California ADU rules · San Benito County
Can I Build an ADU in Hollister?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Hollister. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Hollister, 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
Local cap of 2 detached ADUs on multifamily lots, 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 rule1,000 sq ft
Detached ADUs capped at 1,000 sq ft (more than one bedroom) or 850 sq ft (one bedroom); 800 sq ft minimum always allowed.
Max attached ADU size
Local rulelesser of 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) or 850 sq ft (1 bedroom), not to exceed 50% of primary dwelling, but at least 800 sq ft and up to 1,000 sq ft always allowed
Local cap and 50% rule, but always allows at least 800 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
Local rule16 ft
16 ft for detached ADUs on single-family lots; 18 ft on multifamily lots. Attached ADUs must follow base zone height.
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
Local rule6 ft
Detached ADUs must be 6 ft from primary dwelling; 5 ft from eaves of inhabited structure; 3 ft from uninhabitable structure.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street space per ADU (none for studios); multiple local exemptions.
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
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy for ADUs permitted 2020-2025; required for JADUs.
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, Administrative permit, Deed restriction (for ADUs and JADUs)
Deed restriction required for both ADUs and JADUs.
Hollister-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
New ADUs must not be visible from the public right-of-way or must be entirely within the existing dwelling or a detached structure.
Fire sprinklers
Fire sprinklers not required for ADUs unless required for the primary dwelling; required for ADUs in multifamily buildings with sprinklers.
Hollister limits detached ADUs to 1,000 sq ft and allows only 2 detached ADUs on multifamily lots. Historic district rules restrict ADU visibility from the street.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Hollister?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Hollister 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 Hollister?
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 Hollister?
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 Hollister?
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 Hollister?
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 Hollister?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Hollister Municipal Code Chapter 17.32 (Ord. 1229, § 1, 2023)
- Hollister Municipal Code Chapter 17.32
- 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 § 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 Hollister'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 Hollister Planning before relying on it.
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