California's Maximum ADU Size explained in 59 seconds

1 Minute explanation of the sometimes complicated maximum size limits for an ADU. California's ADU law can feel like a moving target because the code can vary from one jurisdiction to another, but we're here to help!

#shorts to help people learning how to build an ADU in California

Check out the full blog post for more details: https://www.how-to-adu.com/adu-articl...

Here's a summary:
If you live in a jurisdiction without its own Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance, then you use the state rules.

The state rules allow you to build a detached ADU up to 1200 square feet (if you can build an ADU, that is). There are other parts of the building code that may restrict your ADU's placement and size - for example, rules about how far a detached structure should be from the main house, power lines, and easements.

If you live in a jurisdiction with its own ADU ordinance, then the city or county may raise that maximum or restrict it further. Here is a full list of the cities and counties that have submitted their own ADU ordinances to the HCD as of 11/02/2020:
1 Agoura Hills
2 Alameda City
3 Albany
4 American Canyon
5 Antioch
6 Apple Valley
7 Arcadia
8 Auburn
9 Bakersfield
10 Banning
11 Bellflower
12 Belvedere
13 Benicia
14 Berkeley
15 Big Bear Lake
16 Bishop
17 Bradbury
18 Buena Park
19 Burbank
20 Burlingame
21 Calabasas
22 Calistoga
23 Campbell
24 Canyon Lake
25 Carlsbad
26 Chico
27 Chino
28 Claremont
29 Cloverdale
30 Colton
31 Contra Costa
32 Corte Madera
33 Costa Mesa
34 Cotati
35 Culver City
36 Cupertino
37 Del Mar
38 Eastvale
39 El Monte
40 El Segundo
41 El Cerrito
42 Escondido
43 Fairfax
44 Ferndale
45 Folsom
46 Fort Bragg
47 Fountain Valley
48 Gardena
49 Glendale
50 Glendora
51 Goleta
52 Grass Valley
53 Grover Beach
54 Guadalupe
55 Hawaiian Gardens
56 Hawthorne
57 Healdsburg
58 Hermosa Beach
59 Hesperia
60 Highland
61 Hillsborough
62 Indio
63 Ione
64 King City
65 La Canada-Flintridge
66 La Mesa
67 La Palma
68 La Verne
69 Lafayette
70 La Habra
71 Lake Forest
72 Lakewood
73 Larkspur
74 Los Alamitos
75 Los Altos Hills
76 Los Angeles City
77 Los Angeles County
78 Mammoth Lakes
79 Menifee
80 Menlo Park
81 Mill Valley
82 Millbrae
83 Milpitas
84 Monrovia
85 Monterey County
86 Morgan Hill
87 Napa
88 Newport Beach
89 Norco
90 Oceanside
91 Pacific Grove
92 Pacifica
93 Palmdale
94 Palo Alto
95 Palos Verdes Estates
96 Paradise
97 Pismo Beach
98 Placer County
99 Pomona
100 Poway
101 Rancho Cucamonga
102 Rancho Palos Verdes
103 Riverside City
104 Riverside County
105 Rocklin
106 Rohnert Park
107 Rolling Hills
108 Rolling Hills Estates
109 Rosemead
110 Ross
111 Sacramento
112 San Bernardino County
113 San Gabriel
114 San Jacinto
115 San Luis Obispo County
116 San Luis Obispo City
117 San Marino
118 San Ramon
119 Santa Ana
120 Santa Clara County
121 Santa Cruz County
122 Santa Cruz City
123 Santa Rosa
124 Santee
125 Sebastopol
126 Sierra Madre
127 Solano Beach
128 Sonoma City
129 South El Monte
130 Saint Helena
131 Stanton
132 Stockton
133 Suisun City
134 Sunnyvale
135 Thousand Oaks
136 Tiburon
137 Torrance
138 Truckee
139 Vacaville
140 Walnut Creek
141 West Covina
142 Westlake Village
143 Westminster
144 Windsor
145 Woodside
146 Yorba Linda
147 Yountville
148 Yreka

If a city decides to limit your ADU size, there are a couple ways they can do it.

They can literally put a maximum size on ADUs that is lower than 1200 sq feet. That maximum size should allow homeowners to build a detached 850 sq ft ADU or a 1,000 sq ft ADU if it has 2+ bedrooms.

They can also have rules that enforce lot coverage, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), open space, or minimum lot size requirements. These requirements can limit a detached ADU down to 800 square feet, but they should not preclude an eligible homeowner from building at least 800 sq ft detached, 16 ft high, with 4 foot side and rear yard setbacks. To put it another way, if you're building under 800 square feet detached with 4 ft setbacks and 16 feet or less in height, then you are exempt from these other restrictions.

There you go, all the size maximums in less than 60 seconds.

Longer explanations of California's ADU laws:
🏠 Beginner: Introduction to 2020 ADU laws:    • New ADU Law - California lets you bui...  
🏠 Advanced: Updated guidance on 2020 ADU laws:    • California ADU Rules - HCD's Accessor...  

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