California ADU rules · Santa Barbara County
Can I Build an ADU in Lompoc?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Lompoc. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Lompoc, 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 1 attached/conversion per 4 units (cannot combine options)
Limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2; attached/conversion ADUs allowed at 1 per 4 units; cannot combine both types.
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
Local maximum for new-construction detached ADUs is 1,200 sq ft; no local cap for conversions.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, <=1,200 sq ft, >=800 sq ft
Attached ADUs capped at 50% of primary dwelling or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is less; cannot be required to be less than 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
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 rulesame as primary dwelling; detached ADU cannot be closer to front than primary
Front setback matches primary dwelling; detached ADUs cannot be sited closer to the street than the main house.
Separation from main house
CA state lawNone required
No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleNone
No new parking required for ADUs or JADUs.
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 ADUs; replacement required for JADUs if garage/carport is converted.
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, 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.
Lompoc limits multifamily lots to either 2 detached ADUs or 1 attached/conversion ADU per 4 units (not both). No parking required for ADUs; replacement parking is required for JADUs if a garage is converted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Lompoc?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Lompoc 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 Lompoc?
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 Lompoc?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. same as primary dwelling; detached ADU cannot be closer to front than primary.
Is parking required for an ADU in Lompoc?
None. 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 Lompoc?
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 Lompoc?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020 (last amended 2023)
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020(E)(3)
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020(E)(4)(a)(ii), (d)
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020(E)(4)(a)(i), (iii), (iv)
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020(E)(4)(c)
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020(G)
- Lompoc Zoning Code § 17.404.020(F)(8)
- 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 Lompoc'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 Lompoc Planning before relying on it.
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