City of Industry Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

The City of Industry regulates accessory dwelling units under Chapter 17.80 of its Municipal Code, amended by Ordinance No. 829, adopted March 28, 2024, which requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application. This guide summarizes the size, height, setback, parking, rental and fee rules in the city’s ADU chapter, explains how junior ADUs differ, and covers what to do if your home has an older garage conversion or an unpermitted unit. Always confirm current text with the city, since the code is updated periodically.

City of Industry ADUs at a glance

Ordinance	Chapter 17.80, amended by Ordinance No. 829 (March 28, 2024)
Review	Ministerial, approved or denied within 60 days of a complete application (17.80.020)
New attached or detached ADU	Lesser of 50% of the primary dwelling or 850 sq ft (studio or one bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (more than one bedroom); 800 sq ft or less is not limited by the 50% rule
Junior ADU	No more than 500 square feet
Height, detached	16 feet; 18 feet near major transit; plus 2 feet to match roof pitch in that case
Height, attached	25 feet or the zone limit, whichever is lower; two stories maximum
Setbacks	4 feet rear and side for new units; none for conversions of existing space or same-footprint rebuilds
Parking	Lesser of one per ADU or one per bedroom, with several exemptions
Rentals	May be rented independently; no short-term rentals under 30 consecutive days

What Chapter 17.80 says about size and height

Under Section 17.80.040(D)(1), the floor area of a new attached or detached ADU may not exceed the lesser of 50 percent of the floor area of the primary dwelling or 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom unit and 1,000 square feet for a unit with more than one bedroom.

The 50 percent limit does not apply if the ADU is 800 square feet or less, and the code states that limits must permit or be waived to allow a detached or attached ADU of up to 800 square feet. A junior ADU is defined in Section 17.08.096 as no more than 500 square feet.

Height is set in Section 17.80.040(F). An attached ADU may not exceed 25 feet or the height limit that applies to the main dwelling, whichever is lower, and may not exceed two stories.

A detached ADU is limited to 16 feet on a parcel with a single-family or multifamily dwelling, or 18 feet if the parcel is within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, with an additional two feet allowed to match the main roof pitch. Detached ADUs on multifamily, multistory lots can reach 18 feet.

Setbacks, parking and rentals

Section 17.80.040(E) says an ADU generally follows the setbacks of its zone, with two exceptions. No setback is required for an existing living area or accessory structure converted to an ADU, or for a new ADU built in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure. All other ADUs need a four-foot setback from rear and side property lines.

Parking under Section 17.80.040(C) equals the lesser of one space per ADU or one per bedroom, and it may be tandem on a driveway or in setback areas.

No parking is required when the ADU is within one-half mile walking distance of public transit, in a historic district, part of the existing home or an accessory structure, on a street where permits are required but not offered to the occupant, within one block of a car share pickup location, or applied for together with a new home on the same lot.

If a garage is demolished or converted for an ADU, replacement parking is not required. A junior ADU built in an attached garage does require replacing the home’s parking.

Under Section 17.80.030(E)(2), both ADUs and junior ADUs may be rented independently of the main home, but neither may be used for short-term rentals of less than 30 consecutive days.

Junior ADUs, owner occupancy and zones

Junior ADUs are allowed in single-family residential zones and not on properties with multifamily dwellings. Under Section 17.80.050(A)(2), the owner must live in either the single-family home or the junior ADU, unless the owner is a government agency, land trust or housing organization.

The code summary read for this guide does not impose an owner-occupancy rule on standard ADUs. ADUs are allowed on parcels zoned for single-family or multifamily dwellings, including mixed-use zones.

Fees and the 60-day review

Under Section 17.80.060, an ADU is not treated as a new residential use for calculating utility connection fees or capacity charges, except when built together with a new single-family home.

The city may not impose an impact fee on an ADU smaller than 750 square feet, and fees on larger ADUs are charged proportionately to the size of the primary dwelling.

Applications are processed ministerially and approved or denied within 60 days of a complete application; if denied, the city must list the deficiencies within that period. A requested delay pauses the 60-day clock.

State ADU law and City of Industry

California’s ADU statute, Government Code section 66314 and following, sets a floor that every city must follow, and local ordinances fill in the details.

The state requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application, bars a city from requiring more than a limited set of standards, and generally allows an ADU or conversion inside existing space without added setbacks.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) publishes a handbook and keeps a list of the state requirements. Because state law changes often, treat the city’s current ordinance and handout as the final word on size, height, parking and fees for your lot.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a City of Industry house

Many older homes have a converted garage or a backyard unit built without permits. Buyers and lenders ask about them, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the rules, and our Prop 13 guide explains how new construction can affect property tax. Before you list:

• Check city records for permits on any ADU, conversion or addition.
• Ask Planning whether the structure could qualify under current rules.
• Estimate plans, fees and corrections needed to legalize it.
• Compare that with selling as-is and letting a cash buyer take on the legalization.

Questions to ask Planning before you design

• Does my lot and zone allow an ADU, a junior ADU, or both?
• Is a pre-approved or pre-reviewed ADU plan available?
• What are the current impact, utility and school fees for the size I am considering?
• Can my existing garage or accessory structure be converted without changing its footprint?
• Are there fire, slope, easement or utility constraints on my lot?

Junior ADUs and garage conversions in more detail

State law treats a junior ADU as a unit of up to 500 square feet created inside the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, with an efficiency kitchen and a recorded restriction that keeps it from being sold apart from the house.

A garage conversion is a different path: the unit replaces the garage, and state law generally does not require the city to demand replacement parking. Both are common sources of unpermitted space in older City of Industry neighborhoods, which is why buyers’ agents and appraisers ask for the permit record.

If a conversion was done without a permit, the usual fix is to submit as-built drawings, pay the fees and pass inspection, which can take months and cost real money.

Fees, utilities and property tax

State law limits the impact fees a city can charge on smaller ADUs and on conversions of existing space, and it limits when a separate utility connection can be required.

Larger new units can still carry impact fees, school fees and water or sewer connection charges, so ask for an itemized estimate before you commit to plans. New construction is generally reassessed for property tax under Prop 13, which means an ADU can raise the bill for the whole property. Our Prop 13 guide explains how reassessment works.

Why ADUs matter for resale

A permitted ADU can add rental income and appeal for some buyers, but an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Lenders typically want permitted living area, and an appraiser may not count unpermitted space.

Because an ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the main home, its value comes through the sale of the whole property.

If you inherited a house with an old backyard unit, or bought one with a converted garage, check what the city has on file before you decide how to sell. Our probate home sale guide covers inherited property.

How to sell a house in City of Industry

1. Ask the city for the permit record on any ADU or conversion.
2. Collect plans, inspection records 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, legalization or showings required.

See also our City of Industry page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

What ADU sizes does the City of Industry allow?

A new attached or detached ADU is limited to the lesser of 50% of the primary dwelling or 850 sq ft (studio or one bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (more than one bedroom). The 50% limit does not apply to ADUs of 800 sq ft or less. A junior ADU is up to 500 sq ft.

How long does the City of Industry have to review an ADU?

Section 17.80.020 requires ministerial approval or denial within 60 days of a complete application.

What setbacks apply to ADUs in the City of Industry?

Four feet from the rear and side lines for new units. No setback is required for conversions of existing space or same-footprint rebuilds.

Is parking required for an ADU in the City of Industry?

Generally the lesser of one space per ADU or one per bedroom, with exemptions such as being within one-half mile walking distance of public transit.

Can I rent my ADU short-term?

No. The code bars short-term rentals of less than 30 consecutive days for ADUs and junior ADUs.

Can I sell my City of Industry 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 City of Industry
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• City of Industry Building Permits Guide
• City of Industry Code Enforcement Guide
• Pico Rivera Building Permits Guide
• Baldwin Park Building Permits Guide
• Duarte Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Industry Municipal Code, Title 17: Zoning (eCode360)
• City of Industry Ordinance No. 829 (ADU and JADU amendments to Title 17)
• City of Industry: Development Services

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