California ADU rules · Monterey County
Can I Build an ADU in King City?
Yes — you can build an ADU in King City. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including King 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
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 ruleup to 2 detached OR conversions (>=1 or 25% of units)
King City limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2, not 4–8 as in state law.
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
Local maximum is 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ beds); this is a local cap, not the state default.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850 (studio/1-bed), 1,000 (2+ beds); must allow at least 800 if lot coverage/FAR/open space would prevent it
Attached ADUs capped at same size as detached; must allow 800 sq ft minimum if otherwise restricted.
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
No local transit or 2-story exception; 16 ft is a hard local cap.
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 primary residence
Front setback for ADUs matches the primary residence requirement.
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 unless exempt; JADUs require no parking.
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 for garage/carport conversion.
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 required for JADUs only; 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
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
King City-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic properties/districts
ADUs/JADUs must comply with historic preservation ordinance and Secretary of the Interior standards.
King City sets a local maximum ADU size of 1,000 sq ft (2+ beds) and limits multifamily lots to 2 detached ADUs. Height is capped at 16 ft for all ADUs, with no local transit or 2-story exception.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in King City?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires King 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 King City?
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 King City?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. same as required for primary residence.
Is parking required for an ADU in King 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 King 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 King City?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- King City Municipal Code Chapter 17.47 (Ord. 808 § 35, 2022)
- § 17.47.050(b)(3)
- Table 17.47-1
- Table 17.47-1, § 17.47.050(e)(3)
- § 17.47.070(a)-(d)
- § 17.47.070(e)
- § 17.47.100
- § 17.47.050(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 § 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 King 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 King City Planning before relying on it.
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