State ADU law sets the floor everywhere in California. San Fernando Valley layers local rules on top — overlays, hillside ordinances, design districts. Here's what tends to control the envelope on a San Fernando Valley parcel.
Local overlays and ordinances
☐R1 / R1-1 — state ADU law applies; one detached ADU + one JADU max.
☐Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan along the south ridge of Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana.
☐VHFHSZ overlay along south-Valley foothills triggers Chapter 7A.
☐Equinekeeping-K and -RA districts in Shadow Hills, Sunland — slightly different setbacks.
What state law guarantees
☐Up to 1,200 sqft for a detached ADU on most R1 lots.
☐Up to 500 sqft for a JADU inside the existing footprint.
☐No parking requirement within ½ mile of major transit.
☐60-day ministerial review on a complete application.
How we map your lot
Before drawing, we pull the parcel against the county GIS, the city zoning map, and any overlay layers (HPOZ, hillside, coastal, fire). The first site walk tells us within an hour whether the project is ministerial or whether anything kicks it into discretionary review.