California ADU rules · Fresno County
Can I Build an ADU in Selma?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Selma. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Selma, 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
Local rule1 detached ADU + 1 JADU, or 1 detached ADU + 1 attached ADU
Allows either a JADU or an attached ADU in addition to a detached ADU, not both.
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (>=1 or 25% of units) + up to 2 detached (each ≤800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
Local cap of 2 detached ADUs per multifamily lot, each max 800 sq ft.
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
Detached ADUs capped at 1,200 sq ft and 2 bedrooms.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule≤1,200 sq ft, ≤2 bedrooms, and ≤50% of primary dwelling
Attached ADUs capped at 1,200 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, and 50% of primary.
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 ruleMust be outside the minimum required front setback for the zone; special rules for reverse corner parcels
Reverse corner parcels have additional restrictions.
Separation from main house
Local rule6 ft
6 ft separation required for detached ADUs ≤800 sq ft.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street space per ADU; JADUs exempt.
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 parking lost to ADU conversion.
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 for JADUs unless owned by government/land trust/housing org.
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
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Selma-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
Fire sprinklers required in ADU if required in primary dwelling.
Historic district parking exemption
No parking required for ADUs in historic districts.
Selma limits multifamily lots to two detached ADUs (each max 800 sq ft) and requires a 6-foot separation for small detached ADUs. Attached and detached ADUs are capped at 1,200 sq ft and two bedrooms.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Selma?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Selma 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 Selma?
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 Selma?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. Must be outside the minimum required front setback for the zone; special rules for reverse corner parcels.
Is parking required for an ADU in Selma?
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 Selma?
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 Selma?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Selma Zoning Code Update
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Types and Number of Units Allowed"
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Size"
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Setbacks"
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Limited Detached"
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Parking"
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Owner-Occupancy Requirement"
- Selma Zoning Code Update, "Fire Sprinklers"
- 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 § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- 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 Selma'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 Selma Planning before relying on it.
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