California ADU rules · Placer County
Can I Build an ADU in Colfax?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Colfax. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Colfax, 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 attached ADU + 1 detached ADU + 1 JADU
Allows both 1 attached and 1 detached ADU plus 1 JADU on a single-family lot.
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleConversions: up to 25% of units (at least 1); up to 2 detached or new construction attached ADUs (max 800 sqft each)
Detached/new construction ADUs on multifamily lots capped at 2, each max 800 sqft.
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 rule1,000 sq ft
Detached ADUs: 850 sqft (studio/1-bed), 1,000 sqft (2+ beds); by-right ADUs under §17.196.050 capped at 800 sqft.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850 sqft (studio/1-bedroom), 1,000 sqft (2+ bedrooms)
Same size limits as detached ADUs.
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
Local rule4 ft
4 ft minimum for new construction; conversions may have zero setback.
Rear setback
Local rule4 ft
4 ft minimum for new construction; conversions may have zero setback.
Front setback
Local ruleMust comply with front yard setback for the zone
Front setback per base zone applies.
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
Local ruleADU permit, Building permit
Both ADU and building permits required.
Colfax-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Fire code compliance
Must meet current building/fire code; sprinklers not required unless for primary dwelling.
Colfax allows both an attached and detached ADU plus a JADU on single-family lots, with local caps of 850/1,000 sqft for ADUs and a 2-unit detached ADU limit on multifamily lots. Detached ADU height may increase to 18 ft near transit or on multifamily/multistory lots.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Colfax?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Colfax 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 Colfax?
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 Colfax?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. Must comply with front yard setback for the zone.
Is parking required for an ADU in Colfax?
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 Colfax?
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 Colfax?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Colfax Municipal Code Chapter 17.196 (Ord. No. 555, § 1(Exh. A), 10-11-2023)
- §17.196.040(B)(1)
- §17.196.040(B)(2), §17.196.050(A)(2)
- §17.196.040(C)(1), §17.196.050(A)(1)(b)
- §17.196.040(C)(1)
- §17.196.040(O), §17.196.050(A)(1)(b)
- §17.196.040(O)
- §17.196.040(E)(2)
- §17.196.040(D)
- 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 Colfax'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 Colfax Planning before relying on it.
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