California ADU rules · San Mateo County
Can I Build an ADU in Daly City?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Daly City. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Daly City, 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 per parcel (local code); state law preempts to allow 1 ADU + 1 JADU
Local code allows only 1 ADU per parcel, but state law requires 1 ADU + 1 JADU; state law controls.
Units on a multifamily lot
CA state lawConversion ADUs (≥1, up to 25% of units) + up to 8 detached
Conversions of non-livable space (at least 1, or up to 25% of existing units) plus up to 8 detached ADUs on a lot with existing multifamily — never exceeding the number of existing units. JADUs are single-family only.
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
Local code sets detached ADU max at 1,200 sq ft.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary dwelling, not to exceed 1,200 sq ft
Local code sets attached ADU max at 50% of primary dwelling, up to 1,200 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
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
CA state lawNone required
No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 space per ADU or per bedroom; multiple state exemptions apply.
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 ruleBuilding permit, Certificate of registration
Both building permit and certificate of registration required.
Daly City-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
ADUs must meet building/fire codes; sprinklers not required unless for primary dwelling.
Coastal zone
ADUs in the coastal zone must comply with Coastal Act resource protections in addition to state ADU law.
Historic district
No parking required for ADUs in historic districts.
Daly City sets a 1,200 sq ft maximum for both detached and attached ADUs and requires a certificate of registration in addition to a building permit. Local code is outdated on unit count and owner-occupancy, so state law preempts those areas.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Daly City?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Daly City 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 Daly City?
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 Daly City?
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 Daly City?
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 Daly City?
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 Daly City?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100 (last amended Ord. No. 1412, § 11, 2-13-2017)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(1); Gov. Code § 66323(a)(1)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(5)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(6)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(7)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(8)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(9)
- Daly City Zoning Code § 17.40.100(B)(6)(b)
- 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 § 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 Daly City'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 Daly City Planning before relying on it.
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