Daly City Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Daly City’s ADU Guide explains that state law, Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22, has made it easier to build accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs, and that conflicting local rules are superseded by state law. This guide summarizes the city’s published ADU and JADU rules, and what they mean if you own or sell a Daly City home with a backyard unit, garage conversion or unpermitted addition.

Daly City ADU rules at a glance

Planning Division	(650) 991-8033; counter open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays
Quantity, single-family lot	One ADU and one JADU
Attached or interior ADU	Up to 50% of the primary dwelling, or 850 sq ft (up to one bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (more than one bedroom), whichever is greater; 25 ft and two stories
Detached ADU	Up to 1,200 sq ft; 18 ft tall, or up to 20 ft if matching the main roof pitch
Setbacks	Minimum 4 ft rear and side; 6 ft separation from the main house strongly recommended
JADU	Up to 500 sq ft, entirely within the walls of the single-family home
Owner occupancy	Not required for ADUs (AB 976, from Jan. 1, 2024); required for JADUs
Short-term rental	Not allowed; rentals of 30 consecutive days or less are prohibited

What counts as an ADU and a JADU

An ADU is a complete, independent dwelling with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation on the same lot as a single-family or multifamily home, and it is not counted in the lot’s allowable density.

A junior ADU is a unit of no more than 500 square feet located entirely within an existing or proposed single-family home.

A JADU needs only an efficiency kitchen and does not need its own bathroom if it has full access to one in the main house, and it is not treated as a separate unit for fire protection and utility purposes.

Where ADUs are allowed and how many

ADUs are allowed on lots with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily home, including duplexes. On a single-family lot, an ADU can be inside or attached to the house, inside an existing attached or detached garage or accessory structure, or in a new detached structure. JADUs are only allowed within a single-family home. A single-family lot can have no more than one ADU and one JADU.

On multifamily lots, attached ADUs may only be created in existing non-living areas such as storage or a garage, and they are limited to 25 percent of the existing units, or one ADU if that is greater. Up to two detached ADUs are allowed, and detached units on multifamily lots are subject to an 18-foot height limit and 4-foot rear and side setbacks.

Size, height and setbacks

For attached ADUs or ADUs inside the main home, the city checklist gives a height limit of 25 feet and up to two stories.

Total floor area cannot exceed 50 percent of the primary dwelling, or 850 square feet for up to one bedroom or 1,000 square feet for more than one bedroom, whichever is greater.

Detached ADUs are capped at 1,200 square feet and 18 feet in height, with up to 20 feet if the roof pitch matches the main house.

All new ADUs need at least 4-foot rear and side setbacks and must meet the front and side yard setbacks, lot coverage and height rules for the zoning district, and design review standards in Municipal Code Chapter 17.45.

State exemptions

The city notes that lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space or minimum lot size cannot block a statewide-exemption ADU, meaning an attached or detached unit up to 800 square feet and 16 feet tall with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. No setback is required when the ADU is built entirely within an existing living area, or within or replacing a structure in the same location and with the same dimensions.

Owner occupancy, rentals and fire rules

• Owner occupancy. Not required for ADUs since January 1, 2024. Required for JADUs, with a deed restriction and a disclosure to renters.
• Short-term rentals. ADUs and JADUs cannot be rented for 30 consecutive days or less.
• Fire sprinklers. No longer required in an ADU if the main home does not need them, but all other building, fire, health and safety codes apply, including fire flow test requirements.
• Garage conversions. Must meet other zoning rules such as trash and recycling storage and front yard paving, and the Engineering Division decides whether a driveway curb cut must be removed or reduced.
• Coastal Zone. Properties west of Skyline Boulevard and west of Eastgate Drive, north of John Daly Boulevard, are in the Coastal Zone. Detached ADUs there may need a Coastal Development Permit.

Pre-approved ADU plans

The city has a list of preapproved ADU plans for homeowners and a pre-review program for model detached ADUs. According to the city, a preapproval stays valid until the city adopts new building or zoning codes that apply to the plan. Call the Planning Division at (650) 991-8033 for details. Building permit steps are covered in our Daly City building permits guide.

Selling a Daly City home with an ADU or unpermitted unit

A permitted ADU can add value, but buyers and lenders usually want proof it was permitted and finaled. An unpermitted garage conversion or back-house can complicate financing and appraisal. Our statewide guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work covers disclosure and options, and the seller closing costs guide shows what to expect at closing.

• Collect permits, final inspection records and plans for any ADU, conversion or addition.
• Confirm the unit is not being used as a short-term rental, which the city prohibits.
• If you have a JADU, check the owner-occupancy deed restriction.
• If the work was never permitted, compare the cost of legalizing it with selling as-is.
• Disclose known issues on your transfer disclosures.

How to sell a house in Daly City

1. Gather ADU permits, plans and any deed restriction.
2. Note any unpermitted conversions.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the property as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, permits or showings required.

See also we buy houses in Daly City, selling as-is, selling fast and our cash offer process.

Frequently asked questions

How big can a detached ADU be in Daly City?

Up to 1,200 square feet and 18 feet tall, or up to 20 feet if the roof pitch matches the main house, with 4-foot rear and side setbacks.

Do I have to live on the property if I have an ADU?

Not for an ADU since January 1, 2024. Owner occupancy is still required for JADUs.

Can I rent my ADU short term?

No. Rentals of 30 consecutive days or less are not allowed.

Can I have an ADU and a JADU?

On a single-family lot, one of each is allowed.

Are fire sprinklers required in an ADU?

Not if they are not required in the primary residence, but other fire and building codes still apply.

Is my property in the Coastal Zone?

Properties west of Skyline Boulevard and west of Eastgate Drive north of John Daly Boulevard are. Contact the Planning Division to confirm.

Can I sell a Daly City house with an unpermitted ADU?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Daly City
• We Buy Houses in San Mateo County
• San Mateo County Property Tax Guide
• Daly City Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Daly City: Accessory Dwelling Unit Guide
• City of Daly City: Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Daly City: Preapproved ADUs for Designers

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the city, since state ADU law changes often.