Burbank · ADU permits
ADU permits in Burbank
How to build a ADU in Burbank: permit pathway through Burbank Community Development Department, drawings required, local watch-outs, and a free address-level wizard for your Burbank lot.
Burbank context
Burbank's ADU ordinance is implemented through Burbank Municipal Code Title 10 and is largely state-baseline. Plan check is typically faster than LADBS — homeowners often see 30-45 days for a complete submittal. The big local quirks are airport-noise-zone construction requirements on parcels under the BUR flight path and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) rules on the northern Verdugo foothills.
- Permit agency
- Burbank Community Development Department
- Median lot size
- 6,200 sqft
- ADU permits issued (2025)
- 233Source: Cal HCD Annual Progress Report 2025 (Table A2, BP_ISSUE_DT1 set)
Burbank ADU ordinance
Verified against Burbank Community Development Department's published ordinance on 2026-05-12. State law (CA Government Code §65852.2) overrides any locally-stricter rule.
Max detached ADU size
1,200 sqft (state default)
Max ADU height
16 ft / 18 ft with second-story setbacks
Setbacks
4 ft side / 4 ft rear (state minimum)
Airport-influence area construction
Sound-attenuation rules on parcels under the BUR flight path
Mostly affects southern + central Burbank. Adds STC-rated windows + insulation upgrades.
Local processing time
30-45 days typical (faster than state-mandated 60)
Pre-approved standard plans
None city-specific — uses HCD-prefab + custom designer plans
Drawings you'll need to submit
Type your address. See if you can build an ADU, what kind, and exactly how to permit it.
- Site plan (parcel layout + setbacks)
- Proposed floor plan
- Elevations (each side)
- Title 24 CF1R energy compliance
PermitPathLA generates the site plan free from your Burbank address. The other drawings come from your architect or plan firm — we list pre-approved options in the wizard.
Burbank watch-outs for ADU
Overlays that hit a meaningful share of Burbank lots
BUR Airport-Influence Area~55% of parcels
Parcels under the BUR flight path require sound-attenuation construction (STC-rated windows, upgraded insulation). Affects a wide swath of southern + central Burbank. Adds modest cost, not timeline.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ)~15% of parcels
Northern Verdugo foothills hit the VHFHSZ. Triggers Chapter 7A construction (Class A roofing, ember-resistant venting) — adds roughly 7% to construction cost.
Local quirks
Airport-noise construction is real if you're south of Glenoaks
Burbank's Airport-Influence Area covers a wide southern + central swath. Plans require sound-attenuation details that LADBS doesn't ask for. Don't reuse a Studio City designer's stock ADU plans verbatim; the window assemblies usually need upgrading.
Burbank Unified school fees apply
Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) charges school facility fees on ADUs over 500 sqft. Currently around $4.79/sqft — a 900 sqft ADU adds roughly $4,300.
Plan check is faster than LADBS — don't expect LA City timelines
Many Burbank ADUs clear plan check in 30-45 days for a complete submittal. If your contractor quotes a 6-month timeline citing LADBS averages, push back. The constraint here is usually contractor availability, not the city.
Run your Burbank address through the wizard
We pull your parcel polygon from county GIS, apply Burbank ordinance + state baseline rules, generate the site plan, and walk you through the Burbank Community Development Department submittal. Free, no signup.