ADU feasibility by city

ADU rules, costs & feasibility — by California city

Every city sets a different envelope for what you can build, and rents and costs swing the math. Pick your city for the 2026 rules and typical numbers, then run your exact address through the free analyzer.

Los Angeles

No parking, no owner-occupancy, 1,200 sq ftView Los Angeles rules & costs →

San Diego

Bonus Program, condo sale, 1,200 sq ftView San Diego rules & costs →

San Jose

Pre-approved plans, Bay Area costsView San Jose rules & costs →

Sacramento

Low build cost, strong cost-to-rent ratioView Sacramento rules & costs →

Oakland

Bay Area rents, lower cost than SFView Oakland rules & costs →

Long Beach

400–500 ADU/yr goal, coastal rentsView Long Beach rules & costs →

Fresno

Lowest build cost, pre-approved plansView Fresno rules & costs →

Riverside

Zero parking required, 3-5 day permitsView Riverside rules & costs →

Santa Ana

Orange County rents, tight rental marketView Santa Ana rules & costs →

Bakersfield

Lowest build cost, own plan portalView Bakersfield rules & costs →

Anaheim

800 sq ft by-right floor, OC rentsView Anaheim rules & costs →

Irvine

Premium OC rents; check your PC zoneView Irvine rules & costs →

Stockton

Low Central Valley build costView Stockton rules & costs →

Modesto

Lowest build cost, same-day reviewView Modesto rules & costs →

Pasadena

Standard Plans program, 18 ft near transitView Pasadena rules & costs →

Glendale

LA-adjacent rents, 1,200 sq ftView Glendale rules & costs →

Chula Vista

Up to 3 units on a single-family lotView Chula Vista rules & costs →

Oceanside

1,000 sq ft cap, North County coastView Oceanside rules & costs →

Encinitas

Coastal premium; ≤ primary homeView Encinitas rules & costs →

Berkeley

East Bay rents, 25 ft attachedView Berkeley rules & costs →

Fremont

Silicon Valley rents; 1,000 sf on small lotsView Fremont rules & costs →

Culver City

800 sq ft cap, Westside premium rentsView Culver City rules & costs →

Torrance

South Bay coastal, 1,200 sq ftView Torrance rules & costs →

Burbank

Media district; 25 ft two-storyView Burbank rules & costs →

Escondido

Inland SD value; parking waiver on conversionsView Escondido rules & costs →

Santa Rosa

Sonoma County; attached ≤ 50%View Santa Rosa rules & costs →

Sunnyvale

1,000 sq ft cap, Silicon Valley rentsView Sunnyvale rules & costs →

Santa Monica

2 stories / 24 ft, top coastal rentsView Santa Monica rules & costs →
More California cities on the way — run any U.S. address in the meantime.

Don't see your city?

The analyzer works on any address — it pulls your lot, setbacks, and local data and returns buildable size, cost, rent, and ROI.

Analyze your ADU now →

New to ADU math? Read how to run the ADU numbers yourself, the detached garage cost & ROI guide, the guest house vs ADU guide, the backyard office & pool house cost guide, or the land-development pro forma guide.