In short
- 222 ADU permits since 2018.
- 32 in 2025.
- Typical permit time: 58 days from application to permit (median of 67 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).
- Ojai reported far fewer ADUs for 2021 than for the years around it, and for 2024 mostly completed projects (counted in their completion year); those years likely understate permit activity.
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 22 | — | — |
| 2019 | 19 | — | — |
| 2020 | 33 | — | — |
| 2021 (incomplete report) | 5 | — | — |
| 2022 | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 26 | — | — |
| 2024 (incomplete report) | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 26 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Ojai
State law check: HCD sent a technical-assistance letter (October 8, 2025) saying the ordinance on file may be outdated; the code still cites older state law, and its one-ADU limit is below what state law allows.
| Rule | Ojai's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 1,200 sq ft or 85% of the house, whichever is smaller, but at least 850 sq ft (1,000 with 2+ bedrooms). 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 | Set by the zone; design review for two-story units or units over 24 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. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 uncovered space for a new detached ADU more than ½ mile from transit; none otherwise. | 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: required. | 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 and one junior ADU. | 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 short-term rentals of ADUs; a citywide ban on rentals under 30 days. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- No city impact or connection fees for ADUs.
- Moveable tiny houses are allowed.
- An amnesty program covers ADUs built before 2021.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Ojai Municipal Code § 10-2.1709 (Ord. 967, Jul 10, 2025) · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior ADU (JADU) | too few to say | 3 | |
| Unclassified | 58 | 29 – 88 | 64 |
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 Ojai reported issuing in 2020, 2022 and 2023, 57 (66%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 5 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 Ojai? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Ojai
How many ADUs have been permitted in Ojai?
Public records show 222 ADU permits in Ojai from 2018 through 2025. 32 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 Ojai?
Among the 67 ADU permits in Ojai with both dates recorded, half were issued within 58 days of the application; the middle half took 28 to 92 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Ojai?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Ojai, 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 Ojai?
Apply with the City of Ojai, which posts its ADU application packets on its ADU page. 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.