West Covina · ADU permits
ADU permits in West Covina
How to build a ADU in West Covina: permit pathway through West Covina Community Development Department, drawings required, local watch-outs, and a free address-level wizard for your West Covina lot.
West Covina context
West Covina's ADU ordinance is in West Covina Municipal Code Title 26. The city aligns with the California state baseline. Plan check is typically 45-60 days.
- Permit agency
- West Covina Community Development Department
- Median lot size
- 6,500 sqft
- ADU permits issued (2024)
- 134Source: Cal HCD Annual Progress Report 2024 (Table A2, BP_ISSUE_DT1 set)
West Covina ADU ordinance
Verified against West Covina 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)
Local processing time
45-60 days for standard ADUs
Pre-approved standard plans
None city-specific
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 West Covina address. The other drawings come from your architect or plan firm — we list pre-approved options in the wizard.
West Covina watch-outs for ADU
Overlays that hit a meaningful share of West Covina lots
Hillside Standards (northern foothills)~15% of parcels
Northern West Covina foothills trigger Hillside Standards on slopes over 10%.
Local quirks
Schools split between West Covina USD + Rowland USD
West Covina is split between West Covina Unified (most of the city) + Rowland Unified (small southern portion). Verify your district for facility fees.
Run your West Covina address through the wizard
We pull your parcel polygon from county GIS, apply West Covina ordinance + state baseline rules, generate the site plan, and walk you through the West Covina Community Development Department submittal. Free, no signup.