Malibu Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

Malibu allows ADUs and junior ADUs under a municipal code chapter adopted in 2024 and amended in June 2026, and the city must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days. This guide summarizes Malibu’s ADU rules from the municipal code, including the two ADU classes, size, height and parking limits, the coastal and fire-zone overlay, and what the code says about legalizing older unpermitted units.

Malibu ADU rules at a glance

Code	Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 17.44, the Malibu Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (Ord. 511, Jan. 8, 2024; amended by Ord. 535, June 22, 2026)
Approval	Ministerial approval by the community development director, with no discretionary review or hearing
Deadlines	Completeness determination within 15 business days; approve or deny within 60 days of a complete application
Class 1 (state-regulated)	Conversions within existing space, one limited detached ADU of 800 square feet or smaller with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, plus a JADU
Class 2 (locally regulated)	Other ADUs, up to 1,000 square feet, subject to local standards
JADU	500 square feet or less, within the single-family home, with an efficiency kitchen and separate entrance
Height	16 feet generally, with higher limits near transit and for attached units
Rental term	Minimum 30 days, regardless of when the ADU was created
Coastal Zone	Entire city is in the Coastal Zone; a coastal development permit may apply unless the project is exempt
Fire zone	Entire city is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone; Fire Code access rules apply

Class 1 and Class 2 ADUs

Malibu sorts ADUs into two classes. Class 1 ADUs follow state statute and include a conversion of existing space in a single-family home or accessory structure, a limited new detached ADU of 800 square feet or smaller with at least four-foot side and rear setbacks, and a JADU.

On multifamily lots the code allows conversions of unused space and limited detached ADUs. Class 2 ADUs are locally regulated, up to 1,000 square feet, with attached units limited to 50 percent of the existing home’s floor area, though the code says local limits cannot require an ADU smaller than 800 square feet.

Approval process and deadlines

The city must tell you within 15 business days whether your application is complete, and if it is incomplete it must list the missing items.

Once complete, the city must approve or deny it within 60 days, and the code says an application not acted on in that time is deemed approved unless you request a delay.

A denial must list the defects and how to fix them, and you can appeal in writing to the city clerk, with the planning commission deciding within 60 business days.

Height, parking and size limits

For Class 2 ADUs the code sets side and rear setbacks of at least four feet, a floor area ratio cap of 38 percent, and lot coverage limits that depend on lot size, always subject to the 800 square foot floor.

Parking is one space per ADU or bedroom, whichever is less, with no parking required in situations such as within half a mile of public transit, when converting existing space, or when an on-street permit is required but not offered.

No replacement parking is required when a garage is converted or demolished for an ADU. Heights are 16 feet generally, up to 18 or 20 feet for some detached units near transit, and up to 25 feet for attached units, two stories maximum.

Coastal Zone, fire zone and septic

The code states that the entire city lies in the Coastal Zone, so an ADU may need a coastal development permit unless it is exempt.

It also states that the entire city is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, with emergency access evaluated under the Fire Code as enforced by Los Angeles County Fire, though fire access cannot be used as a zoning reason to deny an ADU that state law requires the city to approve.

Fire sprinklers are required in an ADU if the main house needs them. If the ADU connects to an on-site wastewater system, the application must include a percolation test completed within the last five years, or ten if recertified.

Rental, sale and JADU conditions

ADUs and JADUs cannot be rented for less than 30 days. An ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the lot and main home, and owners must report rent charged each year within 90 days of January 1.

A JADU generally requires the owner to live on the property, with exceptions such as a JADU with its own bathroom, and a deed restriction is recorded before a certificate of occupancy is issued. A buyer of the whole property takes these conditions with it.

Impact fees

The code says no impact fee is charged for an ADU smaller than 750 square feet. Larger ADUs pay impact fees proportionally to the main house’s floor area. The city may charge a processing fee set by council resolution, and utility connection rules differ for converted ADUs versus new construction.

Legalizing older unpermitted units

The city says it will not deny an ADU application because of a nonconforming zoning condition or unpermitted structure that is not a threat to health and safety.

For an unpermitted ADU or JADU built before January 1, 2020, the code says the city may not deny a permit to legalize it solely because it violates building standards or ADU rules, with exceptions for conditions that must be corrected under Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3.

If your property has an older unpermitted unit or garage conversion, ask Planning and Building Safety whether this applies.

State review of the city’s ordinance

California’s housing department reviews local ADU ordinances. It issued a review letter to Malibu dated November 13, 2024, which the city links from its ADU page, and the city adopted an amending ordinance in June 2026. Read the current Chapter 17.44 text and ask Planning which provisions apply to your lot.

Property tax on new construction

A newly built ADU is generally reassessed as new construction, so the county assessor may increase the property’s taxable value. See our Los Angeles County property tax guide and ask the assessor about your project.

Related Malibu guides

Permits for an ADU follow the process in our Malibu building permits guide, and complaints about unpermitted units are handled as described in our Malibu code enforcement guide.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a Malibu house

A permitted ADU can add rental income and buyer appeal, while an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Because an ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the main home, its value comes only through the sale of the whole property. See our unpermitted work guide and Prop 13 guide. If you own a Malibu house with an old backyard unit or garage conversion:

• Find out what the city has on file for each structure.
• Ask whether current ADU rules would allow what is there.
• Get a rough cost to correct and permit it.
• Decide whether legalizing first or selling as-is fits your timeline.

How to sell a house in Malibu

1. Check which structures, additions and conversions on the property have city permits.
2. Collect permits, plans, stop work orders and any city notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.

See also our Malibu page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build an ADU in Malibu?

Yes. Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 17.44 allows ADUs and junior ADUs on lots in residential or mixed-use zones that allow single-family or multifamily use, subject to the chapter’s standards.

How long does Malibu have to approve an ADU?

The city must decide whether an application is complete within 15 business days, then approve or deny a complete application within 60 days.

How big can a Malibu ADU be?

A Class 2 ADU can be up to 1,000 square feet, a limited detached Class 1 ADU is 800 square feet or smaller, and a JADU is 500 square feet or less.

Does the Coastal Zone affect a Malibu ADU?

The code states the entire city is in the Coastal Zone, so an ADU may need a coastal development permit unless it is exempt.

Can I rent a Malibu ADU short term?

No. The code prohibits renting an ADU or JADU for fewer than 30 days.

Can an older unpermitted ADU be legalized in Malibu?

The code says the city may not deny a permit to legalize an unpermitted ADU or JADU built before January 1, 2020 solely for building-standard or ADU-rule violations, with exceptions for conditions required to be corrected under Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3.

Can I sell my Malibu house with an unpermitted ADU or garage conversion?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Malibu
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Malibu Building Permits Guide
• Malibu Code Enforcement Guide
• Calabasas Building Permits Guide
• Agoura Hills Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 17.44, Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Malibu: Accessory Dwelling Units
• California HCD: Review of the City of Malibu ADU Ordinance (Nov. 13, 2024)
• City of Malibu: Ordinance No. 535 (ADU amendments, June 22, 2026)

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.