California ADU rules · San Bernardino County
Can I Build an ADU in Apple Valley?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Apple Valley. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Apple Valley, 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
Limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot, stricter than state default of 8.
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
CA state law1,200 sq ft
Statewide default cap for detached new-construction ADUs in the absence of a compliant local ADU ordinance. The unconditional by-right floor a city must always allow is 800 sq ft (see Guaranteed minimum size); a city with a compliant ordinance may set its own ceiling.
Max attached ADU size
Local rulegreater of 1,200 or 50% of primary habitable floor area
Attached ADU max is the greater of 1,200 sq ft or 50% of the primary dwelling's habitable floor area.
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
Local rule500 sq ft
JADU must be between 220 and 500 sq ft, excluding bathroom.
Max height
Local rule16 ft
Detached ADUs limited to 16 ft; no local provision for increased height near transit.
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 ruleADU must be to the rear of the primary dwelling; on corner lots, at least 10 ft greater than the primary dwelling or accessed from the opposite street
Front setback for ADUs is more restrictive than state default.
Separation from main house
CA state lawNone required
No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleNone
No parking required for any ADU or JADU.
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
Local ruleNot required
No replacement parking required for garage/carport conversions.
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 ruleNot required
No owner-occupancy required for ADUs permitted 2020-2025; JADUs require owner-occupancy.
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.
Apple Valley-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Fire sprinklers not required for ADUs if not required for primary dwelling
ADUs do not trigger new fire sprinkler requirements unless the primary dwelling is also required to have them.
Apple Valley limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot and allows larger ADUs (over 1,200 sq ft) if 50% of the primary dwelling's size is greater. No parking is required for any ADU or JADU, and owner-occupancy is not required for ADUs permitted through 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Apple Valley?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Apple Valley 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 Apple Valley?
A detached ADU of at least 1,200 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 Apple Valley?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. ADU must be to the rear of the primary dwelling; on corner lots, at least 10 ft greater than the primary dwelling or accessed from the opposite street.
Is parking required for an ADU in Apple Valley?
None. 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 Apple Valley?
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 Apple Valley?
Owner-occupancy: not required. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Apple Valley Zoning Code, including Ord. No. 523, §§ 8, 9, 1-14-2020
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § E
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § J.1
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § I.4
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § K.1
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § K.1, K.3, H.11
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § H.5, H.6, I.6
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § H.5
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § G.1, I.1
- Apple Valley Zoning Code § H.7
- 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 § 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 Apple Valley'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 Apple Valley Planning before relying on it.
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