California ADU rules · Madera County
Can I Build an ADU in Madera?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Madera. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Madera, 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
Local maximum for detached ADUs is 1,200 sq ft.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of existing residential sq ft or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is less
Attached ADUs capped at 50% of primary or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is less.
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 rule20 ft front setback for detached ADUs
Detached ADUs must be set back 20 ft from the front property line.
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
Detached ADU must be within 100 ft of primary dwelling; no portion closer than 10 ft to a primary dwelling on an adjacent lot.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street parking space per ADU, with state exemptions.
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 parking required if garage/carport/covered parking is converted or demolished for ADU.
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
Local code recites an owner-occupancy requirement, but California Gov. Code § 66315 bars owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs — enforceable for JADUs only. Verify the JADU covenant with the city.
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 ruleZoning Administrator Permit, Building Permit
Both Zoning Administrator and Building Permits required.
Madera-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic Register Properties
ADUs/JADUs not allowed on or adjacent to properties listed in the California Register of Historic Places.
Madera sets a 1,200 sq ft max for both detached and attached ADUs, requires 5 ft side/rear and 20 ft front setbacks, and mandates owner-occupancy unless preempted by state law. ADUs are prohibited on or adjacent to historic register properties.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Madera?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Madera 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 Madera?
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 Madera?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. 20 ft front setback for detached ADUs.
Is parking required for an ADU in Madera?
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 Madera?
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 Madera?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Madera Municipal Code § 10-3.513 (Accessory Dwelling Units), Ord. 949 C.S., 12-6-17
- MMC § 10-3.513(D)(2)
- MMC § 10-3.513(D)(1)
- MMC § 10-3.513(D)(4)
- MMC § 10-3.513(D)(5)
- MMC § 10-3.513(E)
- MMC § 10-3.513(E)(3)
- MMC § 10-3.513(B)(3)
- MMC § 10-3.513(B)
- MMC § 10-3.513(C)(2)
- 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 Madera'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 Madera Planning before relying on it.
Will an ADU work on your Madera lot?
Ask GoCodebook about your address and get the size, setback, parking and permit rules that actually apply to your parcel — with the exact citation.
Check my parcel free