California ADU rules · Los Angeles County
Can I Build an ADU in Covina?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Covina. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Covina, 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
Covina limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot, less than the state default of 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
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 rule50% of primary, max 1,000 sq ft
Attached ADUs are limited to 50% of the primary dwelling, up to a maximum of 1,000 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 rulesame as required for the main dwelling
Front setback for ADUs matches the main dwelling's required front setback.
Separation from main house
Local rule6 ft
Detached ADUs larger than 800 sq ft must be separated from the primary dwelling by at least 6 feet (eave to eave).
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
One off-street parking space required per ADU unless exempt.
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 when a garage or carport is converted to an ADU.
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 is required only for JADUs, not for ADUs.
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 ruleBuilding permit, Planning review (for some ADUs)
Planning review is required for some ADUs, in addition to a building permit.
Covina-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 in VHFHSZ or on steep slopes require planning and LA County Fire review, 10-foot defensible space, wildland-urban interface construction, and specific roof materials.
Historic Districts
No ADU parking required in historic districts; conversions may have additional requirements.
Hillside/Steep Slope
Detached ADUs 500–1,000 sq ft require grading and drainage plan and must comply with slope/drainage standards.
Covina limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot and caps by-right detached ADUs at 800 sq ft, with larger sizes requiring additional review. Special fire, hillside, and historic district rules apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Covina?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Covina 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 Covina?
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 Covina?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. same as required for the main dwelling.
Is parking required for an ADU in Covina?
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 Covina?
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 Covina?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Covina Municipal Code (CMC) Chapter 17.69, last amended by Ord. 22-06 § 5, 2022
- CMC § 17.69.020(D)(3)-(4)
- CMC § 17.69.030(C)
- CMC § 17.69.030(I), § 17.69.040(M)
- CMC § 17.69.040(E)
- CMC § 17.69.030(F)-(G)
- CMC § 17.69.030(H)
- CMC § 17.69.050(B)(7)
- CMC § 17.69.040(I)
- CMC § 17.69.040(R)
- CMC § 17.69.040(S)
- 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 Covina'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 Covina Planning before relying on it.
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