In short
- 41 ADU permits since 2018.
- 2 in 2025.
- Typical permit time: 4 days from application to permit (median of 14 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).
- Villa Park's state reports include no ADUs for 2022.
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | — | — |
| 2019 | 2 | — | — |
| 2020 | 12 | — | — |
| 2021 | 18 | — | — |
| 2022 (incomplete report) | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2 | — | — |
| 2025 | 2 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
ADU rules in Villa Park
State law check: HCD found the city's ADU rules out of line with state law (December 24, 2024), including the one-ADU limit, 10 ft and 50 ft setbacks and size caps; the code hasn't been changed on those points.
| Rule | Villa Park's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | Lots under 1 acre: 1,200 sq ft detached; attached 1,200 sq ft or 50% of the house, whichever is less. Lots of 1 acre or more: 1,500 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 one story: 16 ft (18 ft near transit). Detached two story: 30 ft. Attached: the zone's limit. | 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 attached and one-story detached ADUs; 10 ft for two-story detached. Detached ADUs: 50 ft front setback unless the Planning Department finds it unduly limiting. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space for attached and one-story detached ADUs, 2 for a two-story detached ADU, unless exempt (transit, inside existing space, permit parking, 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 or junior ADUs. Plan check and planning fees are waived if the owner voluntarily records an owner-occupancy covenant. | 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 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 | 30 days or more. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- A recorded restrictive covenant and a Serrano Water District will-serve letter are needed before an ADU building permit.
- The city runs a pre-approved detached ADU plan program.
- The ADU's design must be substantially similar to the house.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Villa Park Municipal Code Article 23-22 · HCD findings (December 24, 2024); 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 | 4 | 0 – 17 | 14 |
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
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 Villa Park? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Villa Park
How many ADUs have been permitted in Villa Park?
Public records show 41 ADU permits in Villa Park from 2018 through 2025. 2 in 2025. 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 Villa Park?
Among the 14 ADU permits in Villa Park with both dates recorded, half were issued within 4 days of the application; the middle half took 0 to 17 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Villa Park?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Villa Park, 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 Villa Park?
Apply with the City of Villa Park's Planning Department, which requires a recorded restrictive covenant and a Serrano Water District will-serve letter before an ADU 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.