Can I Build an ADU in Avenal?

Yes — by right

ADUs and JADUs are allowed by right in all residential and mixed-use zones; ministerial approval, no hearing.

1 ADU + 1 JADU

At least one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot (a conversion ADU may also be possible).

Conversion ADUs (≥1, up to 25% of units) + up to 8 detached

Conversions of non-livable space (at least 1, or up to 25% of existing units) plus up to 8 detached ADUs on a lot with existing multifamily — never exceeding the number of existing units. JADUs are single-family only.

Allowed

Up to 500 sq ft, within the walls of an existing single-family home (single-family lots only).

1,000 sq ft

Avenal caps the floor area of ALL accessory dwelling units (attached or detached) at 850 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft for a unit with more than one bedroom (§ 9.60.030(D)) — below the 1,200 sq ft statewide default but above the 800 sq ft by-right floor the state protects regardless of any local cap.

≤850 sq ft (≤1,000 sq ft for 2+ bedrooms)

Avenal's § 9.60.030(D) size cap applies uniformly to attached and detached ADUs. State law still guarantees an 850 sq ft attached ADU (1,000 sq ft for 2+ bedrooms) cannot be denied on size, so the local cap and the state floor coincide here.

800 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).

500 sq ft

16 ft

Detached ADU: 16 ft, rising to 18 ft (plus 2 ft for a matching roof pitch, i.e. 20 ft) within ½ mi of a major transit stop or on a multistory multifamily lot. An attached ADU may match the primary dwelling height up to 25 ft (§ 9.60.030(J)(2)). Tracks the state floor.

4 ft

A city cannot require more than 4 ft side or rear setback; conversions of existing structures are exempt.

4 ft

No front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone

None required

No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.

None

Avenal requires NO off-street parking for any ADU, and parking spaces removed to create an ADU need not be replaced (§ 9.60.030(C)) — more permissive than the state cap of 1 space.

Yes — 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.

Not required

When a garage/carport is demolished or converted to build an ADU, replacement parking cannot be required.

Ministerial (by right)

No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.

60 days

The agency must act within 60 days of a complete application — and the ADU is deemed approved if it does not.

Only for a JADU

No owner-occupancy for ADUs (§ 9.60.030(F); the ordinance's 2025 sunset reference is superseded by permanent state law). A JADU is allowed only where the owner occupies the property as their primary residence (§ 9.60.040(A)).

Waived 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.

Building permit

Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.