In short
- 495 ADU permits since 2018.
- 38 in 2025, down 25% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 43 days from application to permit (median of 307 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 | 96 | — | — |
| 2019 | 63 | — | — |
| 2020 | 87 | — | — |
| 2021 | 54 | — | — |
| 2022 | 51 | — | — |
| 2023 | 55 | — | — |
| 2024 | 51 | — | — |
| 2025 | 38 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 48 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in San Fernando
State law check: No HCD review letter on file (that isn't a finding either way); the code says state law governs where they conflict.
| Rule | San Fernando's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | Detached: 850 sq ft (1 bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms). Attached: the same or 50% of the house, whichever is less, at least 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: 18 ft, plus 2 ft for roof pitch. Attached: 25 ft. Over a garage: one story. | 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 | None required, and 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: required, with a deed restriction. | 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 conversion ADU, one detached (or attached) 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. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- New ADUs should match the house's materials, colors and roof slope, with a 4 ft walkway to the sidewalk.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: San Fernando Municipal Code § 106-520 (May 5, 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 | 43 | 6 – 140 | 307 |
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 240 ADU permits San Fernando reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 126 (52%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 6 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 San Fernando? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in San Fernando
How many ADUs have been permitted in San Fernando?
Public records show 495 ADU permits in San Fernando from 2018 through 2025. 38 in 2025, down 25% 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 San Fernando?
Among the 307 ADU permits in San Fernando with both dates recorded, half were issued within 43 days of the application; the middle half took 6 to 140 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in San Fernando?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in San Fernando, 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 San Fernando?
Apply with the City of San Fernando's Community Development Department, starting with an ADU site plan review application. 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.