In short
- 16 ADU permits since 2022.
- None counted in 2024, from an incomplete report.
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).
- Santa Paula reported no ADU building-permit dates. Its 2022 figures count completed projects; for 2021, 2023 and 2024 it reported only approvals, which are listed separately. Counts likely understate activity.
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 (incomplete report) | 16 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 15 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Santa Paula
State law check: No HCD review letter on file. The code's recorded deed restriction is the kind of rule HCD has told other cities state law doesn't allow.
| Rule | Santa Paula's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 850 sq ft (studio or 1 bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); attached 50% of the house, at least 800. 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: 16 ft (18 ft near transit, plus 2 ft). Attached: 25 ft, 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; 20 ft front, which can't push the ADU below 800 sq ft. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | None required. | 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. | 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 converted ADU, one junior ADU and one detached 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 | Not for less than 30 days. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- A recorded deed restriction; privacy windows within 30 ft of a side lot line; screening landscaping.
- The city's web page describes older size and owner-occupancy rules.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Santa Paula Municipal Code § 16.227.010 (Ord. 1340, Nov 20, 2024); 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
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 Santa Paula? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Santa Paula
How many ADUs have been permitted in Santa Paula?
Public records show 16 ADU permits in Santa Paula from 2022 through 2024. None counted in 2024, from an incomplete report. 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 Santa Paula?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Santa Paula, 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 Santa Paula?
Apply with the City of Santa Paula's Community and Economic Development department, which publishes an ADU guidebook. Official ADU page.
How current is this?
- State annual progress reports: through 2024 (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.