In short
- 1,219 ADU permits on record, nearly all since 2020.
- 238 in 2025, up 3% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 249 days from application to permit (median of 622 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 (partial records) | 1 | — | — |
| 2018 | 14 | — | — |
| 2019 | 16 | — | — |
| 2020 | 80 | — | — |
| 2021 | 122 | — | — |
| 2022 | 231 | — | — |
| 2023 | 287 | — | — |
| 2024 | 230 | — | — |
| 2025 | 238 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 1 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Pasadena
State law check: HCD found the 2024 ordinance noncompliant (February 26, 2025), including its one-ADU limit and front-setback rule; the city rewrote it (Ord. 7464, January 26, 2026). We haven't seen HCD's response.
| Rule | Pasadena's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | New attached or detached ADU up to 800 sq ft as of right. Larger: detached 1,200 sq ft; attached 850 sq ft (studio or 1 bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms). No cap for conversions. 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: 18 ft and 2 stories (16 ft in hillside areas, visible spots in historic districts and front yards; plus 2 ft near transit 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. ADUs over 800 sq ft follow the zone's front setback. 6 ft between a larger new ADU and other buildings. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space, waived for ADUs up to 800 sq ft and conversions, within ½ mile of transit, in historic districts and near car share; 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: 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 | One new ADU (attached or detached), one converted 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 | More than 30 days, for ADUs and junior ADUs. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Hillside Overlay Districts: new ADUs up to 800 sq ft on streets 26 ft wide or less; elsewhere in the hillside areas, detached ADUs up to 1,000 sq ft.
- Historic districts and landmarks: ADUs over 800 sq ft can't be visible from the street, unless that would prevent the unit.
- After the Eaton Fire, an interim ordinance (Ord. 7444, March 24, 2025) eased zoning standards and deadlines for rebuilding.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Pasadena Municipal Code § 17.50.275 (Ord. 7464, Jan 26, 2026) · HCD findings (Feb 26, 2025); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Sep 30, 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 | 249 | 168 – 400 | 622 |
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 578 ADU permits Pasadena reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 133 (23%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 9 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 Pasadena? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Pasadena
How many ADUs have been permitted in Pasadena?
Public records show 1,219 ADU permits in Pasadena through 2025, nearly all since 2020. 238 in 2025, up 3% 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 Pasadena?
Among the 622 ADU permits in Pasadena with both dates recorded, half were issued within 249 days of the application; the middle half took 168 to 400 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Pasadena?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?
Apply with the City of Pasadena's Planning & Community Development Department online through its permit portal; pre-approved ADU Standard Plans get 50% off plan check fees. 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.