Santa Cruz ADU Guidelines and Information

1. ADUs are allowed on any parcel with a zone district or General Plan designation that allows residential or mixed uses. No minimum lot size is required.
2. A primary dwelling must exist or be planned on the parcel (on a vacant lot, the owner may build an ADU and primary dwelling at the same time or sequentially), except in cases of rebuilding after a disaster.
3. ADUs can be attached to the primary dwelling or detached; they can be new construction or converted from existing space.
4. ADUs are subject to special development standards, depending on whether they are “New Construction” or “Conversion” ADUs (please see publication: ADU Development Standards).
5. Different ADU standards and permitting may apply to parcels in the following locations:
   • Coastal Zone
   • Agricultural, timber and park land
   • Pleasure Point (PP) Combining Zone District
   • Seacliff Beach Estates (SBE) Combining Zone District
   • Parcels with environmental hazards or protected resources

On properties where existing buildings meet or exceed maximum allowed floor area ratio (FAR) or lot coverage limits, property owners can still build a New Construction ADU up to 800 square feet with a height of 16 feet, meeting other ADU standards.

Property owners with single-family dwellings may also construct Junior ADUs (JADUs). JADUs are subject to the following criteria:

• Owner must live onsite.
• Maximum size is 500 square feet, which can include an addition up to 150 square feet.
• Must be converted from within the walls of the single-family dwelling (including both habitable and non-habitable spaces such as garages or storage areas). Not allowed in detached garages or on multifamily sites.
• Must have a separate exterior entrance and access to a full bathroom (independent or shared with the primary dwelling).

The County allows one full kitchen and one efficiency kitchen in single-family or multifamily dwelling units. A JADU may have standard kitchen or an efficiency kitchen. Some applicants may find that a non-ADU “efficiency kitchen” alternative is preferable to constructing an official ADU or JADU. For a comparison, please see publication: ADU Development Standards.

1 ADU + 1 JADU per dwelling

2 detached ADUs per lot (may be attached to each other) + 25% of units may have ADUs converted from non-living space such as garages and storage areas.

If the existing dwelling units were constructed legally, they would be considered “legal nonconforming.” The ADUs allowed would depend on the structures and zone district.

An ADU requires a building permit using the County’s online ePlan review process: http://scceplanreview.santacruzcounty.us/.

To apply for a permit, you will need full construction plans and the application fee. For a complete list of required application materials, review the ePlan website or visit the Building Counter on the 4th Floor of the Government Center at 701 Ocean Street. In some situations, discretionary approval may be required in addition to a building permit.

Note that fire districts, water agencies, and sanitation agencies (Dept. of Public Works sanitation or Environmental Health Services) review building permits for compliance. Applicants in the Soquel Creek Water District must receive a “Will Serve” letter for New Construction ADUs.

Check out our blog post; Building an ADU in Santa Cruz County: What You Need to Know, for additional insights on Santa Cruz ADU rules, helpful tips, and links to key resources.