ADU Building, Zoning, and Design Regulations for Pacifica, CA
With recent updates to California’s ADU laws, Pacifica is a great place to build an ADU and allows you to add significant value to your property. Before you start building, make sure you understand Pacifica’s special use regulations for accessory dwelling units.
Pacifica ADU Zoning Requirements
Zoning Regulations:
- The lot for a proposed ADU must be zoned for single-family use and must contain an existing single-family residence.
- One (1) accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a site with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling. A site with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling may also contain one junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU)
Setback Requirements for ADUs in Pacifica
- Front Setbacks: Minimum front setback shall be 15 feet for detached ADUs, conversion ADUs, and JADUs. Attached ADUs where an ADU is constructed above a garage have a minimum front setback of 20 feet.
- Side Setbacks: 4 feet is the minimum side setback for ADUs in Pacifica except for conversion ADUs or JADUs which do not require a side setback.
- Rear Setbacks: The minimum rear setback is 4 feet.
Maximum ADU Size for Single-Family Properties
Maximum Area:
- Detached single family ADUS can have a floor area up to a maximum of 1200 square feet.
- Total floor area for an attached studio or one bedroom accessory dwelling unit shall be 850 square feet or not more than 50% of the floor area of the primary dwelling unit, whichever is greater. Total floor area for an attached accessory dwelling unit that provides two (2) or more bedrooms shall be 1,000 square feet or not more than 50% of the floor area of the primary dwelling unit, whichever is greater.
- A JADU’s total floor area is 500 square feet.
Maximum ADU Height Requirements in Pacifica, CA
Maximum Height:
- The maximum height of single family detached ADUS shall be 25 feet or the height of the primary dwelling unit, whichever is less.
- A single family attached ADU maximum height shall be 35 feet if attached to a primary dwelling unit; or the lesser of 25 feet or the height of the primary dwelling unit if attached to an accessory structure.
- The maximum height shall be 16′ feet for any ADU structure in the following instances: the height of the primary dwelling unit is less than 16 feet; if any portion of a detached accessory dwelling unit is located between a primary dwelling unit and a site’s front property line; or any portion of a detached accessory dwelling unit is located <5ft from the side lot line, or <10 feet from the street-side lot line, or <20 feet from the rear lot line.
Parking Requirements for ADUs in Pacifica
Outside of the coastal access parking area, an accessory dwelling unit shall require one off-street parking space per accessory dwelling unit or per bedroom, whichever is less. Within the coastal access parking area, an accessory dwelling unit shall require one off-street parking space per accessory dwelling unit.
No additional parking is required if:
- The property is located in a architecturally and historically significant historic district
- The property is within 0.5 miles of a transit stop
- When on-street parking permits are required but not offered to the occupant of an ADU
- The property is within one block of a car-share vehicle.
- The ADU is a studio unit or a unit without a bedroom.
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Over the years, we have worked throughout the greater Silicon Valley area, installing ADUs and backyard structures in San Jose, Fremont, and Cupertino.
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