Compare ADU zoning rules across 36 California cities. Average ADU score: 7.2/10.
| City | Max Size | Setbacks | Permit Fees | Build Cost | 1BR Rent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $3,500-$12,000 | $130,000-$290,000 | $1,700-$2,300/mo | 7/10 |
| Berkeley | 1,200 sq ft outside the Hillside Overlay; 850 sq ft (studio/1-bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) within the Hillside Overlay | 4 ft minimum | $250 zoning plan check + $500 neighbor noticing fee at submittal + $250 address assignment; building permit fees based on project valuation (city fee estimator tool available) | $250,000-$500,000 | $2,300-$2,900/mo | 9/10 |
| Burbank | 850 sq ft (studio/1-bedroom); 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); 800 sq ft in Mountain Fire Zone or front-setback locations; +120 sq ft bonus for each extra code-compliant parking space (deed-restricted) | 4 ft | Plan check and permit fees due at submittal — confirm current schedule with Burbank Building & Safety, (818) 238-5250 | $220,000-$400,000 | $2,100-$2,400/mo | 6/10 |
| Carlsbad | 1,200 sq ft | 4 feet | Roughly $8-$15 per sq ft in combined permit/plan-check fees — Confirm with Carlsbad Building Division | $150,000-$350,000 | $2,500-$2,950/mo | 7/10 |
| Chula Vista | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft minimum | Roughly $3-$5 per sq ft in permit/plan-check fees (local builder estimate); City Standard Plans save approximately $1,000 in plan review fees — confirm current schedule with Development Services | $300,000-$450,000 | $2,400-$2,900/mo | 8/10 |
| Corona | 1,200 sq ft (subject to zone lot-coverage limits, but an 800 sq ft/16-ft ADU can never be prohibited); conversions of existing space exempt | 4 ft maximum required, including lot lines adjacent to streets; none for conversions or same-footprint rebuilds | Plan check fees set by City Council resolution, paid at submittal — confirm current amounts with Corona Planning & Development, (951) 736-2262 | $160,000-$300,000 | $1,950-$2,250/mo | 6/10 |
| El Cajon | 1,200 sq ft of habitable space; ordinance also said the ADU may not exceed the primary dwelling's size — a provision HCD flagged as noncompliant, so confirm with Community Development | 4 ft minimum (3 ft allowed at 12 ft height; 5 ft required for 20 ft height) | Roughly $12-$14 per sq ft in permit costs (local builder estimate); total permitting typically $9,000-$20,000 — confirm current schedule with El Cajon Building & Fire Safety | $300,000-$450,000 | $1,800-$2,100/mo | 6/10 |
| Elk Grove | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft for new construction; none for conversions or same-footprint rebuilds | Standard building permit and plan check fees — confirm current amounts with the Elk Grove Building Division | $150,000-$300,000 | $1,750-$2,050/mo | 8/10 |
| Escondido | 850 sq ft (studio/1BR) to 1,000 sq ft (2BR+) per city handout, based on lot FAR/coverage; some builder sources report 1,200 sq ft — confirm with Escondido Planning (760-839-4671) | 4 ft minimum | Building permit review fees collected; roughly $6-$8 per sq ft total permit costs (local builder estimate) — confirm with Escondido Building Division | $300,000-$425,000 | $1,900-$2,300/mo | 6/10 |
| Folsom | 850 sq ft (1 bedroom or fewer) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); an 800 sq ft ADU with 4-ft setbacks can never be precluded; minimum 150 sq ft | 4 ft; none for conversions of existing structures | Standard building permit and plan check fees; a planning application fee applies only if design review is required — confirm amounts with Folsom Community Development | $150,000-$300,000 | $1,900-$2,150/mo | 7/10 |
| Fontana | 1200 sq ft | 4 ft minimum (detached new construction) | Waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft; fee applies for larger units (amount varies) | $160,000-$270,000 | $1,300-$1,700 | 8/10 |
| Fremont | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft for new construction; none for conversions of existing structures | Design review/building permit and inspection fees apply — confirm current amounts with Fremont Planning & Building Permit Services | $220,000-$420,000 | $2,150-$2,650/mo | 8/10 |
| Fresno | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $2,500-$8,000 | $80,000-$200,000 | $1,000-$1,400/mo | 7/10 |
| Glendale | 850 sq ft for a 1-bedroom ADU; 1,000 sq ft for a 2-bedroom ADU, regardless of underlying zoning standards (units over 850 sq ft must add a second bedroom) | 4 ft maximum required for detached new-construction ADUs; none for conversions of existing structures | Approximately $6,000-$18,000 total (plan check, building permit, school fees, utility connections — builder estimates); Glendale Water & Power connection fees add roughly $2,000-$5,000 for new services. Confirm with the Building Division, (818) 548-3200 | $180,000-$400,000 | $2,000-$2,700/mo | 6/10 |
| Hayward | 1,200 sq ft maximum (850 sq ft studio/1BR and 1,000 sq ft 2+BR guaranteed; larger units capped at 50% of primary dwelling floor area or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is less) | 4 ft for new construction; none for conversions of existing permitted structures | $328 planning review fee + building permit fees (use the city's Permit Center Fee Estimator for totals) | $200,000-$400,000 | $1,850-$2,300/mo | 7/10 |
| Huntington Beach | Up to 1,200 sq ft; 800 sq ft unit must be allowed on virtually any lot (state law) | No more than 4 ft (state law); none for conversions of legally established existing space | Building permits roughly $2,000-$10,000 plus other city fees of $3,000-$11,000 depending on project size (secondary-source estimates); a 6% automation fee is added — confirm with the HB Permit Center fee schedule | $180,000-$420,000 | $2,400-$2,700/mo | 4/10 |
| Irvine | Up to 1,200 sq ft; 800 sq ft ADU must be allowed on virtually any lot. HCD struck Irvine's lot-size-based ADU size caps | 4 ft maximum required (state law); none for conversions of existing space | Deposit-based (Developer Deposit Case Set-Up) — confirm current amounts with Irvine Community Development, 949-724-6308. School fees apply to ADUs of 500 sq ft or more (School Fee Determination Form required) | $180,000-$420,000 | $2,700-$3,000/mo | 5/10 |
| Long Beach | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $3,000-$10,000 | $120,000-$280,000 | $1,500-$2,100/mo | 8/10 |
| Los Angeles | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft for units ≤16 ft height | $4,000-$15,000 depending on size and type (plus 10% General Plan Maintenance Surcharge on permit fees as of June 9, 2026) | $150,000-$350,000 | $1,800-$2,500/mo | 9/10 |
| Oakland | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $4,000-$15,000 | $160,000-$380,000 | $1,800-$2,600/mo | 8/10 |
| Oceanside | 1,200 sq ft (subject to zone lot coverage above the 850/1,000 sq ft state-guaranteed unit) | 4 ft minimum | Roughly $9-$11 per sq ft in permit fees (local builder estimate) — confirm current schedule with Oceanside Development Services | $300,000-$450,000 | $2,000-$2,500/mo | 7/10 |
| Ontario | 850 sq ft (studio/1-bedroom); 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) — per Ontario ADU Handout (Rev. 01.21.2025) | 4 ft minimum | $3,000-$6,000 estimated (building permit + plan check); minimum $47.50 per state | $180,000-$300,000 | $1,400-$1,800 | 8/10 |
| Pasadena | 1,200 sq ft (new construction on single-family lots); limited to 1,000 sq ft in most Hillside Overlay districts | 4 ft for new construction; none for conversions of existing structures | Roughly $5,000-$15,000 total permitting cost depending on size (builder estimates); flat refundable $1,000 Construction & Demolition deposit. Confirm exact figures with Pasadena Permit Center, (626) 744-7311 | $180,000-$400,000 | $2,200-$2,900/mo | 7/10 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 1200 sq ft | 4 ft minimum (detached new construction) | Permit fees exist but exact amounts not published online; contact city for current schedule | $170,000-$290,000 | $1,400-$1,800 | 8/10 |
| Riverside | 1,200 sq ft (at least 850 sq ft is guaranteed regardless of lot-coverage standards) | 4 ft maximum (detached new construction) | $3,000-$9,000 typical (building permit + plan check); impact fees scale for units over 750 sq ft | $170,000-$280,000 | $1,300-$1,700 | 8/10 |
| Roseville | 850 sq ft (studio/1BR) or 1,000 sq ft (2+BR) per city handout — the state floor; minimum 150 sq ft | 4 ft for new construction; none for conversions of existing structures (including same-footprint rebuilds) | Per the city's Accessory Dwelling Units Fee Policy — confirm current amounts with Development Services at (916) 774-5332 | $150,000-$300,000 | $1,700-$2,000/mo | 6/10 |
| Sacramento | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $3,000-$10,000 | $100,000-$250,000 | $1,300-$1,800/mo | 8/10 |
| San Bernardino | 1200 sq ft; reduces to 800 sq ft if lot coverage exceeded | 4 ft minimum (detached new construction) | $3,000-$12,000 estimated (building permit + plan check; varies by size) | $160,000-$280,000 | $1,300-$1,700 | 8/10 |
| San Diego | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $3,500-$12,000 | $120,000-$300,000 | $1,600-$2,200/mo | 9/10 |
| San Francisco | 1,200 sq ft (state minimum; local program caps at 850-1,000 sq ft) | 4 ft minimum | $5,000-$20,000 depending on scope | $200,000-$450,000 | $2,200-$3,200/mo | 9/10 |
| San Jose | 1,200 sq ft | 4 ft | $4,000-$14,000 | $180,000-$400,000 | $2,000-$2,800/mo | 8/10 |
| San Mateo | Up to the FAR of the underlying zone and no larger than the primary unit; 800 sq ft is always allowed (ADU area up to 800 sq ft is FAR-exempt) | 4 ft; none for conversions of existing space | Flat planning fees: $2,831.57 new ADU, $2,031.12 ADU remodel, $1,454.02 JADU — plus building permit fees | $250,000-$450,000 | $2,700-$3,100/mo | 7/10 |
| Santa Ana | 1,000 sq ft | 4 ft | $3,500-$12,000 | $130,000-$300,000 | $1,700-$2,300/mo | 7/10 |
| Santa Monica | 850 sq ft (studio/1-bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) | 4 ft; none for conversions of existing structures (including pre-Jan 1, 2020 unpermitted structures being legalized) | Valuation-based plan check and building permit fees paid through Citizen Access; confirm current totals with Santa Monica Building & Safety via the 311 system | $250,000-$500,000 | $3,000-$3,700/mo | 8/10 |
| Torrance | 1,000 sq ft (800 sq ft under the state-exempt ministerial path); accessory-structure conversions exempt from the cap | 4 ft (detached); same as primary dwelling for attached; none for conversions of existing structures | Fee assessed at building-permit application covering plan review, permit processing, and development impact mitigation — confirm amounts with Community Development, (310) 618-5990 | $200,000-$380,000 | $2,100-$2,400/mo | 5/10 |
| Upland | 850 sq ft (studio/1-bedroom); 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); an 800 sq ft ADU can never be precluded by lot coverage, FAR, or open-space standards | 4 ft minimum; none for same-location/same-dimension rebuilds | Building permit and plan-check fees via the Development Services Department — confirm amounts with Building & Safety, (909) 931-4110 | $160,000-$300,000 | $1,950-$2,150/mo | 6/10 |
Building on land outside city limits? Unincorporated county areas follow the county's ADU code, not a city's. We cover these California counties:
ADU rules for unincorporated Sacramento County — county-regulated land outside any city.
View county rules →ADU rules for unincorporated San Bernardino County — county-regulated land outside any city.
View county rules →ADU rules for unincorporated Riverside County — county-regulated land outside any city.
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