In short
- 525 ADU permits on record, nearly all since 2020.
- 130 in 2025, up 27% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 310 days from application to permit (median of 134 permits with both dates recorded).
About this data
- Source: California HCD Housing Element Annual Progress Reports. The state data does not say whether an ADU is detached, attached, a garage conversion or a JADU, so most records show as 'unknown'. Permit valuations are not published in this source. Timelines use the application date the city reported to the state, matched to the permit where possible; some cities report their planning application date, so timelines can include planning review. Each project is counted once, in its building-permit year (or completion year when no permit date was reported).
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 (partial records) | 1 | — | — |
| 2018 | 7 | — | — |
| 2019 | 7 | — | — |
| 2020 | 23 | — | — |
| 2021 | 85 | — | — |
| 2022 | 58 | — | — |
| 2023 | 112 | — | — |
| 2024 | 102 | — | — |
| 2025 | 130 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 118 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Baldwin Park
State law check: No HCD review letter on file (that isn't a finding either way). The city rewrote its ADU rules in May 2026.
| Rule | Baldwin Park's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | Detached: 850 sq ft (1 bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (more) on lots up to 5,000 sq ft; 1,000 sq ft on lots up to 8,000; 1,200 sq ft on larger lots. Attached: 850 or 1,000 sq ft (1,200 on lots over 8,000) and 50% of the house. Junior ADU 500 sq ft. | At least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms) must be allowed; an 800 sq ft detached ADU always is. Conversions of existing space have no size cap. Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft. |
| Height | Detached: 18 ft, or 20 ft to match the house's roof pitch. Attached: the house's height and stories, or 25 ft if the house is lower. | Detached: at least 16 ft (18 ft within ½ mile of transit, plus 2 ft for a matching roof). Attached: 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower. |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side and rear; the zone's front setback; none for conversions. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | None (the city says every residential area is within ½ mile of transit); no replacement parking. | At most 1 space; none within ½ mile of transit and in several other cases. No replacement parking when a garage is converted. |
| Owner living on site | None for ADUs. Junior ADU: only when it shares a bathroom with the house, with a deed restriction. | None for ADUs. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house requires the owner to live in one of them. |
| How many on a single-family lot | One converted ADU, one detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft) and one junior ADU; or one larger attached or detached ADU plus a junior ADU. | One ADU converted from existing space, one junior ADU and one new detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft). From January 1, 2027: two new detached ADUs (a city then needn't allow a junior ADU on that lot). |
| Short-term rentals | Not for 30 days or less; a rented ADU needs a city business license. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Attached ADUs and detached ADUs of 800 sq ft or more need Planning design review before the building plan check; smaller state-law ADUs go straight to Building and Safety.
- New detached ADUs go in the rear part of the lot; two-story ADUs have extra window and design rules.
- ADUs under 750 sq ft pay no impact fees (school fees may still apply).
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Baldwin Park Ordinance No. 1525 (BPMC §§ 153.120.350–153.120.370, adopted May 6, 2026) · Baldwin Park ADU/JADU handout (Jun 8, 2026); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Sep 30, 2026. Rules change and every lot is different: confirm with the city before you design.
How long permits take
| Type | Median days, application to permit | Middle half | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unclassified | 310 | 236 – 442 | 134 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: How long ADU permits take in Los Angeles (and other cities) · How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 274 ADU permits Baldwin Park reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 142 (52%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 11 months.
The state reports don't record expired or cancelled permits, and a completion the city hasn't reported looks the same as an unfinished project, so the share is a floor. Years with incomplete reports are left out.
What neighbors declared as cost
Cost data (declared permit valuations) is not published for this area in these sources.
Read more: How to choose an ADU builder
An ADU builder serving Baldwin Park? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Baldwin Park
How many ADUs have been permitted in Baldwin Park?
Public records show 525 ADU permits in Baldwin Park through 2025, nearly all since 2020. 130 in 2025, up 27% from 2024. These counts come from the city's reports to the state, which place a project in its completion year when no permit date was reported.
How long does an ADU permit take in Baldwin Park?
Among the 134 ADU permits in Baldwin Park with both dates recorded, half were issued within 310 days of the application; the middle half took 236 to 442 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Baldwin Park?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Baldwin Park, but what you can build depends on your lot, local rules and utilities. This site shows permits, not eligibility. See California ADU rules.
Where do I apply for an ADU permit in Baldwin Park?
Apply with the City of Baldwin Park: state-law ADUs go straight to Building and Safety, while attached and larger detached ADUs need Planning Division design review first. Official ADU page.
How current is this?
- State annual progress reports: through 2025 (published once a year)
How our data works · Download the data · Free to reuse with credit to SoCal ADU Tracker (socaladutracker.com), under CC BY 4.0.