ADU Quick Guide

TYPEs | PARKING | SETBACKS | SIZE | TAXES | APPRAISALS | UTILITIES | FEES | OCCUPANCY | AND MORE

On this page, I’ve outlined the basics of ADUs to help you quickly assess and determine what is possible on your property. This page is a living document that I update regularly to keep up with changing regulations and rules.

Also, here are useful links:

PLEASE NOTE: Each lot is different and some exclusions may apply! Feel free to schedule a free phone consultation to see what is possible on your property.

In short, multi-family and single-family residences in California can have an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and a Jr. Accessory Dwelling Unit (Jr. ADU), and local jurisdictions (including HOAs and special districts) must comply with common sense standards outlined by the state legislation. The size and placement of your ADU will be primarily determined by the shape and size of your property (i.e. setback requirements and lot coverage ratios) and the shape and size of your main structure. With the steep learning curve, it’s not uncommon to encounter untrained staff, outdated local codes, or incorrect information about what you are allowed to do on your property.

ADUs

  • are typically between 500 sq.ft and 1200 sq.ft.

  • are required to have a separate entrance, bathroom, and full kitchen.

  • and they can be entirely separate from the main home as a detached unit, or attached to the main structure as an addition and/or conversion of a garage, etc.

Jr. ADUs

  • are up to 50 Sq. ft. and less than 50% of the primary structure’s square footage and must be fully contained within the main structure

  • are required to have a separate entrance with a 6ft max kitchenette (or wet bar) utilizing electric or induction hot plates for cooking

  • and Jr. ADUs can have a separate or shared bathroom with the rest of the structure.

PARKING

  • No additional parking is required when converting an existing structure (such as a garage), if the structure is less than 750 sq. ft., or if the property is located within a half-mile of some form of public transit.

  • If it is required, then parking can be located anywhere on the property.

SETBACKS

  • Typically, setbacks are usually 4ft. to 10ft.

  • No setback requirements for converting existing structures.  If setbacks are less than 5 feet, jurisdictions usually (at a minimum) require a 1-hour firewall to protect against fires spreading from one property to the next

SIZE

  • ADUs are not to exceed 1200 sq. ft., or they are not to exceed certain lot coverage percentages based on the local jurisdiction’s requirements.

  • If the ADU (or Jr. ADU) is attached, they are not to exceed 45% of the main structures square footage.

APPRAISALS

  • THE MARKET APPROACH TAKES COMPARABLE PROPERTIES IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN ADJUSTS FOR VARYING NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS AND PROPERTY FEATURES.

  • tHE iNCOME APPROACH IS MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND TAKES THE ESTIMATED RENTAL INCOME OVER THE ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE OF THE UNIT (SOMETIMES 10-YEARS).

UTILITIES

  • Utilities can tie into existing infrastructure to minimize permitting and impact fees.

  • Google your local jurisdiction’s ADU ordinance for more information, or sign up for a free 15 minute consultation with one of our experts to discuss your project and get you started!

TAXES

  • Property taxes are adjusted using a blended assessment, which takes your homes current tax base and adds the current market value of the ADU to the tax base. So, if you bought your home many years ago, you don’t need to worry about the entire property tax base resetting at current market rates.

IMPACT FEES

  • No impact fees for ADUs under 750 sq.ft.

  • Impact fees for an ADU of 750 square feet or larger shall be proportional to the relationship of the ADU to the primary dwelling unit

OWNER OCCUPANCY

  • 5 year moratorium that allows any ADU built before 2025 to be grandfathered – in other words, it will never need to be owner occupied.

  • Otherwise, local jurisdictions may require property owners to sign a deed restriction that limits the rental income if the property is not owner occupied.

OTHER

  • HOAs can no longer obstruct the construction of an ADU

  • Minimum lot size requirements have been eliminated statewide