Hanford 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 Hanford ADU How-To Guide; sources are listed at the end.

Hanford offers a free Pre-Reviewed ADU Program with plan sets in four sizes, from 375 to 908 square feet. Whether you want to build a unit or you are selling a property that already has one, here is how the city describes the rules.

Hanford ADU rules at a glance

How do you permit an ADU in Hanford?

The city’s guide lists five steps: confirm eligibility, review the minimum requirements, choose a design route (the Pre-Reviewed ADU Program, a modular company, or a designer or builder), submit the permit application through the Citizen Self Service Portal and pay fees, then complete inspections and final inspection before occupancy.

First plan review takes at least 15 business days and later reviews at least 5 business days. The city says complete applications on properties with an existing home are acted on within 60 days or deemed approved, subject to exceptions in Government Code section 66317.

What fees and requirements apply to a Hanford ADU?

According to the city, there are no impact fees for ADUs under 750 square feet, and larger ADUs may be charged proportionately. School fees apply to ADUs over 500 square feet.

A Title 24 energy report from a certified consultant is required, fire sprinklers are required in the ADU if the main home has them, and solar may be required on new ADUs. Permit fees are in the city’s Master Fee Schedule, so confirm current amounts with the city.

How to sell a Hanford house with an unpermitted unit

1. Find out what is on record. Ask the Building Division what permits exist for the address.
2. Decide whether to legalize. Legalization can add inspection and repair costs, so weigh it against selling as-is.
3. Disclose honestly. Known unpermitted work should be disclosed to buyers.
4. Compare offers. A cash buyer prices in the unit and the paperwork risk.

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

Not sure what an unpermitted unit means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

The ADU Amnesty Program

The city’s ADU page is titled Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU/JADU) and ADU Amnesty Program, which points to a legalization route for existing unpermitted units. The details were not readable on the pages we could retrieve, so ask the Building Division at (559) 585-2581 or Planning at (559) 585-2580 how the program applies to your unit, what inspections it needs and whether any deadline applies.

Where Hanford sends which question

• Zoning and land use: the Planning Division, (559) 585-2580.
• Permits and inspections: the Building Division, (559) 585-2581 or permithelp@hanfordca.gov.
• General Community Development: (559) 585-2500.

The city also provides a Citizen Self Service Portal for applications and points to the administrative approval and site plan review applications that an ADU requires.

What buyers and lenders ask about an ADU

• Is the unit permitted and finaled, or only built?
• Does it have its own entrance, kitchen and utilities, and is it rented?
• Does the listed square footage include it?
• Was it built under the city’s pre-reviewed plans or a custom design?

A unit that is not on record can be hard to appraise and finance. Our California guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the disclosure side, and our guide to selling a tenant-occupied home covers a rented unit.

Selling a Hanford house with an ADU in progress

If an ADU permit is open and construction is unfinished, buyers will want to see the permit number, the stage of inspection reached, and what remains to be done. A cash buyer can purchase a house with an open ADU permit, but the permit stays on the record until it is finaled or canceled, so ask the Building Division what closing it out would involve.

Hanford zoning and ADU FAQ

How many ADUs can a Hanford single-family lot have?

One detached ADU, or one attached ADU plus one JADU, according to the city’s guide.

How long does Hanford take to review an ADU?

First plan review is at least 15 business days, and the city says complete applications on lots with an existing home are acted on within 60 days or deemed approved, subject to exceptions.

Are there free ADU plans in Hanford?

Yes. The Pre-Reviewed ADU Program offers free plan sets for detached ADUs in four sizes: 375, 550, 743 and 908 square feet.

Who do I call about zoning in Hanford?

The city lists the Planning Division at (559) 585-2580 for zoning verification. Building questions go to (559) 585-2581.

Does Hanford have an amnesty program for unpermitted ADUs?

The city’s ADU page is titled as covering an ADU Amnesty Program. Ask the Building Division how it applies to your unit and what deadlines or inspections apply.

Sources

• City of Hanford: ADU How-To Guide

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