Anaheim runs three permit paths: standard Building review, a Pre-Approved Plan Catalogue (Plans 001–004), and ADU Express — a GIS-screened express path with a roughly 1–3 day review window for qualified detached catalog plans.
AMC §18.38.015 governs ADUs. The Pre-Approved Plan Catalogue lists detached samples from 224 sq ft (studio) to 1,199 sq ft (3BR).
State guarantee: California requires every city to allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU exempt from local lot coverage, FAR, and front-setback rules.
Height baseline: 16 ft for detached, rising to 18 ft within ½ mile of major transit. Attached ADUs follow the primary home, capped at 25 ft.
Not summarized on the ADU landing page. Parking is handled through standard Building review and applicable state/local code.
Three paths: standard Building review; Pre-Approved Plan Catalogue; ADU Express (~1–3 day review for qualified detached catalog plans). Standard submittals still use hardcopy plan sets at the Permit Assistance Center; Express uses an electronic workflow.
State backstop: A complete ADU permit must receive a decision in 60 business days. If the city stalls past 30 business days, AB 253 lets you hire a certified private plan checker to force a 10-business-day decision.
Permit and development impact fees scale with size and fixtures. School fees apply to new units. Contact Building at (714) 765-5153 for current specifics.
SB 543: No impact fees on ADUs ≤750 sq ft. Above 750 sq ft, fees scale to the ratio of ADU size vs the main home.
Visit the official Anaheim ADU page (link in hero) for current eligibility and downloads.
Standard ADUs in Anaheim: no owner-occupancy required (made permanent in 2023).
JADUs: limited to 500 sq ft of interior livable space within an existing single-family home. Owner occupancy is required only when sanitation facilities are shared with the main house. JADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals (AB 1154 / SB 543).
Sketch a floorplan, walk through it in 3D, and have our planners review it for size, height, and setback compliance before you submit to Anaheim.
Heads up: Local rules change frequently. This page summarizes publicly available state law (California Government Code §§ 66310–66342) and current local guidance for general planning purposes. Always confirm specifics with the Anaheim planning desk before submitting plans. ADUMetrics does not provide legal advice.