California ADU rules · San Mateo County
Can I Build an ADU in Pacifica?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Pacifica. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Pacifica, 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 ruleat least 1 conversion + up to 2 detached, or as allowed by state law
Local cap of 2 detached ADUs unless state law allows more.
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
1,000 sq ft for 2+ bedrooms; 850 sq ft for studio/1-bed. Detached ADUs >800 sq ft prohibited on lots with street frontage ≤26 ft or unpaved streets.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850 sq ft for studio/1-bed, 1,000 sq ft for 2+ bedrooms, or 50% of primary dwelling, whichever 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
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 rule15 ft minimum; 20 ft if above a garage
Separation from main house
Local rule10 ft
Applies only to ADUs >800 sq ft; no minimum for ADUs ≤800 sq ft.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 per ADU or bedroom (whichever is less); JADUs require none.
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 required for converted/demolished parking.
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
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 ruleBuilding permit, Administrative coastal development permit (if in Coastal Zone)
Pacifica-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Coastal Zone
Administrative coastal development permit required for ADUs/JADUs in the Coastal Zone (ministerial, no hearing).
Fire (VHFHSZ)
Sprinklers required only if required for the primary dwelling.
Historic Sites
No historic preservation permit required for ADUs/JADUs on landmark sites.
Pacifica caps detached ADUs at 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) or 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed), with additional frontage restrictions for larger units. A 10-ft separation is required for ADUs over 800 sq ft, and a front setback of 15–20 ft applies.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Pacifica?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Pacifica 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 Pacifica?
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 Pacifica?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. 15 ft minimum; 20 ft if above a garage.
Is parking required for an ADU in Pacifica?
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 Pacifica?
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 Pacifica?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Pacifica Municipal Code Article 4.5 (ADUs/JADUs), as amended by Ord. 867-C.S., eff. Sept. 22, 2021
- § 9-4.453(b), § 9-4.454(a)(2)
- § 9-4.453(c)(1), (c)(7), (c)(8)
- § 9-4.453(d)(1)
- § 9-4.453(c)(2), (d)(2)
- § 9-4.453(d)(3)
- § 9-4.453(h), § 9-4.454(d)
- § 9-4.453(h)(5), § 9-4.454(d)(1)
- § 9-4.455(c)
- § 9-4.453(j)
- § 9-4.455(g)
- 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 § 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 Pacifica'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 Pacifica Planning before relying on it.
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