California ADU rules · San Joaquin County
Can I Build an ADU in Lodi?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Lodi. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Lodi, 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, not 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
Detached ADUs: 850 sq ft (1-bedroom), 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); this is a local cap.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850 (1-bedroom) / 1,000 (2+ bedrooms) AND not more than 50% of primary dwelling floor area
Local cap applies, but must allow at least 850/1,000 sq ft regardless of percentage.
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
Detached ADUs limited to 16 ft; attached ADUs follow base zone.
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; detached ADUs cannot be located between the primary dwelling and the front lot line
Detached ADUs prohibited in front yard.
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
Must comply with building separation of base zone, but cannot prohibit a compliant ADU of at least 800 sq ft, 16 ft high, 4 ft setbacks.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street space per ADU; JADUs exempt.
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 only for JADUs.
Impact-fee waiver
Local ruleWaived under 750 sq ft
No city impact fees for ADUs <750 sq ft or for JADUs.
Permits required
Local ruleBuilding permit
No separate planning permit required.
Lodi-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
No parking required for ADUs in historic districts.
Lodi limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 and caps detached ADU size at 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms). Detached ADUs are prohibited in the front yard, and no replacement parking is required for garage conversions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Lodi?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Lodi 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 Lodi?
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 Lodi?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. per base zone; detached ADUs cannot be located between the primary dwelling and the front lot line.
Is parking required for an ADU in Lodi?
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 Lodi?
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 Lodi?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130 (Ord. No. 1987, § 2, 11-17-2021)
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.I
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.2.b
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.J.1.b
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.2.d
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.2.c, .J.1.c
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.2.j
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.L
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.L.2
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.E.3, .3.h
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.K
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.E.2
- Lodi Municipal Code § 17.36.130.L.1.b.iii
- 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)
Last updated 2026-06-25. This is an AI-assisted summary of Lodi'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 Lodi Planning before relying on it.
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