ADU rules in Ventura County, CA — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Ventura County permits accessory dwelling units under §8107-1.7, aligned with California Government Code 65852.2. ADUs are processed ministerially by building permit. Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft are allowed with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. Junior ADUs (JADUs) up to 500 sq ft are regulated under §8107-1.7.6.
Section 8107-1.7 (enacted by Ord. 4615, Feb. 7, 2023) establishes ADU regulations. Types of ADUs are defined in §8107-1.7.3. Certain ADUs and JADUs are allowed by building permit alone under §8107-1.7.4. Development standards for other ADUs are in §8107-1.7.5. JADUs (up to 500 sq ft within existing primary dwelling footprint) have specific requirements under §8107-1.7.6. Application processing follows §8107-1.7.7. Under state law, ADU permits must be approved ministerially within 60 days for compliant applications. ADUs are exempt from lot coverage maximums, floor area ratio limits, and open space requirements under state law. Replacement parking is not required for garage conversions.
Building an ADU without permits triggers stop-work orders and double retroactive permit fees. Occupying an unpermitted ADU is a zoning violation. However, state law requires the county to approve compliant ADU applications ministerially — the county cannot impose discretionary review.
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See how Ventura County's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
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