California ADU rules · Yolo County
Can I Build an ADU in Woodland?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Woodland. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Woodland, 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
Local ruleConditional
Ministerial (by-right) for ADUs/JADUs meeting objective standards; discretionary (Zoning Administrator Permit) if not.
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 (proposed multifamily) or up to 8 detached (existing multifamily), not to exceed number of existing units
Detached ADUs capped at 2 for proposed multifamily, 8 for existing multifamily, and cannot exceed number of existing units.
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
By-right max is 800 sq ft; local cap is 1,000 sq ft for detached ADUs. Up to 1,200 sq ft possible with discretionary permit.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft or 50% of primary, whichever is less; must allow at least 800 sq ft
Attached ADUs capped at 1,000 sq ft or 50% of primary, but not less than 800 sq ft.
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 rule16 ft
16 ft base; 18 ft if within ½ mile of transit or on multifamily lot; up to 20 ft for roof pitch alignment; attached/above garage up to 25 ft.
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 rule20 ft or underlying zone’s front setback, whichever is greater (except state-mandated 800 sq ft ADUs)
State-mandated 800 sq ft ADUs may encroach into front setback.
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
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
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
Local rule60 days
15 business days for completeness; 60 days for approval/denial.
Owner-occupancy
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
Owner-occupancy required for JADUs unless JADU has separate sanitation or is owned by public agency/land trust.
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.
Woodland-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Sprinkler requirement
Fire sprinklers required in ADU only if required in primary dwelling.
Historic property standards
ADUs on historic properties must comply with Secretary of Interior standards.
Woodland caps by-right detached and attached ADUs at 1,000 sq ft, with up to 1,200 sq ft possible via discretionary permit. Front setback for ADUs is 20 ft or the base zone, but state-mandated 800 sq ft ADUs may encroach.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Woodland?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Woodland 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 Woodland?
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 Woodland?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. 20 ft or underlying zone’s front setback, whichever is greater (except state-mandated 800 sq ft ADUs).
Is parking required for an ADU in Woodland?
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 Woodland?
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 Woodland?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Woodland Zoning Code §17.84.030 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units)
- §17.84.030(E.3, E.4, I)
- §17.84.030(E.3.a.i–iv)
- §17.84.030(E.3.a.ii, G.1, I.2.a)
- §17.84.030(G.1.b–c)
- §17.84.030(F.2)
- §17.84.030(G.3, G.3.d)
- §17.84.030(G.2)
- §17.84.030(G.2.d)
- §17.84.030(E.4)
- §17.84.030(F.5)
- §17.84.030(G.5.g)
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 (ADU Law)
- HCD 2025 Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- 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 § 66317 (ministerial approval, 60-day deadline)
- 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 Woodland'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 Woodland Planning before relying on it.
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