ADU & accessory dwelling units
What is an ADU?
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a fully self-contained second home on a single-family lot — its own kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, and entrance, sharing the parcel with the primary residence. California law allows one ADU plus one JADU on most single-family lots statewide.
ADUs come in four practical forms: detached new construction, attached additions, garage conversions, and JADUs (junior ADUs carved from the existing home). State law caps minimum size at 150 sqft and lets cities permit up to 1,200 sqft for a single ADU; many jurisdictions allow more.
Since 2020, California has stripped most owner-occupancy, parking, and HOA barriers. The legal framework is in Government Code §65852.2 (ADU) and §65852.22 (JADU), with annual updates clarifying setbacks, fire-zone treatment, and impact-fee waivers.
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Related questions
- • What's the difference between an ADU and a JADU?
- • Can an ADU be sold separately?
- • How much does an ADU cost in California?
Source: CA Gov Code §65852.2 — ADU statute — California Legislature
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