Glendale, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Impact Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Fee exemption threshold
- Under 750 sq. ft.: no impact fee
- Larger ADUs
- 750+ sq. ft.: prorated parks/library fee
- Governing section
- Municipal Code Sec. 30.34.080(D)(16)
- Overrides
- Chapter 4.10 standard impact fee schedule
- Utility fees
- Proportionate to burden, per Gov. Code Sec. 66013
Summary
Glendale exempts small ADUs from development impact fees entirely and prorates the fee for larger ones. Municipal Code Sec. 30.34.080(D)(16) waives the parks and libraries fee for any ADU under 750 square feet and scales it by size for units at or above that threshold, overriding Chapter 4.10's standard fee schedule.
Notwithstanding Chapter 4.10 and any development impact fee resolutions adopted thereunder: a. Any accessory dwelling unit under seven hundred fifty square feet shall be exempt from any development impact fee, including, but not limited to, the parks and libraries development impact fee; and b. Any accessory dwelling unit of seven hundred fifty square feet or greater shall be charged a parks and library development impact fee in an amount proportionally related to the square footage of the primary dwelling unit or the average square footage of the existing or proposed multi-family dwelling units, as applicable, not to exceed that amount set forth in the development impact fee resolution adopted pursuant to Chapter 4.10 of this code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Glendale Municipal Code Sec. 10 and any development impact fee resolutions adopted thereunder," then splits ADU fee treatment by size. 10. The section also addresses utility-side charges separately: an ADU is not treated as a new residential use for calculating water and sewer connection fees or capacity charges unless it is built alongside a brand-new single-family dwelling, and where a new connection is required for a unit that does not qualify for the reduced-standards path under subsection (E)(4) or (F)(2), any connection fee must be proportionate to the unit's burden on the system, measured by square footage or drainage fixture units under the Uniform Plumbing Code, consistent with Government Code Section 66013, and cannot exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service.
Applicants calculate their fee exposure at building permit issuance, when Building and Safety and Public Works confirm square footage against the 750-square-foot line and, if applicable, the primary unit's floor area for the proration formula.
Violations & Fines
Charging a flat, non-prorated development impact fee against a qualifying ADU, or assessing the parks and library fee on an ADU under 750 square feet, conflicts with Sec. 30.34.080(D)(16) and is grounds to appeal the fee determination to the Community Development Department before permit issuance. Excess utility connection charges beyond the proportionate, cost-based standard likewise fall outside what the section authorizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Glendale ADU owe a parks and library impact fee?
How is the fee calculated for a larger ADU?
Will I owe new water or sewer connection fees for my ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
ADU Impact Fees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle adu impact fees.