California ADU rules · Kings County
Can I Build an ADU in Hanford?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Hanford. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Hanford, 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
Limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot, less than 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
Local rule1,200 sq ft
Local cap is 1,200 sq ft except for the state-mandated 800 sq ft ADU, which is always allowed.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, >=850 (>=1,000 for 2+ bedrooms)
Matches state minimums but explicitly codified in local ordinance.
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 ruleper base zone (typically 20 ft in R districts)
Front setback must comply with underlying zone; typically 20 ft in residential zones.
Separation from main house
Local rule10 ft
10 ft required between detached ADU and primary dwelling unless building code allows less.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
Max 1 space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less; exemptions per state law.
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.
Hanford-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic District
ADUs in historic districts are exempt from parking requirements.
Fire (VHFHSZ)
ADUs must comply with all Fire and Building Code requirements.
Hanford limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot (not 8), requires 10 ft separation from the primary dwelling, and sets explicit height and setback rules. Parking is capped at 1 space per ADU/bedroom with broad exemptions, and historic districts trigger a parking waiver.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Hanford?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Hanford 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 Hanford?
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 Hanford?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. per base zone (typically 20 ft in R districts).
Is parking required for an ADU in Hanford?
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 Hanford?
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 Hanford?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030 (Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(2)(c)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(4)(d)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(4)(c)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(5)(c)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(5)(d)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(7)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030(A)(7)(a)(ii)
- Hanford Municipal Code § 17.60.030; State Building Code
- 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 Hanford'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 Hanford Planning before relying on it.
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