In short
- 71 ADU permits since 2018.
- 15 in 2025.
- Typical permit time: 218 days from application to permit (median of 56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | — | — |
| 2019 | 8 | — | — |
| 2020 | 7 | — | — |
| 2021 | 9 | — | — |
| 2022 | 5 | — | — |
| 2023 | 12 | — | — |
| 2024 | 11 | — | — |
| 2025 | 15 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 20 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Calabasas
State law check: HCD found the city's ADU ordinance noncompliant (May 4, 2026), with 20 findings, including its one-unit limit, design review and height rules; state law governs.
| Rule | Calabasas' code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 1,200 sq ft; attached ADUs 1,200 sq ft or 50% of the house, whichever is less. An 800 sq ft ADU is always allowed. 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: one story, 16 ft. | 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; 10 ft from other buildings. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space, unless exempt; 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 stated for ADUs. Junior ADU: the owner must live there. | 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 ADU or junior ADU per single-family lot. | 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 | No rentals of 30 days or less (a citywide ban). | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Old Topanga and Calabasas Highlands overlays add septic and coverage limits.
- The city offers free pre-approved ADU plans.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Calabasas Municipal Code 17.12.170 · HCD findings (May 4, 2026); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Sep 29, 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 | 218 | 140 – 416 | 56 |
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 33 ADU permits Calabasas reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 12 (36%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 13 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 Calabasas? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Calabasas
How many ADUs have been permitted in Calabasas?
Public records show 71 ADU permits in Calabasas from 2018 through 2025. 15 in 2025. 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 Calabasas?
Among the 56 ADU permits in Calabasas with both dates recorded, half were issued within 218 days of the application; the middle half took 140 to 416 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Calabasas?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Calabasas, 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 Calabasas?
Apply with the City of Calabasas Building and Safety Division through its online portal; the city offers free pre-approved ADU plans. 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.