California ADU rules · Los Angeles County
Can I Build an ADU in Bradbury?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Bradbury. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Bradbury, 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
Local rule1 ADU (attached or detached) + 1 JADU (within primary dwelling or attached garage)
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleUp to 25% of existing units as conversion ADUs (minimum 1), plus up to 8 detached ADUs (not exceeding the number of existing units)
Detached ADUs on multifamily lots cannot exceed the number of existing units
Junior ADU (JADU)
Local ruleAllowed
JADUs allowed only on single-family lots
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft
If combined with a JADU, detached ADU is limited to 800 sq ft
Max attached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft maximum (same as detached); minimum 150 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
CA state law16 ft
16 ft baseline; cities must allow 18 ft within ½ mi of a major transit stop or where the primary dwelling is two-story, and 20 ft on a lot with a multistory multifamily building.
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 ruleADUs must be behind the front yard setback line of the primary unit
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
No explicit separation required for ADUs
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
No parking required for JADUs
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 ADU or JADU garage conversions
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
Local rule60 days
30 days if using pre-approved plan
Owner-occupancy
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy for ADUs; 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.
Bradbury-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)
ADUs must comply with Los Angeles County Fire Department requirements and California Building Code
Bradbury caps both detached and attached ADUs at 1,000 sq ft, with a further reduction to 800 sq ft for detached ADUs when a JADU is also built. Height limits are stricter than state default, and ADUs must be sited behind the primary unit's front setback.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Bradbury?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Bradbury 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 Bradbury?
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 Bradbury?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. ADUs must be behind the front yard setback line of the primary unit.
Is parking required for an ADU in Bradbury?
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 Bradbury?
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 Bradbury?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Bradbury Municipal Code, Chapter 9.85, Article II (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.110, Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.120, Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.130(A), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.130(B), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.150, Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.150(D), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.160(A), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.160(C), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.100(B), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Sec. 9.85.110(D), Bradbury Municipal Code (Ord. No. 398, § 2, 7-15-2025)
- Title XVII, Bradbury Municipal Code; Sec. 9.85.170
- 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 § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- 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 Bradbury'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 Bradbury Planning before relying on it.
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