In short
- 580 ADU permits since 2018.
- 68 in 2025, down 51% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 258 days from application to permit (median of 140 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 | 41 | — | — |
| 2019 | 52 | — | — |
| 2020 | 36 | — | — |
| 2021 | 70 | — | — |
| 2022 | 84 | — | — |
| 2023 | 89 | — | — |
| 2024 | 140 | — | — |
| 2025 | 68 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 281 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Temple City
State law check: HCD sent a technical-assistance letter (December 5, 2025) noting the city's 2020 ordinance was likely outdated; the city adopted a new one on August 18, 2026 (Ord. 26-1087), which HCD hasn't reviewed. It still requires a deed restriction on every ADU, which HCD's 2025 letter says state law doesn't allow.
| Rule | Temple City's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 850 sq ft (1 bedroom or less) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms); at least 220 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 | 16 ft; attached 25 ft (within the zone limit); detached near major transit 25 ft, but one story; 18 ft beside a multistory apartment building. No limit for conversions inside an existing building. | 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 for new construction; the zone's front setback; none for conversions or same-footprint rebuilds. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | None required; no replacement parking when a garage is converted or demolished. | 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. Every ADU needs a recorded 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 junior ADU, one converted ADU and one detached ADU on a single-family lot. | 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 rentals under 31 days, for the ADU, junior ADU and the main house. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Design standards apply where feasible: entry doors not visible from the street, a covered porch or recessed entry, and a style matching the house.
- No ADU or junior ADU on a lot created by an SB 9 urban lot split.
- Park fees apply to ADUs of 750 sq ft or more.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Temple City Ord. No. 26-1087, replacing Municipal Code § 9-1T-13 (adopted Aug 18, 2026) · Temple City Municipal Code § 9-1T-13 (codified text, 2020) · HCD letter (Dec 5, 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 | 258 | 181 – 386 | 140 |
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 186 ADU permits Temple City reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 23 (12%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 18 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 Temple City? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Temple City
How many ADUs have been permitted in Temple City?
Public records show 580 ADU permits in Temple City from 2018 through 2025. 68 in 2025, down 51% 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 Temple City?
Among the 140 ADU permits in Temple City with both dates recorded, half were issued within 258 days of the application; the middle half took 181 to 386 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Temple City?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Temple City, 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 Temple City?
Apply with the City of Temple City's Community Development Department (Planning Division, then Building); its ADU quick reference predates the August 2026 ordinance, so confirm current rules with Planning. 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.