Clovis Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from City of Clovis Planning and Building Division pages; sources are listed at the end.

Clovis says it has incorporated development standards for accessory dwelling units consistent with state law, and it runs two programs aimed at making them easier to build: pre-approved ADU plans and the Cottage Home Program. If you are selling a Clovis house with a granny flat, converted garage or backyard unit, knowing how the city treats ADUs helps you judge whether yours is legal. This guide summarizes what the city publishes and what it means for a sale.

Clovis ADU rules at a glance

What counts as an ADU in Clovis?

The city defines an ADU as a secondary housing unit on a lot that provides complete independent living facilities, including kitchen and bathroom facilities, for one or more people.

It shows four common types: a garage conversion, a detached ADU separate from the main home, an attached ADU joined to the main home, and an internal conversion inside the main home.

A junior ADU is the smallest category, limited to 500 square feet and located entirely inside the primary dwelling, which can include an attached garage.

The state law behind these categories is in Government Code sections 66310 to 66342, and cities may adopt local standards only within the limits of that law. One example is Government Code 66323, which allows a detached, new-construction ADU with side and rear setbacks of no more than four feet.

Because state law changes often, a Clovis owner should confirm the current size, setback, height and parking standards with the Planning Division before building or buying.

How to build or legalize an ADU in Clovis

1. Check eligibility. Confirm the lot is zoned residential and has an existing or proposed home. Pre-approved plans require this.
2. Choose a path. Custom design, a pre-approved plan or a Cottage Home plan if you have alley access.
3. Prepare the submittal. A building permit application, a site or plot plan showing placement on the lot, and construction plans. Single-family minimum submittal requirements apply, and a separate fire sprinkler plan goes to the Fire Department if sprinklers are involved.
4. Plan review and permit. Applications run through the city’s Citizen Self Service portal. See our Clovis building permits guide.
5. Inspections and final. The permit is not complete until the final inspection is signed off.

The pre-approved ADU program

Clovis lets architects, engineers and designers submit ADU plans for city pre-approval, and homeowners can then use them to speed up permitting. The program works like this:

• Pre-approved plans must comply with current California codes.
• Each plan set is limited to four options.
• The homeowner contacts the plan’s creator for permission to use it, and the creator provides a release and waiver form to the city.
• The homeowner still submits a building permit application and a site-specific plot plan identifying the chosen plan and options.
• If a plan is modified beyond the four options, it goes through a normal full review.

Three plans were listed when we checked: a 749 plan and two plans from CWB Designs, each with its own contact information on the city’s page. Pre-approval speeds review, but it does not replace a permit or the final inspection.

The Cottage Home Program

If a property has alley access and is inside the city limits, the Cottage Home Program offers a choice of three free, streamlined cottage plans for a rear yard that faces an alley. The city invites owners to check its program page to see whether they qualify. For a seller, a unit built through an approved program is easier to document than one built informally.

Financing for ADUs

The city partners with Self-Help Enterprises, a nonprofit, to provide financing to eligible owners who want to build or repair an ADU on an existing single-family lot. The program is aimed at the city’s ADU and Cottage Home programs. Financing terms and eligibility are set by the nonprofit, so contact it directly.

How an unpermitted unit affects selling a Clovis house

A buyer’s appraiser may not count an unpermitted unit in the square footage, and a lender may question it. California sellers generally must disclose known unpermitted work. See our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work and our seller disclosure guide. The city treats construction without required permits as a code problem, so a rented-out garage or backyard unit could draw a case. See our Clovis code enforcement guide.

How to sell a Clovis house with an unpermitted ADU

1. Document the unit. Measure it, photograph it and note the kitchen, bath and entrance.
2. Ask the city. Check the Building Division’s records for permits and ask what legalizing would require.
3. Price the fix. Compare legalization cost and timeline with selling as-is.
4. Choose your path. Legalize and list, list with a credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer.
5. Disclose. A cash offer does not change disclosure duties but removes inspection and financing delays.

We buy Clovis houses as they are. Read how selling a house as-is in Clovis works, or see our Clovis cash-offer process.

Not sure whether your unit is legal? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Clovis zoning and ADU FAQ

What is a junior ADU in Clovis?

A unit of no more than 500 square feet contained entirely within an existing primary dwelling, including an attached garage. The owner must live in the main residence or the JADU.

Does Clovis have pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. Designers submit plans for city approval, and homeowners with residential-zoned lots can use them. You still need a building permit, the creator’s authorization and a site plan.

What is the Clovis Cottage Home Program?

A program offering three free streamlined cottage plans for lots inside the city with a rear yard that faces an alley.

Can I sell a Clovis house with an unpermitted ADU?

Yes. An unpermitted unit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house as-is.

Sources

• City of Clovis: ADUs
• City of Clovis: ADUs Preapproved Plans
• City of Clovis: Building Division

This guide is general information, not legal advice. ADU rules change often; confirm requirements with the City of Clovis Planning Division.