Everything homeowners ask about building an ADU in Burbank — answered with 2026 data.
Yes, ADUs are allowed in R-1, R-1-H (Single-Family Horse Keeping zone; conversions only), R-2, R-3, R-4, MDR-3 and MDR-4, plus any lot with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily dwelling (BMC 10-1-620.3(B)). JADUs: lots with an existing or proposed single-family home in Burbank, CA. The maximum size for a detached ADU is 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom; 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms (BMC 10-1-620.3(F)(2)); 800 sq ft in the Mountain Fire Zone or when built in the front setback. One ADU per lot may add up to 120 sq ft per extra code-compliant on-site parking space, with a recorded deed restriction (F)(9). Any space over 12 ft in interior height, and attics over 5 ft, count double toward the cap. Attached ADUs can be up to 850 sq ft. Burbank has an ADU-friendliness score of 6/10. Check our full Burbank ADU rules page for complete zoning details.
ADU construction in Burbank typically costs $220,000-$400,000. The cost per square foot averages $300-$550. Garage conversions are more affordable at $100,000-$225,000, while prefab ADUs cost $120,000-$300,000. Permit fees add Planning ADU application fee $1,728.42 (FY2026-27 Planning Fees, effective July 1, 2026); building plan check and permit fees are valuation-based under the Citywide Fee Schedule (confirm with Building & Safety, (818) 238-5220). BWP water charges run 'from a few hundred up to ten thousand dollars' depending on fixture count, main location and any new service, paid before Water Division approval; BWP electric aid-in-construction fees and a kVA capacity charge apply to any new, upgraded or relocated panel (since Oct 1, 2023). A school district facilities receipt is required at submittal to your budget. See our detailed Burbank ADU cost guide.
Detached ADUs in Burbank can be up to 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom; 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms. Attached ADUs are limited to 850 sq ft. Junior ADUs (JADUs) have a cap of 500 sq ft inside the existing walls of a single-family home or its attached garage (10-1-620.3(P)); one per lot; lots with more than one detached house are not eligible. Maximum height is New detached ADU: 17 ft to any architectural feature; 18 ft to the top of the roof within a half-mile walk of a high-quality transit corridor or major transit stop (+2 ft to match the main house's roof pitch) or on a lot with a multistory multifamily building. ADU above a garage or accessory structure: 20 ft to top plate, 23 ft to roof. Attached ADU: the R-1 house limits of 20 ft plate, 30 ft pitched roof, 23 ft flat roof (10-1-620.3(G); Table 10-1-603(A)). Hillside area R-1 lots (north of Sunset Canyon Dr, Walnut Ave, Bel Aire Dr, Cambridge Dr, Kenneth Rd and Scott Rd) fall under BMC 10-1-606, which requires a discretionary Hillside Development Permit for any structure over 16 ft to the roof or involving grading; ask Planning how that applies to a ministerial ADU. You are allowed up to Single-family lot: 1 ADU + 1 JADU. Mountain Fire Zone on a qualifying lot.
Rear setback: 4 ft, including an ADU above a garage (10-1-620.3(H)(1)); a legally permitted garage or accessory structure converted in place keeps its existing setback, with 4 ft applying to any added footprint (H)(3). Balconies or patios more than 7 in. above grade and second-story stairs also need 4 ft. Side setback: 4 ft, plus a 5-ft building-face-to-building-face and 4-ft eave-to-eave separation from other structures on the lot unless an 800 sq ft ADU is otherwise infeasible (10-1-620.3(H)(1), (4)); openings are barred on any wall closer than 3 ft. Front setback: No closer to the street than the prevailing front setback on the block (single-family lots) or the zone's minimum (multifamily), except a conversion of an existing footprint, or an ADU of up to 800 sq ft when the city finds during plan review that an 800 sq ft unit is physically infeasible elsewhere on the lot even with 2-ft side and rear setbacks (10-1-620.3(H)(2)(b)). Note that garage conversions may be exempt from setback requirements if the existing structure is already within the setback area.
1 space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less (10-1-620.3(C)); waived within a half-mile walk of public transit, in a historic district, for a conversion of the house or an existing accessory structure, where street permits are required but not offered to the ADU, with car-share within a block, or when scaled plans show no feasible space (E). Tandem, driveway or setback parking is allowed; driveway stalls must measure 18 ft by 8 ft 6 in.; no replacement parking when a garage is demolished or converted. JADUs: none. Many cities and states have been relaxing ADU parking requirements in recent years. In California, no additional parking is required for ADUs near transit.
Not required for ADUs; BMC 10-1-620.3(I) is suspended by state law. Required for a JADU with a recorded covenant, the owner living in the house or the JADU (10-1-620.3(P)(13)); AB 1154 (2026) now limits that state-law requirement to JADUs that share a bathroom, so confirm current practice with Planning. Note that owner-occupancy rules vary by state law — California and several other states have eliminated this requirement for standard ADUs.
The ADU permit review timeline in Burbank is typically 60 days from a complete application to approve or deny, or the ADU is deemed approved (BMC 10-1-620.3(A); SB 543 from Jan 2026). BPAP preapproved plans target 30-day permit issuance; enrolling a new design in BPAP takes 6-8 weeks for the first review and 2-3 weeks per recheck. Plan check: Electronic review in ProjectDox after emailing the application to eplancheck@burbankca.gov; BWP water and electric requirements are checked alongside Building, Fire and Public Works. Fire sprinklers are required only if the main house has them; the city's BPAP checklist notes a new ADU over 718 sq ft must add a solar system per its CF-1R energy report under a separate solar permit; a one-story wood-frame ADU built to the prescriptive code does not need architect or engineer stamps. Pre-approved plans availability: Yes. The BPAP Library currently lists one city-approved design, BPAP 24001, a 432 sq ft one-story studio, plus one accepted LADBS standard plan, ADU17, a 360 sq ft studio. The July 2024 city FAQ said 12 LADBS plans were accepted, so ask Building & Safety, (818) 238-5220, which are still accepted before buying plans. The homeowner buys the plans from the designer, submits a site plan, G001 sheet and the BWP forms, and staff append the stamped plans in ProjectDox.
Average ADU rental income in Burbank: 1-bedroom units rent for $2,100-$2,600 (Zumper Sept 2026 $2,137; RentCafe Aug 2026 $2,598 apartment averages)/month, 2-bedroom units for $2,850-$3,550 (Zumper Sept 2026 $2,850; RentCafe Aug 2026 $3,549)/month. Short-term rentals: No. BMC 10-1-620.3(Q) requires ADU and JADU rentals to run longer than 90 days (state law's floor is 30 days); an ADU may be rented separately but not sold separately from the house (R). Expected ROI: 6-10% gross rental yield on a $220,000-$400,000 build at $2,100-$2,600/mo (estimate before taxes, vacancy and financing).
The minimum lot size for an ADU in Burbank is No minimum lot size; ADUs are exempt from the FAR, lot coverage, open space and minimum lot size rules of the zone (10-1-620.3(F)(1)). This applies to detached ADUs — garage conversions and JADUs may have different or no lot size requirements.
Garage conversions are one of the most popular and affordable ADU options. In Burbank, a garage conversion typically costs $100,000-$225,000. The key advantages are lower cost (no foundation work), potential setback exemptions, and faster permitting. Read our complete garage conversion guide.
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