California ADU rules · Fresno County
Can I Build an ADU in Kerman?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Kerman. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Kerman, 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
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
A detached new-construction ADU on a single-unit lot may not exceed 50% of the primary dwelling's square footage, capped at 1,200 sq ft (whichever is less). 800 sq ft remains the state-protected by-right floor; on a multifamily lot, detached ADUs are limited to 800 sq ft each.
Max attached ADU size
CA state law50% of the primary dwelling, but ≥850 sq ft (≥1,000 sq ft for 2+ bedrooms) is always allowed
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 rule18 ft
On non-transit single-unit lots, Kerman's code limits a detached ADU to a maximum of ONE STORY (§ 17.40.010(E)(1)(b)(iii)) while allowing 18 ft (+2 ft for matching roof pitch) near major transit or on multistory-multifamily lots. A one-story cap cannot be used to block the state-guaranteed 16-ft detached ADU; confirm how Kerman applies the one-story limit before relying on it.
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
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
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy for ADUs. The JADU owner-occupancy requirement applies only to JADU applications submitted before January 1, 2024 (per § 17.40.010(I)(5)); newer JADUs are not subject to it, tracking current state law. A recorded JADU deed restriction is still required.
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.
Kerman-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Design-match & rental-term standards
Kerman requires the roof, exterior walls, and windows of an ADU to match the color, material, and texture of the primary dwelling (§ 17.40.010(F)(7)), and bars rentals shorter than 30 days (§ 17.40.010(F)(8)). A JADU efficiency kitchen must meet specific component minimums (≥15 sq ft counter, ≥30 sq ft cabinet shelf).
Kerman adopted its ADU ordinance as part of a recodified Title 17 zoning code (§ 17.40.010, Ord. 24-01). It is largely state-aligned — ministerial 60-day review, 4-ft side/rear setbacks, 1 space (with the full state exemption list), no replacement parking — but adds local specifics worth checking: detached ADUs on standard lots are limited to one story, the exterior must match the primary dwelling's color/material/texture, short-term rentals under 30 days are prohibited, and a JADU efficiency kitchen has prescribed minimum dimensions. An ADU that misses a development standard can still be approved via an administrative use permit at the director's discretion. Verify the one-story limit and design-match standards with Kerman Planning & Development Services.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Kerman?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Kerman 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 Kerman?
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 Kerman?
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 Kerman?
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 Kerman?
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 Kerman?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Kerman Mun. Code § 17.40.010 (Ord. 24-01)
- Kerman Mun. Code § 17.40.010(E)(1)(b)
- Kerman Mun. Code § 17.40.010(F)(2) / (E)(1)(b)(iii)
- Kerman Mun. Code § 17.40.010(I)(5)
- Kerman Mun. Code § 17.40.010(F)
- 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 2026-06-28. This is an AI-assisted summary of Kerman'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 Kerman Planning before relying on it.
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