In short
- 473 ADU permits since 2019.
- 81 in 2025, down 24% from 2024.
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).
- Huntington Beach's state reports include no ADUs for 2018.
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 28 | — | — |
| 2020 | 31 | — | — |
| 2021 | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 88 | — | — |
| 2023 | 79 | — | — |
| 2024 | 106 | — | — |
| 2025 | 81 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
ADU rules in Huntington Beach
State law check: No HCD ordinance review letter on file. In February 2023 the city voted to stop processing ADU applications; HCD warned that was unlawful (February 21, 2023), the state sued (March 8, 2023), and the council resumed processing on March 21, 2023.
| Rule | Huntington Beach's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | No local rule in effect; the city applies state law. | 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 | No local rule in effect; the city applies state law. | 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 | No local rule in effect; the city applies state law. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | No local rule in effect; the city applies state law. | 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 | No local rule in effect; the city applies state law. | 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 | No local rule in effect; the city applies state law. | 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 nights, except legal ADUs built before the city's 2021 short-term rental rules, which can get a hosted short-term rental permit. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- The city says its old ADU section (Zoning Code 230.10) is no longer in effect; ADUs are reviewed ministerially under state law and HCD's ADU Handbook.
- Coastal Zone: a coastal development permit may also be required.
- The city offers a free pre-approved plan for a one-story, 490 sq ft detached ADU, with no changes allowed.
- The state's lawsuit was later expanded over the city's overdue housing element (April 10, 2023).
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: City of Huntington Beach ADU page · HCD notice of potential violation (February 21, 2023) · California Attorney General: lawsuit announced (March 9, 2023) · California Attorney General: amended lawsuit (April 10, 2023) · Huntington Beach Municipal Code 5.120 (short-term rentals); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Oct 5, 2026. Rules change and every lot is different: confirm with the city before you design.
How long permits take
Application and issue dates are not published for this area in these sources.
Read more: How long ADUs take to build
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 Huntington Beach? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Huntington Beach
How many ADUs have been permitted in Huntington Beach?
Public records show 473 ADU permits in Huntington Beach from 2019 through 2025. 81 in 2025, down 24% 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.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Huntington Beach?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach?
Apply with the City of Huntington Beach's Community Development Department, which reviews ADUs under state law and offers a free pre-approved 490 sq ft ADU plan. 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.