Visalia, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Permits (2026)

VMC Chapter 17.32 Article 2 implements California's ADU statute and requires only a building permit for compliant ADUs — no Conditional Use Permit, no Site Plan Review, no public hearing. Applications are processed by the City of Visalia Community Development Department (Planning Division at 559-713-4359 and Building Safety Division). State law caps local processing at 60 days from receipt of a complete application (Gov. Code §65852.2(b)). Visalia permits attached ADUs up to 50% of the primary dwelling's floor area or 850 sf for studios/one-bedrooms (1,200 sf for two-bedrooms and larger), and detached ADUs up to 850 sf (1,200 sf for two-bedroom plus). Detached ADUs may be up to 16 feet in height; attached ADUs follow the primary unit's height limit up to 25 feet. Conversions of existing legal accessory structures are exempt from setback requirements; new detached ADUs require minimum 4-foot side and rear setbacks. SB 9 (Gov. Code §§65852.21 and 66411.7) allows eligible single-family lots to split and add up to two units per parcel. AB 1033 (2023) lets cities opt in to ADU condo-ization; Visalia has not adopted an opt-in ordinance, so ADUs cannot be sold separately from the primary unit.