California ADU rules · Contra Costa County
Can I Build an ADU in Pinole?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Pinole. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Pinole, 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 8 detached (not more than number of existing units); up to 2 detached on lot with proposed multifamily dwelling
Detached ADUs on multifamily lots capped at number of existing units; up to 2 detached on proposed multifamily lots.
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
Detached ADUs: 850 sq ft (1 bedroom or less) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms), or 50% of primary dwelling, whichever is less; state minimum 800 sq ft always allowed.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, >=850 (1 bedroom or less), >=1,000 (2+ bedrooms), >=800 always allowed
Attached ADUs: 50% of primary dwelling, but not less than 850/1,000/800 sq ft as per state law.
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 rule18 ft
Detached ADUs: 16 ft standard; 18 ft if within ½ mile of transit or on lot with 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 ruleDetached ADUs must be at rear or side of primary dwelling, not in front
Detached ADUs prohibited in front of primary dwelling.
Separation from main house
Local rule6 ft
6 ft required between detached ADU and primary dwelling, unless this would prohibit an 800 sq ft ADU with 4-ft setbacks.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less; multiple exemptions apply.
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
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, Site plan, Elevations, Address assignment, Public Works permits (e.g., sewer lateral, encroachment)
Additional Public Works permits may be required depending on project scope.
Pinole-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 not required for ADUs unless required for primary residence
ADU construction does not trigger sprinklers for main house; ADUs exempt if primary is exempt.
Historic district parking exemption
No parking required for ADUs in historic districts; demolition notice for garage conversion not required unless in historic district.
Pinole sets a local detached ADU size cap of 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) or 850 sq ft (1 bedroom), and requires a 6-ft separation from the primary dwelling unless this blocks an 800 sq ft ADU. Detached ADUs are limited to the rear or side of the primary dwelling and may reach 18 ft in height near transit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Pinole?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Pinole 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 Pinole?
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 Pinole?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. Detached ADUs must be at rear or side of primary dwelling, not in front.
Is parking required for an ADU in Pinole?
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 Pinole?
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 Pinole?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Pinole Municipal Code Chapter 17.70 (Ord. 2025-01, 2025)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(B)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(C)(1)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(C)(3)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(C)(5)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(C)(2)(c)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(E)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.030(B)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(F)(4)
- Pinole Zoning Code § 17.70.040(E)(1)(c), (E)(2)(a)
- 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 Pinole'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 Pinole Planning before relying on it.
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