California ADU rules · San Bernardino County
Can I Build an ADU in Chino?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Chino. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Chino, 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, detached, or conversion) + 1 JADU
Clarifies that only one ADU of any type plus one JADU is allowed per single-family lot.
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (up to 25% of units, min 1) OR up to 2 detached
Limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot, not 8 as in state baseline.
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
Also capped at 80% of the primary dwelling’s floor area, whichever is less. State override guarantees 800 sq ft minimum.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary dwelling or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is less
State override guarantees 850/1,000 sq ft minimum if all other standards would preclude it.
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
Also limited to 50% of the primary dwelling, whichever is less.
Max height
Local rule16 ft
1 story and up to 16 ft; exceptions for above-garage ADUs in higher-density zones.
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 rulesame as main building
Front and street side setbacks for ADUs match those of the main building.
Separation from main house
CA state lawNone required
No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
CA state lawUp to 1 space
At most 1 space per ADU (or per bedroom, whichever is less) — and waived in the common cases below.
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
CA state lawNot required
When a garage/carport is demolished or converted to build an ADU, replacement parking cannot be required.
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
CA state lawOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs (the prior sunset was removed). A JADU may require owner-occupancy, principally where it shares sanitation with the main house.
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.
Chino-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic Districts
ADUs in historic districts are exempt from parking requirements.
Chino limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot and applies a local cap of 1,200 sq ft or 80% of the primary dwelling for detached ADUs. Front setbacks for ADUs must match the main building, and historic districts provide parking exemptions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Chino?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Chino 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 Chino?
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 Chino?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. same as main building.
Is parking required for an ADU in Chino?
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 Chino?
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 Chino?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Chino Municipal Code § 20.11.020 (Ord. 2022-010, § 8, 7-19-2022)
- Chino Municipal Code § 20.11.020.B.3(a)
- Chino Municipal Code § 20.11.020.B.3(b)
- Chino Municipal Code Table 20.11-2
- Chino Municipal Code § 20.11.020.B.5
- Chino Municipal Code § 20.11.020.B.4
- Chino Municipal Code § 20.11.020.B.8(c)
- 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 § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- 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 § 66314 (local ordinance standards)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66315 (owner-occupancy)
- 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 Chino'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 Chino Planning before relying on it.
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