In short
- 142 ADU permits on record, nearly all since 2018.
- 26 in 2025.
- Typical permit time: 80 days from application to permit (median of 76 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 (partial records) | 1 | — | — |
| 2017 (partial records) | 1 | — | — |
| 2018 | 6 | — | — |
| 2019 | 7 | — | — |
| 2020 | 30 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 27 | 9 | 10 |
| 2022 | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| 2024 | 15 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025 | 26 | 4 | 7 |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 3 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Moorpark
State law check: The code requires a zoning clearance and compliance with state law. HCD noted the ordinance on file may be outdated (October 8, 2025).
| Rule | Moorpark's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | The city's code defers to 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 | State law applies. | 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 | State law applies (the city's web page says 5 ft from property lines). | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | State law applies. | 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 | State law applies. | 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 | State law applies. | 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 stated in the code. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Standard plans of 700, 900 and 1,188 sq ft are available.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Moorpark Municipal Code § 17.28.020(G) · HCD letter (Oct 8, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached ADU | 172 | 80 – 257 | 15 |
| Attached ADU | too few to say | 3 | |
| Garage conversion | 64 | 1 – 119 | 16 |
| Junior ADU (JADU) | too few to say | 5 | |
| Unclassified | 61 | 6 – 160 | 37 |
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 86 ADU permits Moorpark reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 53 (62%) 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 Moorpark? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Moorpark
How many ADUs have been permitted in Moorpark?
Public records show 142 ADU permits in Moorpark through 2025, nearly all since 2018. 26 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 Moorpark?
Among the 76 ADU permits in Moorpark with both dates recorded, half were issued within 80 days of the application; the middle half took 9 to 196 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Moorpark?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Moorpark, 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 Moorpark?
Apply with the City of Moorpark's Building and Safety division, which offers standard ADU plans of 700, 900 and 1,188 square feet. 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.