Pomona 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 Pomona Development Services Department; sources are listed at the end.

Pomona’s Zoning and Development Code is the base code that regulates design and land use in the city, and the city says its latest ADU and JADU standards are in Section 830.A of that code. The Planning Division, part of Development Services, handles zoning questions.

Pomona zoning and ADU at a glance

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

Start with the Pomona Zoning and Development Code, which the city publishes on its Planning Division pages, and with the Planning Division itself. The city’s Applications and Fees page links to the current ADU and JADU standards and to development fee information.

What are the ADU rules in Pomona?

The city points owners to Section 830.A of the Zoning and Development Code for the latest ADU and JADU standards, and publishes an Accessory Dwelling Units page with guidance. State law limits how a city can deny ADU permits, and standards change, so confirm current size, setback and parking rules with the Planning Division before relying on a general rule.

Selling a Pomona house with an ADU or converted garage

A permitted ADU is part of the property and can matter to buyers. An unpermitted unit can surface in a buyer’s inspection or in the permit records, and the Code Compliance Division enforces zoning and land use rules. See our Pomona building permits guide and code enforcement guide.

Which ADU types Pomona lists

The city’s Accessory Dwelling Units page describes four kinds of unit: detached ADUs, attached ADUs, conversion ADUs and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs).

The distinction matters at sale time because a conversion, such as a garage turned into living space, is the type most likely to have been built without a permit.

State law governing ADUs sits in Government Code sections 66310 through 66342, and the state’s housing department notes that only one JADU is allowed on a single-family lot.

Size, height and setback numbers are not listed on the city’s page, so get them from the Planning Division before you promise a buyer anything.

What the city says an ADU can cost

Pomona publishes a reference table of estimated fees, with the caution that actual cost varies with valuation, fixture count and square footage. Its two examples are:

• 749 square feet: plan check fee of $2,562.16 on a valuation of $125,360.13, a permit fee of $3,147.75 and $0.00 in development impact fees.
• 1,200 square feet: plan check fee of $4,093.01 on a valuation of $200,844.00, a permit fee of $3,150.39 and $18,711.00 in development impact fees.

The gap between those two examples is mostly impact fees, which is consistent with the state rule that ADUs under 750 square feet are not charged them. If you are weighing whether to legalize a unit before selling, these examples give you a rough scale, not a quote.

Legalizing an unpermitted unit under AB 2533

The city’s ADU page highlights AB 2533, which took effect January 1, 2025.

For an unpermitted ADU or JADU built before January 1, 2020, an owner who applies for a permit to legalize it is not required to pay impact fees or connection and capacity charges, except where utility infrastructure is needed to meet Health and Safety Code section 17920.3.

The city adds that an inspector may inspect the unit for health and safety compliance and give recommendations. For a seller, that can make legalizing an older back unit more realistic than it used to be, though you still bear plan check, permit and any correction costs. The date cutoff means a unit built after 2019 does not qualify for this relief.

Zoning clearances and planning approvals

The Planning Division’s applications page separates discretionary approvals, which go to the Development Services Director or a commission, from ministerial permits reviewed by staff against objective standards. It also lists a Zoning Information Request and a Zoning Clearance Application.

If a buyer wants written confirmation of what is allowed on the lot, the zoning information request is the form to ask about. Appointments are made at (909) 620-2191 or PlanningCounter@pomonaca.gov.

What buyers and appraisers ask about a back unit

• Is there a permit and a final inspection for the unit, or only for the main house?
• Is the unit rented, and if so under what lease terms? See our tenant-occupied home sale guide.
• Does it have its own utilities and entrance, and was a garage converted without replacing anything the city requires?
• Will the lender count the unit toward value? Lenders often want proof it was permitted before they will.

If the answers are uncertain, the unit may be valued at little or nothing in a financed sale. That is the situation where selling as-is for cash can be simpler than legalizing first, because the buyer prices what they see.

How to sell a house in Pomona 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 Pomona houses as they are. See how we buy houses in Pomona 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.

Pomona zoning and ADU FAQ

Where are Pomona’s ADU standards?

The city says its latest ADU and JADU standards are in Section 830.A of the Zoning and Development Code.

What is Pomona’s base zoning code?

The Pomona Zoning and Development Code, which regulates design and land use in the city.

Who handles zoning questions in Pomona?

The Planning Division, part of the Development Services Department.

Can I sell a house in Pomona 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.

What types of ADU does Pomona list?

Detached ADUs, attached ADUs, conversion ADUs and junior accessory dwelling units, according to the city’s Accessory Dwelling Units page.

Can I legalize an older unpermitted ADU in Pomona without paying impact fees?

Under AB 2533, the city says an owner legalizing an unpermitted ADU or JADU built before January 1, 2020 is not required to pay impact fees or connection and capacity charges, except where utility infrastructure is needed to meet Health and Safety Code section 17920.3. Plan check and permit fees still apply.

What does the city estimate an ADU permit costs?

The city’s reference examples show a 749-square-foot unit at $2,562.16 plan check and $3,147.75 permit fee with no impact fees, and a 1,200-square-foot unit at $4,093.01 plan check, $3,150.39 permit fee and $18,711.00 impact fees. Actual cost varies.

Sources

• City of Pomona: Zoning and Development Code
• City of Pomona: Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Pomona: Applications and Fees

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