Burbank permits ADUs and JADUs in the R-1, R-1-H, R-2, R-3, R-4, MDR-3 and MDR-4 zones and on any lot with an existing or proposed home under Burbank Municipal Code Section 10-1-620.3, last amended by Ordinance 23-4,002 (effective December 8, 2023; no ADU ordinance since, with the code current through February 2026). A new attached or detached ADU is capped at 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom and 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms, with 4-ft side and rear setbacks and a 17-ft height limit for a detached unit (18 ft within a half-mile of major transit; 20-ft plate and 23-ft roof above a garage); Mountain Fire Zone lots get one ADU of no more than 800 sq ft. One parking space is required unless the lot is within a half-mile walk of transit or another state exemption applies. Plans go through electronic plan check in ProjectDox plus Burbank Water & Power water and electric review; the FY2026-27 Planning ADU application fee is $1,728.42, impact fees start at 750 sq ft, and the Burbank Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP) targets 30-day permit issuance.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3]
Yes — Burbank allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 850 sq ft under current California and Burbank zoning rules.
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| Allowed Zones | 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 |
| Max Size (Detached) | 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 |
| Max Size (Attached) | 850 sq ft (studio or one-bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (two or more bedrooms), measured from the midpoint of the shared wall to the exterior; covered porches, patios and balconies count toward the cap except 25 sq ft of a post-supported entry cover (10-1-620.3(F)(2), (5), (6)) |
| Max Size (JADU) | 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 |
| Max Height | 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 |
| Max Units | Single-family lot: 1 ADU + 1 JADU. Mountain Fire Zone (R-1 and R-1-H) and any R-1-H lot: 1 ADU or 1 JADU total, ADU no larger than 800 sq ft (10-1-620.3(M), (N)). Multifamily lot: up to 2 detached ADUs plus conversions of non-living space (storage, garages, basements) equal to at least 1 and up to 25% of existing units (O) |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3]
Burbank requires a rear setback of about 4 ft for a detached ADU, and parking requirements vary by unit size or location. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| 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)) |
| Parking Required | 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 |
| Owner Occupancy | 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 |
| Min Lot Size | 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)) |
Permit Process & Fees [4][5][6][7][8][9]
An ADU permit in Burbank goes through a ministerial, by-right review. Typical timeline: 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. Permit fees: 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.
| Approval Process | Ministerial. In order: 1) confirm the zone, Mountain Fire Zone and hillside-area status with Planning, (818) 238-5250; 2) obtain a new ADU address from Public Works and pay the Burbank Unified School District facilities fee; 3) complete the BWP Electric ADU form (meters, ampacity) and the BWP Sizing Water Meter and Service Line form (fixture counts for house and ADU); 4) email the building permit application to eplancheck@burbankca.gov, then upload plans to ProjectDox and pay plan check; 5) Planning, Building, Fire, Public Works and BWP review in parallel; 6) permit issued after fees, the BWP water estimate and any impact fees are paid. Replacing a garage with an ADU needs a demolition permit issued together with the ADU permit (10-1-620.7) |
| Review Timeline | 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 |
| Permit Fees | 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 |
| Impact Fees | None for an ADU under 750 sq ft of interior livable space (measured that way since Jan 1, 2026 under SB 543). At 750 sq ft or more, Burbank charges its development impact fees in proportion to the ADU's share of the primary home's size, or of the average unit size on a multifamily lot; a 150 sq ft expansion on a conversion can push it over the line (city ADU DIF worksheet dated 1/1/2026; BMC 10-1-620.3(K)(2)) |
| 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 | 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 |
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Construction Costs [10][11][12]
Building an ADU in Burbank typically costs $220,000-$400,000 ($300-$550 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $100,000-$225,000.
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| Average Build Cost | $220,000-$400,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $300-$550 |
| Garage Conversion | $100,000-$225,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $120,000-$300,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [13][14]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Burbank rents for around $2,850-$3,550/mo (Zumper Sept 2026 $2,850; RentCafe Aug 2026 $3,549), an estimated 6-10% gross rental yield on a $220,000-$400,000 build at $2,100-$2,600/mo (estimate before taxes, vacancy and financing).
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $2,100-$2,600/mo (Zumper Sept 2026 $2,137; RentCafe Aug 2026 $2,598 apartment averages) |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $2,850-$3,550/mo (Zumper Sept 2026 $2,850; RentCafe Aug 2026 $3,549) |
| Short-Term Rental | 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) |
| Est. Annual 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) |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- No ADU ordinance since Ordinance 23-4,002 (effective Dec 8, 2023): the Burbank Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 26-4,038 (Feb 24, 2026) with Section 10-1-620.3 unchanged
- FY2026-27 fees effective July 1, 2026: Planning ADU application fee $1,728.42
- City ADU impact-fee worksheet (Jan 1, 2026) applies SB 543: ADU size is measured as interior livable space and impact fees apply from 750 sq ft
- Ordinance 25-4,034 (Oct 28, 2025) repealed and replaced Title 9 Chapter 1, the city's building and fire code chapter; confirm the code edition in effect with Building & Safety
- 2026 state baseline applies: SB 543 60-day deemed approval, AB 1154 limiting JADU owner-occupancy to units that share a bathroom, and SB 1211 multifamily detached-ADU counts
- BPAP Library (Sept 2026) lists city plan BPAP 24001 (432 sq ft studio) and LADBS plan ADU17 (360 sq ft studio)
Tips for Building an ADU in Burbank
- Check the city's Fire Zone maps first: a Mountain Fire Zone lot gets one ADU or one JADU, the ADU capped at 800 sq ft, plus brush-clearance rules
- R-1-H is the horse-keeping zone, not a hillside overlay: no new-construction ADUs there; only a permitted garage, guest house or space inside the main house can be converted, and not in the rear 35 ft reserved for horses
- A lot within a half-mile walk of transit skips the parking space and can go to 18 ft (+2 ft for a matching roof pitch) on a detached ADU; ask Planning to confirm your address
- Keep interior heights under 12 ft and attics under 5 ft, and count covered porches: all of them count against the 850 or 1,000 sq ft cap
- Call BWP Water Engineering, (818) 238-3500, early: water fees depend on fixture count and main location, and a panel upgrade triggers BWP capacity charges and a separate permit
- Stay under 750 sq ft of interior livable space to avoid Burbank's development impact fees entirely
- Cost basis (2026-09-19 re-verification): avg build cost: $220,000-$400,000 for a new detached ADU (Los Angeles-area industry guides, 2026: $219,000-$459,000 site-built by size; $240,000-$330,000 for a typical backyard unit, $400,000+ premium); attached ADUs $150,000-$300,000 | cost per sqft: $300-$550/sq ft for new construction in the Los Angeles area (industry guides, June-July 2026); hillside or historic lots run $500-$700/sq ft | garage conversion: $100,000-$225,000 (industry guides, 2026: $120,000-$150,000 for a straight conversion; up to $225,000 with a structural retrofit or a small addition) | prefab adu: $120,000-$300,000 installed (industry guides, 2026); manufacturer list prices for larger prefab units run $250,000-$460,000. A prefab unit still needs Burbank plan check, a foundation permit and the BWP electric and water forms
ADU Builders in Burbank
Looking for an ADU builder in Burbank? ADU projects need a contractor experienced with local zoning, the permit process, and utility connections — not every general contractor has built one. We match Burbank homeowners with experienced local ADU contractors who provide free, no-obligation quotes. Getting at least three bids typically saves 20-40% on the same scope.
Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Burbank Municipal Code Title 10, Ch. 1, Art. 6, Div. 3 (Sections 10-1-620.1 to 10-1-620.7, ADUs and JADUs; Ord. 23-4,002) and 10-1-606 Hillside Area Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-19
- FAQ: Accessory Dwelling Units (Planning Division handout, updated 7/11/2024) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Accessory Dwelling Units | City of Burbank Community Development Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Burbank Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP) | City of Burbank Building & Safety Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Planning Fees - Fiscal Year 2026-2027 | City of Burbank Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Development Impact Fee calculation worksheet (1/1/2026) | City of Burbank Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- BPAP Permit Submittal Requirements (01/2025) | City of Burbank Building & Safety Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- BWP Electric Residential ADU Plan Requirements (rev. 12/12/23) | Burbank Water and Power Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- BWP Water Division Plan/Permit Submittal Requirements for ADUs | Burbank Water and Power Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Cost Los Angeles 2026: Prices by Size & Type | CALI ADU (April 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Cost in Los Angeles (2026) | GreatBuildz (July 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Cost in Los Angeles 2026 | ADUscale (June 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Average Rent in Burbank, CA (September 2026) | Zumper Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Average Rent in Burbank, CA (August 2026) | RentCafe Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
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