Building an ADU in Burbank

What you can build in Burbank

ADUs and junior ADUs (JADUs) are allowed in Burbank's R-1, R-1-H (horse keeping), R-2, R-3, R-4, MDR-3 and MDR-4 zones, and on any lot with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily home. The rules are in Burbank Municipal Code section 10-1-620, as amended by Ordinance No. 23-4,002, adopted November 7, 2023 and effective December 8, 2023. The Planning Division summarizes them in an ADU handout updated July 11, 2024.

Single-family lots. The code says that "unless otherwise preempted by state law," no more than one ADU is allowed on a lot with a house, plus one JADU. State law does preempt it in part: HCD reads it as requiring cities to approve a converted ADU, a new detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and a JADU on the same lot. See our California page.

Special areas. In the R-1-H (Rancho) zone, ADUs can only be made by converting an existing permitted garage, permitted guest house or space inside the house; the city's preapproved plan page says the Rancho area does not allow any new-construction ADUs. In the Mountain Fire Zone and the R-1-H zone, only one ADU (up to 800 sq ft) or one JADU is allowed, and new ADUs must meet brush clearance rules.

Multifamily lots. You can convert non-living space (storage rooms, boiler rooms, attics, basements, common areas or garages) into ADUs, up to 25% of the existing units and at least one. The city's handout allows up to two detached ADUs on a lot with an existing or proposed apartment building. State law since January 1, 2025 allows up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing apartment building (no more than the number of existing units). [1][2][3][4][5]

Where state law now goes further

On December 5, 2025, California's housing department (HCD) sent Burbank a letter of technical assistance saying the most recent Burbank ADU ordinance on file with HCD is from 2020, so it "may be outdated and out of compliance with State ADU Law." HCD asked the city to submit any newer ordinance and listed the state changes since then. Burbank adopted Ordinance No. 23-4,002 in 2023, after the 2020 ordinance HCD has on file. HCD's letter also notes that under a 2025 change, an ADU ordinance not submitted to HCD within 60 days of adoption is null and void, and the city must then apply only state ADU law. Ask Planning which rules it applies to your project.

Where the city's 2023 rules are narrower than current state law, state law generally controls. Points to raise with Planning:

• Unit count. State law requires a converted ADU, a detached ADU and a JADU to be allowed together on a single-family lot, and up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing apartment building.
• JADU owner occupancy. The handout says the owner must live in the house or the JADU. Since 2026, state law requires that only if the JADU shares a bathroom with the house.
• Parking. State law bars parking requirements for ADUs inside the house or an accessory building, ADUs in historic districts, ADUs within a block of car share, and the state-mandated ADU types, in addition to the transit and permit-parking exemptions Burbank lists. HCD also says a city can't require parking for a JADU, even one made from an attached garage.
• Deed restrictions and HOAs. HCD says state law bars deed restrictions on ADUs and bars homeowners associations from influencing ADU approval.
• Owner occupancy for ADUs. The 2023 ordinance keeps a suspended owner-occupancy clause that would "spring back" if state law allowed it. State law now permanently bars owner-occupancy rules for ADUs.

If the city's answer differs from state law, see our California page for how to ask HCD for help. [1][2][3][5]

Size, height and setbacks

Size. An attached or detached ADU can be built regardless of the house size, floor area ratio, lot coverage or density limits.

• Studio or one bedroom: up to 850 sq ft.
• Over 850 sq ft: at least two bedrooms, and no more than 1,000 sq ft.
• In the Mountain Fire Zone, or built in the front setback: up to 800 sq ft.
• JADU: up to 500 sq ft.

Any part of an ADU with an interior height over 12 feet counts twice toward floor area, and attic or loft space over 5 feet high counts too. If you add a code-compliant parking space beyond what is required, one ADU on the lot can be up to 120 sq ft larger, with a recorded deed restriction keeping the parking.

Height. Most new detached ADUs can be 17 feet. A detached ADU within a half-mile of high-quality transit or a major transit stop, or on a lot with a multistory apartment building, can be 18 feet, with 2 more feet near transit to match the house's roof pitch. A detached ADU over a garage or another accessory building can be 20 feet to the top plate and 23 feet to the top of the roof. An attached ADU can be 20 feet to the top plate and 30 feet to the roof.

Setbacks. ADUs need 4 feet from side and rear lot lines, including second-story ADUs over a garage; balconies, porches or patios more than 7 inches above grade and second-story stairs need 4 feet too. A new ADU can't be closer to the street than the prevailing front setback, except when you convert an existing part of the house or attached accessory building, or when the city finds it physically infeasible to fit an 800 sq ft ADU elsewhere on the lot. Converted permitted buildings keep their legal nonconforming setbacks. New ADUs need 5 feet from building face to building face and 4 feet eave to eave from other structures, unless that would make it physically infeasible to build an 800 sq ft ADU with 4-foot side and rear setbacks.

Design. An attached ADU needs its own entrance. A converted garage door must be replaced with windows or a residential entry door. If a detached ADU is visible from the street, its main entrance must face the same way as the house's or face a side lot line. Air conditioners must be on the ground or in an enclosed attic, or hidden behind a parapet. [1][2]

Parking

Burbank requires one parking space per ADU unless the property is within a half-mile walk of public transit or on a street that requires a parking permit. No parking is required for a JADU. If you tear down or convert a garage, carport or covered parking to build the ADU, you don't have to replace it. Required parking can be tandem, in the existing driveway or in a setback.

If you convert an attached garage facing the street, the driveway can stay only if it fits a parking stall 18 feet deep and 8 feet 6 inches wide; otherwise the driveway and curb cut must be removed. A new curb cut and driveway can be added if no other spot on the lot fits a stall that size.

State law lists more exemptions than Burbank's handout, including ADUs inside the house or an accessory building and the state-mandated ADU types (see the section above), so ask Planning whether your ADU needs a space. [1][2][5]

Fees

Impact fees. ADUs under 750 sq ft pay no development impact fees. The city code says ADUs over 750 sq ft may be charged fees in proportion to the main house's square footage; the city uses the Los Angeles County Assessor's records for the house's size. State law bars impact fees on ADUs of 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less.

Permit fees. You pay an ADU/JADU permit application fee and building permit fees from the city's adopted fee schedule; for preapproved plans the fees are based on the unit's square footage.

School fees. Contact Burbank Unified School District Facilities at BUSDDeveloperFees@BurbankUSD.org about school facilities fees. Under state law, ADUs and JADUs under 500 sq ft of interior livable space are exempt.

Utilities. An ADU not built inside the existing house or an accessory building may need its own utility connection under Burbank Water and Power and Public Works standards. For costs see our ADU cost guide and for financing our ADU financing guide. [1][4][5]

How long it takes

You submit an ADU or JADU permit application, plans, a copy of the deed and the application fee to the Planning Division. Complete applications on lots with an existing home must be approved or denied ministerially within 60 days. A denial must list what is deficient and how to fix it. If you apply with a new house, the city may wait to decide the ADU until the house is decided. A demolition permit for a detached garage being replaced by the ADU is reviewed with the ADU and issued with the building permit.

Under state law the city must also tell you within 15 business days whether your application is complete, list anything missing, and offer an appeal if it finds the application incomplete or denies it. Building plan review runs through the city's ProjectDOX system; for preapproved plans the city lists 30 business days for the first review and 15 business days for rechecks. See our ADU permit process guide. [1][3][4]

Garage conversions and junior ADUs

Garage conversions. You can convert a permitted garage into an ADU and keep its legal nonconforming setbacks; additions beyond the footprint must meet ADU setbacks. You don't have to replace the garage parking. The garage door must come out and be replaced with windows or an entry door. Garage conversions can't use the preapproved plan program. Previously approved guest houses can be converted up to their approved size or 850 / 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less. See our garage conversion guide.

Junior ADUs. A JADU is up to 500 sq ft inside an existing single-family home in the R-1 or R-1-H zone. It needs its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen (cooking appliances, food prep counters and storage); no parking is required. Lots with more than one detached house can't have a JADU. Before the certificate of occupancy you record a deed restriction that bars selling the JADU separately and states its size. The city's handout requires the owner to live in the house or the JADU; state law since 2026 requires that only if the JADU shares a bathroom. See our junior ADU guide.

Sprinklers. If the house must have fire sprinklers, a new ADU must too. [1][2][3][4]

Renting it out and selling

Burbank's code says rented ADUs and JADUs must be rented for terms longer than 90 days, unless another part of the city code allows otherwise, so short-term rentals are out. HCD's handbook says cities may require rental terms longer than 30 days, so confirm the minimum term with Planning. You can rent the ADU separately from the house, but the code says it can't be sold or conveyed separately. State law lets cities adopt rules to allow ADU condominiums, and Burbank's code does not provide for that.

Lot splits. For splitting your lot or building a second house under SB 9, see our SB 9 lot split guide. [1][5]

Preapproved ADU plans

Under the Burbank Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP), designers can get new-construction ADU plans preapproved for building, structural, life safety and energy code compliance. As of October 2026 the library lists a city plan, BPAP 24001, a 432 sq ft one-story studio, and accepts one Los Angeles standard plan (IT House ADU, a 360 sq ft studio). Stacked, side-by-side and expanded designs aren't allowed in the program.

To build one, talk with Planning about your site and ADU size, contact the plan's designer, and email your permit application to eplancheck@burbankca.gov. Staff add the plans to ProjectDOX, where Planning, Public Works, Burbank Water and Power (electric and water) and Fire review them. Preapproval lasts only through the building code cycle in which it was approved. For other options see our prefab ADU guide. [4]

Permit steps in Burbank

1. Talk to Planning

   Confirm your zone, ADU size and site rules with the Planning Division at (818) 238-5250 or planning@burbankca.gov. Ask how current state law applies to your lot. [2][4]

2. Choose a design

   Hire a designer or pick a plan from the preapproved ADU library and buy it from its designer. [4]

3. Submit your application

   File the ADU/JADU permit application with site plan, floor plans, elevations, photos, a copy of the deed and the fee. For a preapproved plan, email the application to eplancheck@burbankca.gov. [1][4]

4. Plan check in ProjectDOX

   Upload plans and pay plan check fees; Planning, Public Works, Burbank Water and Power and Fire review them. Respond to corrections and resubmit. [4]

5. Pay school and impact fees and get your permit

   Contact Burbank Unified about school fees, pay any impact fees for ADUs over 750 sq ft, and the permit is issued once plans are stamped. [1][4]

6. Build and pass inspections

   Build to the approved plans. For a JADU, record the required deed restriction before the certificate of occupancy. [1]

Pre-approved and sample plans

• Burbank Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP)

  Library of new-construction ADU plans reviewed for building code compliance, including a 432 sq ft city studio plan (BPAP 24001). [4]

Who to call

• Burbank Planning Division

  ADU zoning rules and ADU/JADU permit applications

  (818) 238-5250

  [2]

• Burbank Building and Safety Division

  Building permits, plan check and the preapproved ADU program

  (818) 238-5220

  [4]

Questions people ask