ADU rules in Ventura County, CA — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Unincorporated Ventura County allows ADUs and JADUs ministerially under NCZO Sec. 8107-1.7, updated by Ord. 4633 (effective July 3, 2024) to match state law (Gov. Code 66310+). A new detached ADU up to 850 sq ft with 4-foot setbacks is approved by building permit; larger ADUs to 1,800 sq ft use a ministerial Zoning Clearance.
Ventura County implements state ADU law through NCZO Sec. 8107-1.7, amended by the 2024 ADU/JADU ordinance (Ord. 4633, effective July 3, 2024); HCD confirmed compliance in January 2025. Under Sec. 8107-1.7.4(b), a single new detached ADU is approved by building permit if it is on a lot zoned R1, R2, RES, RPD, R/MU, RA, RE, RO or CPD/CBD, has side and rear setbacks of at least four feet, and does not exceed 850 square feet. Conversion ADUs within an existing single-family dwelling or accessory structure (Sec. 8107-1.7.4(a)) require no added setbacks and allow up to 150 sq ft of expansion for ingress/egress. ADUs that do not qualify for building-permit approval use a ministerial Zoning Clearance under Sec. 8107-1.7.5, where size scales with lot size: 850 sq ft (one bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft on lots 9,000 sq ft or less; 1,200 sq ft up to 10 acres; and 1,800 sq ft on lots 10 acres or larger. Detached ADUs are capped at 16 feet above grade (18 feet near transit or on multistory multifamily lots), and no more than two stories. There is no minimum lot size. A single-family lot may have one ADU plus one JADU. JADUs (Sec. 8107-1.7.6) must be 500 sq ft or less, created within the walls of the single-family dwelling (including an attached garage). State Gov. Code 66317 requires the County to approve or deny a complete application within 60 days, or it is deemed approved.
Building an ADU without the required ministerial building permit or Zoning Clearance, exceeding the size, setback, height or story limits in NCZO Sec. 8107-1.7.4/1.7.5, or renting an ADU/JADU for terms of 30 days or fewer (prohibited under Sec. 8107-1.7.7) can trigger code enforcement, stop-work orders and required corrections before final permit approval.
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