In short
- 1,733 ADU permits since 2018.
- 337 in 2025, up 36% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 148 days from application to permit (median of 1,051 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 | 71 | — | — |
| 2019 | 132 | — | — |
| 2020 | 146 | — | — |
| 2021 | 256 | — | — |
| 2022 | 277 | — | — |
| 2023 | 266 | — | — |
| 2024 | 248 | — | — |
| 2025 | 337 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 79 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Glendale
State law check: HCD issued a notice of violation (August 15, 2025) calling the city's ordinance null and void and referred it to the Attorney General; state law governs until it's fixed.
| Rule | Glendale's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 850 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft with more than one bedroom; attached ADUs 50% of the house up to that cap. Detached state-law 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 or the zone limit, 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; none for conversions. New ADUs generally can't sit between the house and the street. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less, 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 for ADUs. Junior ADU: owner-occupancy covenant. | 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 | A conversion ADU plus a junior ADU, or a detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft) plus a junior ADU; no new ADUs above detached garages. | 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. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Objective design standards apply to locally regulated ADUs, not to the state-law ADU combinations.
- No separate driveway, except from an alley.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Glendale Municipal Code 30.34.080 · HCD notice of violation (Aug 15, 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 | 148 | 24 – 308 | 1,051 |
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 945 ADU permits Glendale reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 838 (89%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 10 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 Glendale? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Glendale
How many ADUs have been permitted in Glendale?
Public records show 1,733 ADU permits in Glendale from 2018 through 2025. 337 in 2025, up 36% 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 Glendale?
Among the 1,051 ADU permits in Glendale with both dates recorded, half were issued within 148 days of the application; the middle half took 24 to 308 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Glendale?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Glendale, 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 Glendale?
Apply with the City of Glendale's Community Development Department, which also offers 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.