Ventura, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Ventura, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Where allowed
- Residential or mixed-use zones
- JADU
- Single-family zoned lots only
- Detached ADU height
- 18 ft (20 ft matching roof pitch)
- Attached ADU height
- 25 ft, 2 stories
- Permit timeline
- 60-day ministerial review
- Fire hazard zones
- ADUs barred, JADUs allowed
Summary
Ventura allows one ADU on any residential or mixed-use lot and one JADU on single-family-zoned lots under Municipal Code Chapter 24.430. Adopted by Ordinance No. 2024-013, the chapter sets height, setback, parking and permitting standards that implement, and in places exceed, the minimums of state ADU law.
24.430.010 Purpose. ... The purpose of this chapter is to allow and regulate accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) and junior accessory dwelling units (“JADUs”) in compliance with Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code. ... 24.430.050 General ADU and JADU requirements. The following requirements apply to all ADUs and JADUs that are approved under Section 24.430.040(A) or (B): A. Zoning. 1. An ADU may be created on a lot in a residential or mixed-use zone. 2. In accordance with Government Code Section 66333(a), a JADU may only be created on a lot zoned for single-family residences.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
430 of the zoning code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2024-013 and amended by Ordinance No. 2024-012. 050(A) confines ADUs to lots in a residential or mixed-use zone, while junior ADUs are limited to lots zoned for single-family residences, tracking Government Code Section 66333(a). 030. 040(A) allows a building permit alone, with no discretionary review or public hearing, for a converted unit within an existing house or accessory structure plus one JADU, for a detached new-construction ADU up to 800 square feet with four-foot side and rear setbacks, or for converted and detached units on multifamily lots.
040(C), and an application neither approved nor denied within that window is deemed approved. 050(B) cap a detached ADU at 18 feet (20 feet if matching the primary roof pitch) and an attached ADU at 25 feet and two stories. 050(K), though JADUs remain allowed there.
Violations & Fines
Building an ADU without the required building permit or coastal approval, or exceeding the height, setback or size limits of Sections 24.430.050 and 24.430.060, is a zoning code violation subject to Community Development's code enforcement process, including stop-work orders and requirements to bring the structure into conformance or remove it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU on any lot in Ventura?
How tall can a Ventura ADU be?
Does an ADU need a discretionary permit?
Are ADUs allowed in fire hazard areas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
How Ventura compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle adu rules.