California ADU rules · Kern County
Can I Build an ADU in Taft?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Taft. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Taft, 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 converted ADU + 1 detached new construction ADU + 1 JADU
Allows both a converted and a new detached ADU plus a JADU on a single-family lot.
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (>=1 or 25% of units) + up to 8 detached (not to exceed number of existing units); up to 2 detached on lot with proposed multifamily dwelling
Specifies up to 8 detached ADUs, not to exceed number of existing units; up to 2 detached on proposed multifamily lots.
Junior ADU (JADU)
Local ruleAllowed
JADUs allowed only on single-family lots.
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,200 sq ft
Local maximum for detached ADUs is 1,200 sq ft.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary dwelling (minimum 850 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft for 2+ bedrooms per state)
Attached ADU cannot exceed 50% of primary dwelling; state minimums still apply.
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 rule4 ft
No more than 4 ft required for new ADUs.
Rear setback
Local rule4 ft
No more than 4 ft required for new ADUs.
Front setback
Local ruleNo explicit local front setback; must allow at least one 800 sq ft ADU in front setback if no other location feasible
No local front setback for ADUs; follows state fallback.
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.
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 conversion.
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
Local rule60 days
Ministerial review within 60 days.
Owner-occupancy
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
Owner-occupancy required only for JADUs that share sanitation with 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
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Taft-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Sprinkler requirements
ADUs do not require sprinklers if not required for the primary residence.
Historic district garage conversion
Special notice/placard required for garage demolition in historic districts.
Taft allows both a converted and a new detached ADU plus a JADU on single-family lots, sets a 1,200 sq ft detached ADU cap, and provides detailed height and parking rules. Owner-occupancy is required only for JADUs sharing sanitation with the main house.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Taft?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Taft 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 Taft?
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 Taft?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. No explicit local front setback; must allow at least one 800 sq ft ADU in front setback if no other location feasible.
Is parking required for an ADU in Taft?
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 Taft?
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 Taft?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(c)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(c), (D)(3)(a)-(b)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(2)(c)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(d), (D)(3)(a)(2)(A)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(d)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(g), (D)(3)(a)(2)(B)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(g)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(e)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(e)(3)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(C)(4)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(2)(e)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(E)(2)
- Taft Municipal Code § 6-12-23(D)(1)(k)
- 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 § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- 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 last amended per file: Taft_ZoningCode.md. This is an AI-assisted summary of Taft'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 Taft Planning before relying on it.
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