In short
- 202 ADU permits since 2018.
- 35 in 2025, down 15% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 80 days from application to permit (median of 104 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 | 9 | — | — |
| 2019 | 7 | — | — |
| 2020 | 13 | — | — |
| 2021 | 12 | — | — |
| 2022 | 36 | — | — |
| 2023 | 49 | — | — |
| 2024 | 41 | — | — |
| 2025 | 35 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 60 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Camarillo
State law check: HCD found parts of the ordinance noncompliant (March 6, 2025). The city amended it in 2025, but the unit-count wording and the side-or-rear entrance rule remain.
| Rule | Camarillo's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 850 sq ft (1 bedroom or less) or 1,000 sq ft (more than 1); 1,200 sq ft on lots of an acre or more. Detached ADU with a junior ADU: 800 sq ft. 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: 16 ft (18 ft near transit, plus 2 ft for roof pitch). Attached: 25 ft. No more than 2 stories. | 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, which can't block an 800 sq ft ADU. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space for an attached or detached ADU unless exempt; none for an ADU inside the house. | 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. | 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 | The code still lists one ADU or one junior ADU (or a detached ADU with a junior ADU), but also allows the state-law combinations. | 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 | More than 30 days for state-law ADUs and junior ADUs. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Roof and wall colors and materials must match the house; the entrance goes on the side or rear.
- No ADUs on lots created by an SB 684 lot split.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 19.56 (through Ord. 2039, Jun 10, 2026) · HCD findings (Mar 6, 2025); 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 | 80 | 48 – 169 | 104 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: ADU permit times across Ventura County · How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 74 ADU permits Camarillo reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 34 (46%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 6 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 Camarillo? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Camarillo
How many ADUs have been permitted in Camarillo?
Public records show 202 ADU permits in Camarillo from 2018 through 2025. 35 in 2025, down 15% 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 Camarillo?
Among the 104 ADU permits in Camarillo with both dates recorded, half were issued within 80 days of the application; the middle half took 48 to 169 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Camarillo?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Camarillo, 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 Camarillo?
Apply with the City of Camarillo, starting with a Planning zone clearance through the city's OpenGov portal. 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.