California ADU rules · Monterey County
Can I Build an ADU in Pacific Grove?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Pacific Grove. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Pacific Grove, 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
Local cap of 2 detached ADUs on multifamily lots, not 4 or 8.
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 matches state cap, but is explicitly codified.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary dwelling or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is greater
Local rule allows attached ADUs to exceed 1,000 sq ft if 50% of primary is greater.
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
Local rule3 ft
Local minimum side setback is 3 ft for new ADUs.
Rear setback
Local rule3 ft
Local minimum rear setback is 3 ft for new ADUs.
Front setback
Local ruleADUs may be in front setback if no space for 800 sq ft ADU at rear/side
Front setback may be used if necessary to accommodate an 800 sq ft ADU.
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 parking required if within 1/2 mile of transit; otherwise, 1 per ADU. No parking required for 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 garage/carport conversions.
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 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
Local ruleBuilding permit, Demolition permit (for garage replacement)
Demolition permit required for garage replacement, issued concurrently.
Pacific Grove-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Fire sprinklers
Sprinklers required in ADU only if required in primary dwelling.
Historic district garage conversion
Demolition notice required for garage replacement only in architecturally/historically significant districts.
Pacific Grove limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2, sets a 3 ft side/rear setback, and allows attached ADUs to exceed 1,000 sq ft if 50% of the primary dwelling is greater. Fire and historic overlays may trigger additional requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Pacific Grove?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Pacific Grove 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 Pacific Grove?
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 Pacific Grove?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 3 ft. ADUs may be in front setback if no space for 800 sq ft ADU at rear/side.
Is parking required for an ADU in Pacific Grove?
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 Pacific Grove?
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 Pacific Grove?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- PGMC Chapter 23.80 (Ord. 23-011 § 2, 2023)
- PGMC § 23.80.040(a)(5), (6)
- PGMC § 23.80.060(a), § 23.80.040(a)(4)(C), (6)(E)
- PGMC § 23.80.060(a), § 23.80.040(a)(3)(A)
- PGMC § 23.80.040(a)(3)(B), (4)(A), (6)(A)
- PGMC § 23.80.040(a)(4)(B), (6)(B)
- PGMC § 23.80.060(d)
- PGMC § 23.80.060(d)(1)
- PGMC § 23.80.040(b)(2), (c); § 23.80.050(c)
- PGMC § 23.80.070(a), (b); § 23.80.040(b)(4)
- PGMC § 23.80.050(b)
- PGMC § 23.80.040(b)(5)
- 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 Pacific Grove'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 Pacific Grove Planning before relying on it.
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