California ADU rules · Los Angeles County
Can I Build an ADU in Agoura Hills?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Agoura Hills. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Agoura Hills, to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit by right, plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot. What varies city to city are the local specifics below.
Can you build one?
ADUs allowed
CA state lawYes — by right
ADUs and JADUs are allowed by right in all residential and mixed-use zones; ministerial approval, no hearing.
Units on a single-family lot
CA state law1 ADU + 1 JADU
At least one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot (a conversion ADU may also be possible).
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (>=1 or 25% of units) + up to 2 detached
Only up to 2 detached ADUs allowed per multifamily lot, not 4 or 8 as in state baseline.
Junior ADU (JADU)
CA state lawAllowed
Up to 500 sq ft, within the walls of an existing single-family home (single-family lots only).
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft
Detached ADUs: 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed), 1,000 sq ft (2+ beds); city does not allow up to 1,200 sq ft.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, <=850 (<=1,000 for 2+ bedrooms)
Attached ADUs: 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed), 1,000 sq ft (2+ beds), or 50% of primary, whichever is less.
Guaranteed minimum size
CA state law800 sq ft
An 800 sq ft ADU must be allowed regardless of FAR/lot-coverage caps; a city also cannot cap an attached ADU below 850 sq ft (1,000 for 2+ bedrooms).
Max JADU size
CA state law500 sq ft
Max height
Local rule16 ft
No local transit/2-story exception; 16 ft for detached; attached may match primary if higher.
Setbacks
Side setback
CA state law4 ft
A city cannot require more than 4 ft side or rear setback; conversions of existing structures are exempt.
Rear setback
CA state law4 ft
Front setback
Local ruleper base zone; in Old Agoura Design Overlay District, detached ADU may be in front yard if <=25% of required front yard
Special front yard exception in Old Agoura Design Overlay District.
Separation from main house
Local rule10 ft
Detached ADUs must be at least 10 ft from primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street space per ADU; none for JADU; exemptions per state.
Transit parking exemption
CA state lawYes — no parking required near transit & for conversions
No parking may be required within ½ mi walking distance of transit, in a historic district, for an ADU within an existing structure, within one block of car-share, or in certain permit-parking areas.
Garage-conversion replacement parking
CA state lawNot required
When a garage/carport is demolished or converted to build an ADU, replacement parking cannot be required.
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
CA state law60 days
The agency must act within 60 days of a complete application — and the ADU is deemed approved if it does not.
Owner-occupancy
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
Owner-occupancy required for JADUs only.
Impact-fee waiver
CA state lawWaived under 750 sq ft
An ADU of 750 sq ft or less pays no impact fees (the 750 sq ft threshold itself is exempt under § 66311.5); larger ADUs pay fees proportional to the primary dwelling. JADUs (≤ 500 sq ft) are exempt.
Permits required
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Agoura Hills-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ)
Only one ADU or JADU allowed per lot unless two distinct vehicular access routes; detached ADUs require 10-ft separation, 5-ft side/rear setbacks, and replacement parking for garage conversions (need not be enclosed).
Agoura Hills caps detached and attached ADUs at 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) and 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed), and requires a 10-ft separation from the primary dwelling. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, stricter limits and setbacks apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Agoura Hills?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Agoura Hills to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit ministerial (by right), plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot.
How big can an ADU be in Agoura Hills?
A detached ADU of at least 1,000 sq ft must be allowed, and an ADU of 800 sq ft can never be zoned out by floor-area or lot-coverage limits. A JADU can be up to 500 sq ft.
What are the setback requirements for an ADU in Agoura Hills?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. per base zone; in Old Agoura Design Overlay District, detached ADU may be in front yard if <=25% of required front yard.
Is parking required for an ADU in Agoura Hills?
Up to 1 space. No parking can be required within ½ mile of transit, for conversions, or for units inside the primary home. When a garage is converted, replacement parking is not required.
How long does ADU approval take in Agoura Hills?
A complete application must be acted on within 60 days, with ministerial (by right) — no public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Agoura Hills?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Agoura Hills Municipal Code, Section 9283 et seq. (Ord. No. 21-456, § 12, 8-25-2021)
- Agoura Hills Municipal Code, Section 9283 et seq.
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 (ADU Law)
- HCD 2025 Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66317 (ministerial approval, 60-day deadline)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66322 (ADU parking; § 66334 covers JADU parking)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66314 (local ordinance standards)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66311.5 (impact fees: none for an ADU ≤ 750 sq ft or JADU ≤ 500 sq ft)
Last updated 2026-06-25. This is an AI-assisted summary of Agoura Hills's ADU rules, drawn from its published ordinance and California ADU law — general information, not legal advice, and it may be incomplete or out of date. Verify the controlling rule for your specific parcel with Agoura Hills Planning before relying on it.
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