California ADU rules · Ventura County
Can I Build an ADU in Camarillo?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Camarillo. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Camarillo, 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 8 detached (not to exceed number of existing units; up to 2 detached if only proposed multifamily)
Detached ADUs on multifamily lots: up to 8 if existing multifamily, but not to exceed number of existing units; only 2 detached if proposed multifamily.
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 rule850 (1 bedroom or less); 1,000 (more than 1 bedroom); 1,200 if lot is 1 acre or more
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 rule0 ft
Detached: 16 ft standard; 18 ft if near transit or for multifamily/multistory; +2 ft for matching roof pitch. Attached: 25 ft or height of primary, whichever is less, max 2 stories.
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
CA state lawNo front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
No minimum separation for internal ADUs/conversions; new detached ADUs must comply with underlying zone unless otherwise specified.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 space per attached/detached ADU; no additional parking for internal ADUs; multiple local exemptions.
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 converted/demolished parking structures.
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
No owner-occupancy for ADUs; JADUs require owner-occupancy deed restriction unless owned by government/land trust/housing org.
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.
Camarillo-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic resource offset
Additions to designated historic resources must be offset by at least 18 inches from the historic structure.
Sprinkler requirements
No sprinklers required for ADU if not required for primary dwelling; ADU construction does not trigger sprinklers for existing multifamily.
Camarillo sets local ADU size caps: 850/1,000/1,200 sq ft for detached/attached ADUs based on bedrooms and lot size, and 800 sq ft if combined with a JADU. Up to 8 detached ADUs are allowed on existing multifamily lots, but not to exceed the number of existing units.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Camarillo?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Camarillo 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 Camarillo?
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 Camarillo?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. No front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone.
Is parking required for an ADU in Camarillo?
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 Camarillo?
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 Camarillo?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Camarillo Municipal Code Chapter 19.56 (Accessory Dwelling Units), last amended Feb 14, 2024 (Ord. No. 2018, § 4(Exh. A))
- CMC §19.56.050
- CMC §19.56.060(A)(1)-(2)
- CMC §19.56.060(C)
- CMC §19.56.060(L)(1)
- CMC §19.56.080(A)-(C)
- CMC §19.56.080(D)
- CMC §19.56.030(A)(2), §19.56.100(E)
- CMC §19.56.060(N)
- CMC §19.56.060(E)
- 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 Camarillo'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 Camarillo Planning before relying on it.
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