Category · Permits
Permits guides.
California ADU law, city-by-city permit timelines, and what blocks an ADU build.
17 guides
Permits
What Are ADU Lot Coverage Rules in California?
Lot coverage limits the percentage of a lot that structures can cover. In California, if a city's lot coverage rule would block an 800 sq ft ADU, it must yield.
August 28, 2026 · 7 min
Permits
ADU Impact Fees Explained
How California's ADU impact fee rules actually work: waived entirely under 750 square feet, proportional to your primary home at 750 sq ft and up, and why that's a separate question from your local building permit fees.
August 27, 2026 · 5 min
Permits
ADU Ceiling Height Requirements
California's building code generally requires at least 7 ft of ceiling height in habitable ADU space, with bedrooms sometimes needing 7 ft 6 in. Here's how it works.
August 25, 2026 · 6 min
Permits
Can an ADU Be Two Stories?
Yes, California ADU law leaves enough height for two stories in many cases. Here's what the state guarantees, what local zoning still controls, and why Framework First builds single story.
August 23, 2026 · 6 min
Permits
Can You Sell an ADU Separately in California? (AB-1033, 2026)
Thanks to AB-1033, California cities can now let you sell an ADU separately from the main house as a condo. Here is how it works, the conditions, and how to know if your city allows it.
June 19, 2026 · 6 min
Permits
ADU Owner-Occupancy Rules in California (2026)
Owner-occupancy is NOT required to build or rent out an ADU in California. Here's exactly what the 2026 rules say, how JADUs differ, and what it means for you.
June 18, 2026 · 6 min
Permits
ADU Parking Requirements in California (2026)
ADU parking requirements in California explained: when one space applies, every transit and garage-replacement exemption, and how most lots owe zero parking.
June 18, 2026 · 7 min
Permits
ADU Setback Requirements in California (2026)
California ADU setback requirements in 2026: 4 ft max side and rear, zero for conversions, front matches your home. See how setbacks shape your build.
June 18, 2026 · 8 min
Permits
California ADU Laws and Regulations: The 2026 Guide
A plain-English guide to California ADU laws in 2026: size, setbacks, 60-day approval, parking, owner-occupancy, JADUs, impact fees, and how many you can build.
June 18, 2026 · 9 min
Permits
Do You Need a Permit to Build an ADU in California?
Yes, you need a permit for an ADU in California, but approval is ministerial with a 60-day decision. Here is exactly what the permit set includes and who handles it.
June 18, 2026 · 8 min
Permits
How Big Can an ADU Be in California? (2026 Size Limits)
How big can an ADU be in California? Up to 1,200 sq ft detached, with cities required to allow at least 800 sq ft. Full 2026 size rules, explained simply.
June 18, 2026 · 7 min
Permits
Monterey County ADU Regulations (2026)
Monterey County ADU regulations explained for 2026: state law baseline, setbacks, parking, size limits, and what varies by city, so you can build with confidence.
June 18, 2026 · 8 min
Permits
San Benito County ADU Regulations (2026)
San Benito County ADU regulations for 2026: state law lets you build up to 1,200 sq ft in Hollister and San Juan Bautista, with bigger lots making it easier.
June 18, 2026 · 8 min
Permits
Santa Clara County ADU Regulations (2026)
Santa Clara County ADU regulations explained: state law baselines plus local rules for San Jose, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale and Cupertino, so you can build with confidence.
June 18, 2026 · 10 min
Permits
Santa Cruz County ADU Regulations (2026)
Santa Cruz County ADU regulations explained: state law baselines, local rules for Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Aptos and Capitola, plus coastal and slope notes.
June 18, 2026 · 8 min
Permits
SB 9 Lot Splits in California: How They Work + How They Pair With ADUs
California Senate Bill 9 (2022) lets owners of single-family lots split into two parcels and build up to two units on each. How the process works, which lots qualify, and how it pairs with ADUs.
May 29, 2026 · 7 min
Permits
ADU Permit Timeline in California: What to Expect in 2026
How long ADU permits take in California, the state rules that protect your timeline, and how factory building runs the permit process in parallel to save months.
May 26, 2026 · 4 min
Other Categories
Pricing
What an ADU actually costs, how the price is built up, and where the money goes.
Financing
HELOC, construction loans, cash-out refi, and how to fund an ADU without a $300K bank account.
Process
Build quality, factory vs site-built, eligibility, and what to expect at each step.
Buying Guide
Comparisons, decision frameworks, and the practical math of building an ADU.
Local Guides
City-by-city permit processes, timelines, and rules across our service area, cited to official sources.
Comparisons
Model-by-model and option-by-option comparisons to help you choose with confidence.
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