Pacifica - San Mateo County ADU Resource Center

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Local ADU Rules

Pacifica

Last Updated October 11, 2024

ADU Contact:

Brianne Harkousha: 650. 738.7341 – bharkousha@pacifica.gov

Katie Snodgrass: KSnodgrass@pacifica.gov

Standards	Details
Zones allowed	R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5,C-1, C-2, P-D, A
Lot Restrictions	Attached and detached ADUs prohibited where street fronting site is unpaved or 26 feet or less in width.
Minimum Lot Size	None
Min/Max ADU Size	Min: 150 sf Max attached: One or less bedroom: 850 SF or 50% of the primary dwelling, whichever is greater. 2 or more bedrooms: 1,000SF or 50% of the primary dwelling, whichever is greater Max detached: 1,200 SF Max JADU: 500 SF Max attached or detached conversion: None
ADU Building Height	Detached: Primary dwelling height or 25 feet, whichever is less. In front of primary dwelling or within primary dwelling setbacks: 16 feet JADU and Attached: same as primary residence Height limit cannot be less than 16 feet
Setbacks	Attached: Front – 15 feet; except above the garage – 20 feet. Side and rear – 4 feet Detached: Side and rear – 4 feet. Front – 15 feet or same as primary residence JADU: None, if contained within existing single-family residence, expansions for ingress and egress only: front – 15 feet, side and rear – 4 feet
Parking Requirements	JADUs: No parking required ADUs: One spot may be required (tandem allowed). No parking required if: ½ mile walking distance from public transit, in a historic district, or one block from a car-share vehicle on-street parking permits are required but not offered to ADU occupant Special requirements apply to Coastal Visitor Parking Areas
Owner Occupancy	JADU: owner occupancy required ADU: none
Sample fees from recent permits	2022: 1000 s.f. detached: $13,000 2022: 297 s.f. garage conversion to JADU: $3,800 2021: 934 s.f. attached above existing garage: $17,420 *No impact fees for ADUs less than 750 square feet
Other requirements	Fire sprinklers required in some cases. Separate utility meters not required. Sometimes meter upgrade required. Consult with city if work requires tree removal, work within 50 feet of a tree, or pruning a tree. No short term rentals. Single-family residence site may have 1 ADU and 1 JADU ADUs must comply with all requirements of the underlying zoning district.
Process	Ministerial building permit process applying state standards and compliance with City ordinance. In the Coastal Zone, a Coastal Development Permit is required. Making an appointment to meet with a planner in the initial stages of the project can help avoid challenges and is highly recommended.
Exceptions	Applicants may pursue variances and parking exceptions through Planning Commission for certain standards.

Wondering what you can build?

Make sure you check out our Learning the Rules page for more step-by-step details