary are subject to standard residential zoning but may be affected by noise, traffic, and visual impact from resort operations. There are no special ADU restrictions for residential properties near (but outside) the Resort District boundary. The Platinum Triangle near Angel Stadium has its own Specific Plan with mixed-use commercial/residential zoning for large development projects.
What is Anaheim's Transient Occupancy Tax rate for Airbnb hosts?
Anaheim's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate is 15% — one of the higher rates in Orange County, reflecting the city's large tourism industry (Disneyland, Angel Stadium, conventions). Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit TOT to Anaheim on behalf of registered hosts. You must obtain an Anaheim Short-Term Rental Permit ($175/year) and post the permit number on your listing. Whole-home STRs are limited to 120 nights per year.
Does Anaheim have any short-term rental rules specific to the Anaheim Resort/Disneyland area?
The Anaheim Resort District itself is commercial zoning — no residential STRs occur within the Resort District's formal boundaries. However, residential neighborhoods adjacent to the Resort (Anaheim Colony area, neighborhoods east/north of Disneyland) can have STRs under the standard Anaheim STR permit process. Note that homes in these neighborhoods command premium Airbnb rates due to Disneyland proximity — confirm your property is in a residential zone (not Resort Commercial) before listing.
What are the JADU rules in Anaheim?
A Junior ADU (JADU) under California Gov Code §66333 (Stats. 2024 Ch. 7 §20) allows you to create a secondary unit up to 500 sqft within your existing single-family home or attached garage without building a new structure. JADUs must have an efficiency kitchen (can share the main home's bathroom) and their own entrance. They qualify for the same owner-occupancy-free rules as standard ADUs. On a single-family Anaheim lot, you can have both an ADU (up to 1,200 sqft) AND a JADU (up to 500 sqft) simultaneously — potentially adding two rental units to your property.
How do school developer fees work for new ADUs in Anaheim?
Source: Anaheim Planning and Building Department — Building Division — Building Regulations. Last verified April 6, 2026. View source