California ADU rules · San Bernardino County
Can I Build an ADU in Loma Linda?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Loma Linda. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Loma Linda, 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
Local rule1 detached ADU + 1 attached ADU + 1 JADU
Allows both a detached and an attached ADU plus a JADU per single-family lot.
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleConversions: up to 25% of units (rounded down); Detached: up to 8 (not to exceed number of existing units), or 2 for proposed multifamily buildings
Detached ADUs capped at 8 or number of existing units; 2 for proposed multifamily.
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: 850 sq ft (1 bedroom), 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms).
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850/1,000 sq ft max, but also limited to 50% of primary dwelling unless that is less than the above maximums
Attached ADUs: 850/1,000 sq ft max, but also subject to 50% of primary dwelling size unless that is less than the above maximums.
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 ruleNo closer to front property line than front plane of primary dwelling or 25 ft, whichever is less; 800 sq ft ADU may encroach if front yard is only buildable area
Front setback is more restrictive than state except for 800 sq ft ADUs in constrained lots.
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 off-street space per attached/detached ADU; JADUs and conversions 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 ruleRequired
Replacement required only for JADUs created from attached garage (for main house), not for ADUs.
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 before Jan 1, 2025; required for new ADUs after that date. JADUs always require owner-occupancy.
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 rulePlanning permit (ministerial), Building permit
Both planning and building permits required; concurrent processing.
Loma Linda-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic Mission Overlay and historic parcels
ADUs/JADUs must comply with historic preservation standards.
Fire sprinklers
Required only if primary dwelling requires sprinklers.
Loma Linda allows both a detached and an attached ADU plus a JADU on single-family lots, but caps ADU size at 850/1,000 sq ft and imposes a unique front setback rule. Owner-occupancy for ADUs begins Jan 1, 2025; JADUs always require it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Loma Linda?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Loma Linda 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 Loma Linda?
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 Loma Linda?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. No closer to front property line than front plane of primary dwelling or 25 ft, whichever is less; 800 sq ft ADU may encroach if front yard is only buildable area.
Is parking required for an ADU in Loma Linda?
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 required.
How long does ADU approval take in Loma Linda?
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 Loma Linda?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Loma Linda Municipal Code Chapter 17.110 (Ord. 766 § 2, 2021; Ord. 783, 11/12/2024)
- § 17.110.050(A)-(C)
- § 17.110.050(D)-(E)
- § 17.110.060(D)(1)
- § 17.110.060(D)(2)
- § 17.110.060(B)
- § 17.110.060(J)
- § 17.110.060(J)(3)
- § 17.110.070(C)
- § 17.110.080(B), (D)
- Ch. 17.80, 17.82; § 17.110.060(G), (F)
- § 17.110.060(G); Title 15
- 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 § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- 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 November 12, 2024. This is an AI-assisted summary of Loma Linda'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 Loma Linda Planning before relying on it.
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