Pasadena · ADU permits
ADU permits in Pasadena
How to build a ADU in Pasadena: permit pathway through Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department, drawings required, local watch-outs, and a free address-level wizard for your Pasadena lot.
Pasadena context
Pasadena's ADU ordinance is implemented through Section 17.50 of the city zoning code. The city largely follows the CA state baseline (Gov Code §65852.2) but has additional rules for the eleven Landmark Districts (Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, etc.) and Landmark properties citywide. Outside the Landmark Districts, Pasadena permitting is faster than LADBS — the city's plan check is typically 30 days for ADUs vs. 60 in LA.
- Permit agency
- Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department
- Median lot size
- 7,200 sqft
- ADU permits issued (2023)
- 176Source: Cal HCD Annual Progress Report 2023 (Table A2, BP_ISSUE_DT1 set)
Pasadena ADU ordinance
Verified against Pasadena Planning & 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
Landmark District properties may face additional height limits via the design-review process.
Setbacks
4 ft side / 4 ft rear (state minimum)
Stricter setbacks in Landmark Districts may apply via the Cultural Heritage Commission's design review.
Landmark District design review
Required for any exterior-visible ADU in one of the 11 Landmark Districts
Pre-application meeting + Cultural Heritage Commission review. Adds 2–4 months.
Hillside Development Standards
Trigger lot-coverage + ridgeline-protection rules
Applies to northern Pasadena foothill parcels above Altadena Drive.
Local processing time
30 days for standard ADUs (faster than state default)
Pasadena processes non-Landmark ADUs faster than the 60-day state requirement.
Pre-approved standard plans
None city-specific — uses HCD-prefab + state-baseline custom 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 Pasadena address. The other drawings come from your architect or plan firm — we list pre-approved options in the wizard.
Pasadena watch-outs for ADU
Overlays that hit a meaningful share of Pasadena lots
Landmark Districts (11 designated)~12% of parcels
Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Pasadena Civic Center, Lower Arroyo, Prospect Park, and others. Any exterior-visible ADU on a contributing parcel requires Cultural Heritage Commission design review.
Hillside Development Standards (HDS)~18% of parcels
Northern Pasadena above Altadena Drive sits in the HDS overlay. Adds lot-coverage and ridgeline-protection constraints on top of base zoning.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone~15% of parcels
Northern foothills overlap the VHFHSZ. Triggers Chapter 7A construction (Class A roofing, ember-resistant venting) — adds roughly 7% to construction cost.
Local quirks
Landmark District scoping happens before you draft plans
Don't pay a designer for full ADU plans on a Landmark District lot before the pre-application meeting with city planning. The Cultural Heritage Commission can require materials, roof pitches, and window placements that materially affect your design. Get the scoping done first.
Bungalow Heaven is the largest Landmark District
Bungalow Heaven (roughly bounded by Orange Grove, Washington, Hill, and Lake) is the largest Landmark District by parcel count. If your address is anywhere in that grid, plan for the design-review pathway.
Pasadena Unified school fees apply
PUSD charges school facility fees on ADUs over 500 sqft, around $4.79/sqft as of 2025.
Permit Sonoma-style online portal — most steps are self-serve
Pasadena's online permit portal handles most ADU submittals end-to-end. You don't need to visit the city counter for routine submissions. The exception is Landmark District projects, which still need in-person Cultural Heritage Commission hearings.
Run your Pasadena address through the wizard
We pull your parcel polygon from county GIS, apply Pasadena ordinance + state baseline rules, generate the site plan, and walk you through the Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department submittal. Free, no signup.