California ADU rules · Ventura County
Can I Build an ADU in Ojai?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Ojai. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Ojai, 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 (or up to 8 detached, not to exceed number of existing units, per state law)
Local code specifies up to 2 detached ADUs, but also references state allowance for up to 8 detached if not exceeding number of existing units.
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 cap is 850 sqft (1 bedroom) or 1,000 sqft (2+ bedrooms); state minimum of 800 sqft always applies if 16 ft tall with 4 ft setbacks.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850 (1 bedroom), 1,000 (2+ bedrooms); must allow at least 800 if 16 ft tall with 4 ft setbacks
Same as detached; state minimum applies if local cap 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
Local rule24 ft
ADUs up to 24 ft allowed without design review; discretionary review required above 24 ft or for new two-story ADUs.
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
CA state lawNo front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone
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
No more than 1 space per ADU or per bedroom (whichever is less); tandem and uncovered allowed.
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
CA state lawNot required
When a garage/carport is demolished or converted to build an ADU, replacement parking cannot be required.
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
Local ruleMinisterial (by right)
California Gov. Code § 66317 requires ministerial, by-right approval of a qualifying ADU; any local discretionary or conditional-use process is preempted for ADUs meeting objective standards.
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
CA state lawOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs (the prior sunset was removed). A JADU may require owner-occupancy, principally where it shares sanitation with the main house.
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, Building permit
Both planning and building permits required.
Ojai-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ)
Must comply with adopted fire code; sprinklers not required unless for primary dwelling.
Coastal Zone
State ADU law applies, but Coastal Act resource protections remain in effect.
Historic/HPOZ
ADUs allowed, but may be subject to additional review for historic resources.
Ojai imposes a local cap of 1,000 sq ft for detached and attached ADUs (2+ bedrooms), and requires discretionary review for new two-story ADUs or those over 24 ft. ADUs are allowed in all residential zones, with additional review possible in fire hazard, coastal, and historic areas.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Ojai?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Ojai 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 Ojai?
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 Ojai?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. No front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone.
Is parking required for an ADU in Ojai?
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 Ojai?
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 Ojai?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Ojai Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 2, Section 1709 (Accessory Dwelling Units)
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(l); Table A
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(d), (G), Table A
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(e), Table A
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(d), Table A
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(c), Table A
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(f)
- Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709(e), (E)
- 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 § 66314 (local ordinance standards)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66315 (owner-occupancy)
- 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 Ojai'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 Ojai Planning before relying on it.
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