South Pasadena ADU rules

Maximum size

A new detached ADU may be 150 to 1,200 sq ft. A new attached ADU may be 150 sq ft up to 850 sq ft (one bedroom or less) or 1,000 sq ft (two or more bedrooms). Up to 800 sq ft of a new ADU may exceed the lot's coverage and floor area limits; any area above 800 sq ft must fit within them. A converted accessory structure may add up to 150 sq ft for entry and exit, or grow to 1,200 sq ft under the same rule.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(E)(2)(a)-(c), accessed 2026-11-03.

Setbacks

New ADUs need 4 ft side and rear setbacks and the zone's front setback. A second floor must also be 4 ft from side and rear lines (or keep an existing wall's setback if at least 3 ft). No setback is needed to convert an existing structure; a converted structure under 4 ft from a side line may extend that wall 10 ft if it stays at least 3 ft from the side and 4 ft from the rear. A detached ADU over 800 sq ft needs 10 ft from other buildings.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(E)(4)-(5), (G)(1)(c), accessed 2026-11-03.

Local ADU rules

South Pasadena's ADU rules are in Municipal Code § 36.350.200, last amended by Ordinance 2394 (2025). They apply to lots with single-family or multifamily homes in any zone that allows homes. ADU applications are reviewed by staff on objective standards and acted on within 60 days of a complete application. ADUs that state law lets every homeowner build (Gov. Code § 66323) are not subject to any added local standards.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(B), (C), (E), accessed 2026-11-03.

ADU types

On a single-family lot: one attached or detached ADU and one JADU, plus an ADU converted from an existing structure. An ADU may be inside or above a garage or other accessory structure. On a lot with existing multifamily homes: up to eight detached ADUs (not more than the number of existing units), and ADUs converted from non-livable space (at least one, up to 25% of the existing units). On a lot with proposed multifamily homes: up to two detached ADUs.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(E)(1)(a)-(b), (F)(2), (F)(6), accessed 2026-11-03.

Height

A one-story ADU may be 16 ft to the top of the parapet or roof; a detached one within a half mile walk of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor may be 18 ft, plus 2 ft for a roof pitch that matches the main home. A two-story ADU, including one over an accessory structure, may be 18 ft with a flat roof (plus a 1 ft parapet) or 22 ft with a pitched roof. An attached ADU may be 25 ft or the zone's limit for the main home, whichever is lower. No ADU may be more than two stories. A conversion keeps the existing building's height.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(E)(3), accessed 2026-11-03.

Two-story ADU standards

Where a main home could not be built within 6 ft of the lot line, second-floor windows less than 6 ft from a neighboring lot line must be fixed obscured glass up to 5 ft above the floor. Balconies must face the inside of the lot (or the street on a corner lot). 30% of the side and rear walls above the first floor must have recesses of at least 18 inches.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(G)(1), accessed 2026-11-03.

ADUs in front of the home

If at least half of the main home sits in the rear third of a lot that is not a historic property, an ADU may go in front of the home. Staff review it if it is one story, up to 850 sq ft (one bedroom or less) or 1,000 sq ft (two or more), and 16 ft tall. It must meet the zone's front setback and 4 ft side setbacks, face the street with an entry and a covered porch or awning, have at least 20 sq ft of window on each street-facing side (no vinyl), have a pitched roof if a neighbor does, and have no new driveway or parking in front of it.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(E)(1)(d)(i), (E)(1)(e), accessed 2026-11-03.

Parking

An ADU needs one off-street space unless it is within a half mile walk of a bus stop or light rail station, where on-street permits are required but not offered, in a historic district or on a historic property, inside the existing main home, or within one block of a car share vehicle. On a multifamily lot, ADUs need one space per three ADUs. Garage parking removed to convert a garage to an ADU does not have to be replaced. Separate rules apply in the high risk fire area.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(C)(1)(b), (C)(1)(d), (H), accessed 2026-11-03.

High risk fire area

In the high risk fire area (south of Monterey Road and west of Meridian Avenue), a detached ADU must be within 150 ft of the front property line, or on a flag lot within 100 ft of a dry standpipe with the Fire Chief's sign-off.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(A)(7), (I)(3), accessed 2026-11-03.

Historic properties

On a designated or listed historic property, allowed ADUs are conversions of accessory structures, new detached ADUs and JADUs; the code does not allow attached ADUs there. Detached ADUs go at the rear, or in front (up to 800 sq ft and 18 ft) only if there is no other spot for an 800 sq ft ADU. An ADU may not be taller than the main home (16 ft is allowed in every case), and two stories only if the main home has two. If visible from the street, it must follow objective roof, cladding, door and window matching standards and the City's design guidelines for historic properties. ADUs that state law lets every homeowner build (Gov. Code § 66323) are exempt from these standards.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(C)(1)(c), (J), accessed 2026-11-03.

Junior ADUs

A JADU may be up to 500 sq ft inside an existing or proposed single-family home. A shared existing bathroom does not count toward the 500 sq ft, but a new bathroom does. It needs its own outdoor entrance, at least an efficiency kitchen, a separate or shared bathroom, and a sleeping and living area. A JADU may not be sold separately from the home. No parking is needed for a JADU inside the existing home.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(A)(9), (D), (E)(2)(d), (E)(6), (H)(1)(d), accessed 2026-11-03.

Fees, utilities and renting

No impact fees for an ADU under 750 sq ft; larger ADUs pay in proportion to the main home's size, and ADUs rented at no more than 80% of area median income are exempt. An ADU is not a new use for utility connection fees unless built with a new home, and may share or have separate meters. School fees apply. ADUs may not be rented for less than 30 days. An ADU may be sold separately only when built by a qualified nonprofit for low- or moderate-income buyers.

Source: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.350.200 Residential Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (Code Publishing), § 36.350.200(D), (G)(4), (K), (L), accessed 2026-11-03.

State housing department (HCD) review

On February 27, 2026, HCD sent South Pasadena a technical assistance letter saying the newest ADU ordinance it had on file was from 2021 and may be out of date. It listed state law changes since then, including no deed restrictions on ADUs, JADU owner occupancy only with a shared bathroom, no parking for JADUs, new review deadlines, and up to eight detached ADUs on multifamily lots. HCD asked for a response by March 29, 2026. The City amended its ADU section in 2025 (Ordinance 2394). Confirm the current rules with the City of South Pasadena.

Source: HCD technical assistance letter, City of South Pasadena, Letter of February 27, 2026, accessed 2026-11-03.

Ready-made ADU plans program

In 2026 the City began a program of ready-made ADU designs in three sizes and styles, with an ADU guide. The Planning Commission took feedback on the designs on May 19, 2026. Contact: Community Development, (626) 403-7222.

Source: City of South Pasadena, “Community Invited to Provide Input on Pre-Approved ADU Plan Program” (March 18, 2026), News release, accessed 2026-11-03.