The Complete Santa Cruz ADU Requirements Guide
If you’re planning to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Santa Cruz, start with the regulations and requirements. Fortunately, the city of Santa Cruz makes building an ADU a straightforward process.
An ADU is a self-contained living unit that shares a lot with a larger main residence. Whatever purpose yours serves, an ADU adds flexibility and value to your property.
This guide provides an overview of the rules and requirements for building an ADU in Santa Cruz and how Samara can help make your backyard home a reality.
Santa Cruz ADU regulations at a glance
While the city of Santa Cruz will provide an initial review your ADU permit submission within 60 days, you can expect the full permitting process to take three to four months from your initial submission. If your property falls within the Coastal Zone, you’ll also need a separate Coastal Permit from the planning department. You can check the city’s official Coastal Zone maps to find out if your property is within the Coastal Zone.
Size and lot requirements
There’s a minimum size requirement of 150 square feet for all ADUs and JADUs in Santa Cruz. Other size, height, and setback requirements depend on the type of ADU being built.
- Detached ADUs: Studio and one-bedroom detached ADUs can be up to 850 square feet. Detached ADUs with two or more bedrooms are limited to 1,000 square feet, or up to 1,200 square feet if that amount doesn’t exceed 10 percent of your total lot area. A detached ADU’s required setbacks from property lines vary based on its height. ADUs up to 16 feet tall require at least a 4-foot setback from rear and side property lines. If the ADU is taller than 16 feet, the rear setback increases to a minimum of 8 feet. The maximum allowed height is generally 16 feet, but with design review approval, this can increase to 21 feet, or up to 24 feet if built above a detached garage. Additionally, your ADU must be at least 3 feet from other structures on your property for fire safety.
- Attached ADUs: Studio or one-bedroom units can be up to 850 square feet, while units with two or more bedrooms can reach up to 1,000 square feet, provided they do not exceed 50% of the primary home’s existing habitable floor area. The height limit matches the zoning standards for the main residence, typically allowing up to 28 feet.
- Junior ADUs (JADUs) are limited to a maximum of 500 square feet.
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Parking requirements
In the city of Santa Cruz, you generally aren’t required to add parking spaces when building an ADU, nor do you need to replace parking spaces removed due to ADU construction. However, if your property is located within the Coastal Zone, parking requirements—including creating new or replacing existing spaces—may apply depending on your property’s specific location.
Zoning eligibility
ADUs can be built on any residentially or mixed-use zoned lot that already has an existing primary residence or where a primary residence is currently being constructed.
Number of ADUs allowed
The number of ADUs allowed in Santa Cruz depends on the property type:
- Single-family lots can have one ADU and one Junior ADU (JADU). If both units will be attached to the primary dwelling, multi-family building codes may apply, including stricter fire separation and accessibility requirements.
- Multi-family lots can have up to eight detached ADUs. Additionally, up to 25 percent of existing units can be created by converting non-residential spaces, such as garages or offices.
- Non-conforming parcels, which already exceed the density allowed by the General Plan, may still qualify for ADUs. The exact number allowed depends on existing structures and zoning.
Meet the KurodasStreamline your ADU build in Santa Cruz
If you’re looking to build an ADU, Samara makes it easy. We handle everything from permits to installation, including ADU financing options. Call us at 650-420-2607 to schedule a 15-minute consultation and discover how simple adding a Backyard ADU can be.
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