Burbank Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Burbank Community Development Department; sources are listed at the end.

Burbank publishes development standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs (JADUs) in all single-family and multifamily residential zones. The city also runs a Preapproved ADU Program and treats ADU permits as Tier 2 permits that need plan check and/or zoning approval.

Burbank zoning and ADU at a glance

How do I find out what is allowed on a Burbank lot?

Start with the city’s Community Development Department. Its ADU page explains the development standards for ADUs and JADUs, and its Planning and Zoning application forms cover other zoning approvals. Because standards depend on the zone and lot, ask the department to confirm what applies to your property before relying on a general rule.

What are the steps to build an ADU in Burbank?

ADUs are Tier 2 permits, so expect plan check and/or zoning review. Owners can use the city’s Preapproved ADU Program, which provides a path for enrolling a design and for plan check review and approval of that preapproved design. The ADU permit application is on the Building Permit Applications page.

Selling a Burbank house with an ADU or converted garage

A permitted ADU is part of the property and can matter to buyers. An unpermitted unit is different: Code Enforcement is responsible for zoning and unpermitted construction, and a buyer’s inspector or lender may notice a unit that does not match the records. See our Burbank building permits guide and code enforcement guide.

The Burbank Pre-Approved ADU Program

Burbank runs the Burbank Preapproved Accessory Dwelling Unit Program, known as BPAP, created under Assembly Bill 1332. It offers pre-approved plans, including a 432-square-foot one-story studio, and an enrolled plan can be purchased from its designer. The program is for new construction only, so garage conversions are not eligible.

The city says changes to pre-approved drawings void the approval, and stackable or side-by-side ADUs and additions to the design are not available at this time.

Size and area limits the city states

• Up to 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom ADU, and up to 1,000 square feet for a two-bedroom unit, unless special zoning requirements apply.
• In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, a maximum of 800 square feet with no exceptions.
• The BPAP page notes that the Rancho area does not allow new construction of ADUs.

If your lot is in a fire zone or in the Rancho area, ask the Planning Division before relying on any general ADU rule.

Fees and review times

BPAP enrollment fees are based on the unit’s square footage and match the permit application fees. Development impact fees apply to ADUs over 750 square feet as a proportional share of current fees, and school facilities fees apply, handled through the Burbank Unified School District.

The city lists 30 business days for the first enrollment or permit review and 15 business days for any recheck. It also describes plan review in ProjectDox as completing in roughly 6 to 8 weeks, with later cycles in 2 to 3 weeks.

Where to start

• Planning Division: (818) 238-5250 or planning@burbankca.gov, Community Services Building, 150 N. Third Street.
• ePlan check: eplancheck@burbankca.gov for enrollment and permit applications.
• The city’s ADU page covers attached and detached units, and its building permits page lists an ADU application form plus water and power requirement documents.

Selling a house that has a back unit or SB 9 plans

Burbank also lists Senate Bill 9 second single-family units with an eligibility checklist. If you pulled permits for an ADU or a second unit and never finished them, the sale will show an open permit.

If you built a unit without permits, it will not show in the city’s records at all and is the more difficult situation for financing. In either case, disclose it. California Civil Code section 1102.1 says delivery of the transfer disclosure statement cannot be waived in an as-is sale.

Our statewide guide and tenant-occupied sale guide are useful if the unit is rented, and AB 2533 may help legalize units built before January 1, 2020.

How to sell a house in Burbank with an ADU or zoning problem

1. Ask the city what permit records exist for the unit or garage conversion.
2. Check the zoning and ADU standards that apply to the lot.
3. Compare options: legalize the unit, sell with a price credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who prices the risk in.
4. Disclose honestly. Known unpermitted work should be disclosed.

We buy Burbank houses as they are. See how we buy houses in Burbank or our cash home buyer page.

Not sure what your zoning or unit means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

What Tier 2 means for an ADU

Burbank classifies ADUs as Tier 2 permits, which require plan check and/or zoning approvals. For an owner planning a new unit, that means more than a counter permit. For a seller, it means a legitimate ADU should leave a trail: plan check records, approvals and inspections.

If you cannot find those for a unit on your lot, treat the unit as unverified and ask the Community Development Department what the record shows.

Using the pre-approved program

The Burbank Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP) offers plan check review and approval of preapproved designs. If you bought a house with a unit built from one of these designs, the approval may be easier to confirm than a custom design.

If you are weighing whether to build before selling, the program is where to start, though a buyer who is willing to take the house as it is may be a simpler path.

Questions to settle before you list

• Does the unit appear in the city’s permit records as an ADU or JADU?
• Did it receive a final inspection?
• Is any part of it a converted garage or room that was never permitted?
• Has Code Enforcement opened a case on it?

For the permit and enforcement side, see our Burbank building permits guide and code enforcement guide.

Burbank zoning and ADU FAQ

Does Burbank have ADU standards?

Yes. The city publishes development standards for ADUs and JADUs in all single-family and multifamily residential zones.

What is Burbank’s Preapproved ADU Program?

The Burbank Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP) gives owners a path to enroll a preapproved design and have its plan check reviewed and approved by the city.

Is an ADU permit a Tier 2 permit in Burbank?

Yes. The city lists ADUs among Tier 2 permits that require plan check and/or zoning approvals.

Can I sell a house in Burbank with an unpermitted ADU?

Yes. It can complicate a traditional sale, so disclose it and choose between legalizing it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer.

Can a garage conversion use Burbank’s pre-approved ADU plans?

No. The city says the Burbank Preapproved ADU Program is for new construction only, with no garage conversions.

How large can an ADU be under Burbank’s program?

Up to 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom and up to 1,000 square feet for a two-bedroom, with an 800-square-foot maximum in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

How long does Burbank take to review a pre-approved ADU?

The city lists 30 business days for a first enrollment or permit review and 15 business days for any recheck review.

What permit tier is an ADU in Burbank?

The city says ADUs are Tier 2 permits requiring plan check and/or zoning approvals.

What is the Burbank Preapproved ADU Program?

BPAP provides plan check review and approval of preapproved ADU designs.

Sources

• City of Burbank: Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Burbank: Preapproved ADU Program (BPAP)
• City of Burbank: Building Permits

This guide is general information, not legal advice. ADU and zoning rules change; confirm with the City of Burbank.