California ADU rules · Butte County
Can I Build an ADU in Biggs?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Biggs. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Biggs, 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
Local cap of 2 detached ADUs per multifamily lot, not 4 or 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
Local rule1,200 sq ft
Local maximum is 1,200 sq ft; must allow at least 800 sq ft if all other standards are met.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, >=800, max 1,200
Attached ADU limited to 50% of primary, at least 800 sq ft, and no more than 1,200 sq ft.
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 rule20 ft
Detached ADU max height is 20 ft in R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts.
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 (typically 15 ft)
Front setback must comply with underlying zone, typically 15 ft.
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
No specific separation required; must comply with setbacks and fire safety.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
Max 1 space per unit or per bedroom, whichever is less.
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 ruleOnly for a JADU
Owner occupancy required for JADUs; not required for ADUs until at least Jan 1, 2025.
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.
Biggs-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Fire protection requirements
No sprinklers required unless primary dwelling requires them; additional fire protection may be required if setbacks are not met.
Historic district parking exemption
Parking exemption applies to ADUs/JADUs in historic districts.
Biggs limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot and sets a local maximum size of 1,200 sq ft for both detached and attached ADUs. Detached ADUs may be up to 20 ft tall in residential zones.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Biggs?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Biggs 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 Biggs?
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 Biggs?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. per base zone (typically 15 ft).
Is parking required for an ADU in Biggs?
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 Biggs?
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 Biggs?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Biggs Municipal Code (BMC) § 14.110.115, § 14.20.330; Ord. 428 § 3 (Exh. I), 2022
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(xviii)-(xx)
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(i)
- BMC § 14.110.040, § 14.260.040, § 14.270.040, § 14.280.040
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(viii), § 14.260.050, § 14.270.050, § 14.280.050
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(viii)
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(xi)
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(xiii)
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(v)
- BMC § 14.110.115(2)(b)(xiv)
- 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 Biggs'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 Biggs Planning before relying on it.
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