In short
- 204 ADU permits since 2018.
- 43 in 2025, up 65% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 71 days from application to permit (median of 36 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 | 12 | — | — |
| 2019 | 11 | — | — |
| 2020 | 19 | — | — |
| 2021 | 36 | — | — |
| 2022 | 32 | — | — |
| 2023 | 25 | — | — |
| 2024 | 26 | — | — |
| 2025 | 43 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
ADU rules in Stanton
State law check: HCD sent a technical-assistance letter (May 11, 2026) noting the city's ordinance on file is from 2023 and may be outdated; no formal findings. The city amended its code in December 2025.
| Rule | Stanton's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 850 sq ft (studio or 1 bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); attached ADUs also 50% of the house, never below 800 sq ft. State-law detached ADU 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: 16 ft (18 ft near transit, plus 2 ft 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; 25 ft front unless that blocks an 800 sq ft ADU. None for rebuilds in the same place. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space per ADU unless exempt (transit, historic district, inside existing space, permit parking, car share, built with a new home). 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 that shares a bathroom: the owner lives on site. | 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 | A conversion ADU and a junior ADU, plus one new detached ADU up to 800 sq ft. | 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 | 30 days or more, 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. |
- A deed restriction is recorded for every ADU and junior ADU, and owners report the rent charged each year.
- Locally regulated ADUs are one story (attached ones may be two), with privacy rules for windows and doors.
- No ADUs on lots fronting roads narrower than the Orange County Fire Authority standard.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Stanton Municipal Code 20.400.330 (amended December 9, 2025) · HCD letter (May 11, 2026); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Oct 5, 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 | 71 | 0 – 135 | 36 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 110 ADU permits Stanton reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 87 (79%) 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 Stanton? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Stanton
How many ADUs have been permitted in Stanton?
Public records show 204 ADU permits in Stanton from 2018 through 2025. 43 in 2025, up 65% 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 Stanton?
Among the 36 ADU permits in Stanton with both dates recorded, half were issued within 71 days of the application; the middle half took 0 to 135 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Stanton?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Stanton, 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 Stanton?
Apply with the City of Stanton's Planning Division for an ADU permit, then get a building permit. 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.