ADU Builder · South Pasadena, CA · SPMC § 36.350.200
Building an ADU in South Pasadena. Rules, permits, design, and real 2026 costs — written from primary sources.
South Pasadena ADUs follow two sets of rules. The city has its
own ADU ordinance (SPMC § 36.350.200, originally adopted
by Ord. No. 2356 on May 5, 2021, and subsequently aligned with
state-law amendments). On top of that, California state law
applies (Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342).
South Pasadena’s ordinance has two unique constraints
worth understanding before you draw a line: a strict
historic-property regime that limits ADUs to one story and 16
feet, and a High Risk Fire Area south of Monterey Road that
requires fire sprinklers and additional parking on narrow
streets.
This page explains what you can actually build: setbacks,
height, size caps, parking, and what permits cost in 2026.
Plus the ADU Amnesty Program — South Pasadena’s
pathway to legalize an existing unpermitted unit without fines
or code enforcement.
Written from primary sources and our own work on 126 ADU
projects across LA County. Use the sections below.
Three documents govern an ADU project in South Pasadena. We
read all three before we draw a line.
State law. California Government Code
§§ 66310–66342. The statewide ADU statute,
substantively amended by SB 543 and AB 1154 (both effective
January 1, 2026). Sets the floor every California city must
meet.
Local ordinance. South Pasadena Municipal
Code § 36.350.200 (Residential Uses—Accessory
Dwelling Units), originally adopted by Ord. No. 2356 on
May 5, 2021, and subsequently amended to align with the
state-law renumbering and Gov. Code § 66323’s
four-unit interpretation. The city’s rules layered on
top of state law — including the historic-property
regime, the High Risk Fire Area, and the ADU Amnesty Program.
HCD commentary + city design standards.
California Department of Housing and Community Development
ADU Handbook plus enforcement letters, and South
Pasadena’s own ADU Design Standards and Design
Guidelines for Historic Properties (prepared by
Architectural Resources Group). HCD has authority under
Gov. Code § 66316 to challenge ordinances that
don’t comply with state law.
The city’s Community Development Department (1414
Mission Street, (626) 403-7220) administers the ordinance
through its Virtual Planning Desk. The city’s ADU
ordinance and supplementary documents are also published in
the codified municipal code at
codepublishing.com.
What you can build in South Pasadena
The headline: South Pasadena permits a detached, attached, or
conversion ADU plus a JADU on every single-family property
— up to four units total per lot under HCD’s
interpretation of Gov. Code § 66323 (primary dwelling +
conversion ADU + new attached or detached ADU + JADU). All
ADU applications are non-discretionary (ministerial —
building permit only) per SPMC § 36.350.200.C and
Gov. Code § 66317. Discretionary review is required only
where a project requests an exception, or where it sits on a
historic property.
Number of units permitted
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.1.a: one ADU (attached or
detached) and one JADU are allowed on a single-family
property. Combined with state-law conversion-ADU rights under
Gov. Code § 66323, HCD interprets the statewide ADU
allowance to permit up to four units on a single-family lot:
the primary dwelling, a conversion ADU, an attached or
detached new-construction ADU, and a JADU.
On multifamily lots, the SPMC caps detached ADUs at two
(§ F.1) plus conversions of up to 25% of existing
non-livable space. State law preempts that cap.
Gov. Code § 66323, as amended by SB 1211 (effective
January 1, 2025), allows up to eight detached ADUs
on a multifamily lot — not to exceed the
number of existing primary units — in addition to the
25% conversion-ADU allowance. SP’s local two-detached
cap does not survive that preemption. The state-law cap
governs.
Size limits
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.2:
New detached ADU: 150 sqft minimum, 1,200 sqft maximum (§ E.2.b).
New attached ADU: 150 sqft minimum, 850 sqft maximum for studio or 1-bedroom, or 1,000 sqft maximum for 2+ bedrooms (§ E.2.a).
Conversion ADU: existing structure size + up to 150 sqft for ingress/egress; expansions beyond capped at 1,200 sqft (§ E.2.c).
JADU: 500 sqft maximum (§ E.2.d). Existing shared bathroom area is excluded from the 500 sqft cap; newly constructed bathroom area counts even if shared.
For each new-construction type, up to 800 sqft of the
ADU’s floor area is allowed to exceed the property’s
lot coverage and FAR requirements (§ E.2.a-c). State law
(Gov. Code § 66321(b)(3)) protects this 800-sqft floor
regardless of local FAR or coverage limits.
The Wilshire
— 400 sqft Studio/1BA. Single-story, 16 ft height
envelope — fits both the historic-property limits in
§ E.3.d and the High Risk Fire Area parking and
sprinkler requirements in § I, on a footprint that
works on a small South Pasadena lot.
Setbacks
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.4: front yard per the underlying
zoning district; side and rear setbacks of no more than 4 feet
for new construction; and no setback required for a conversion
of an existing structure. Where an existing accessory
structure has a side-yard setback of less than 4 feet, the
ordinance allows a wall extension of up to 10 feet at the
existing setback — provided it’s not less than 3
feet from the side property line and 4 feet from the rear
(§ E.4.a). If the existing setback is under 3 feet, the
addition must move out to 4 feet.
Maximum height
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.3:
One-story ADU: 16 ft to top of parapet or pitched roof (§ E.3.a).
Two-story ADU (or above an existing accessory structure): 18 ft for a flat roof (plus a 1-foot parapet) or 22 ft for a pitched roof (§ E.3.b).
Conversion ADU (no expansion): the height of the existing structure (§ E.3.c).
Historic property: one story only, 16 ft maximum (§ E.3.d).
State law (Gov. Code § 66321(b)(4)(B)) also requires the
city to allow up to 18 feet on lots within ½ mile of a
major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, and 25
feet for ADUs attached to a primary dwelling or on a
multistory multifamily lot. Two-story Signature Homes must
comply with the additional second-floor articulation, window,
and balcony rules in § G.
Parking
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.H.1, no off-street parking is
required for an ADU or JADU when any of the following apply:
The ADU is within ½ mile walking distance of a bus stop or light rail station.
On-street parking permits are required but not offered to the ADU occupant.
The ADU is within a historic district, potential historic district, or on a property listed on the National Register, California Register, or the City’s Cultural Heritage Ordinance.
The ADU or JADU is within the existing primary dwelling.
A car-share vehicle is located within one block of the ADU.
When required, one off-street space per ADU on single-family
lots, or one space per three ADUs on multifamily lots
(§ H.2). Lost garage parking is not required to be
replaced (§ C.1.b). The High Risk Fire Area has
additional parking rules — see the dedicated section
below.
The Westwood
— 1 BR, 550 sqft. Stays within the 16 ft / 1-story
envelope that applies on every South Pasadena historic
property (SPMC § 36.350.200.E.3.d) and on every
High Risk Fire Area lot.
Front-yard placement
South Pasadena allows ADUs in front of the primary dwelling
under a specific condition: if 50% or more of the existing
primary dwelling sits in the rear one-third of the property
and the property is not a historic property
(§ E.1.d). A ministerial-review front-yard ADU is
one-story, up to 850 sqft (≤ 1 BR) or 1,000 sqft (2+ BR),
maximum 16 feet. A larger or two-story front-yard ADU
requires Design Review Board approval and is capped at 1,200
sqft and 18 ft flat / 22 ft pitched. Front-yard ADUs must
comply with strict facade and landscaping standards
(§ E.1.e).
Owner-occupancy
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.D.1, a JADU requires the property
owner to reside in either the remaining portion of the primary
residence or in the newly created JADU. Standard ADUs have no
owner-occupancy requirement, consistent with state preemption
under Gov. Code § 66315. AB 1154 (effective January 1,
2026) narrowed the JADU owner-occupancy requirement to JADUs
that share sanitation facilities with the primary dwelling
— a JADU with its own bathroom is no longer subject to
the mandate under state law.
Impact fees
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.K: ADUs under 750 sqft are exempt
from impact fees (matches Gov. Code § 66318). ADUs of
750 sqft and above pay impact fees proportional to the primary
dwelling’s square footage. ADUs deed-restricted at no
more than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) are also exempt
(§ K.3). Connection fees are not charged unless the ADU
is part of a new single-family-dwelling application
(§ K.2). School impact fees are charged per state law.
Building separation
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.5: detached ADUs on residentially
zoned parcels larger than 800 sqft must comply with the
10-foot building separation requirement in SPMC
§ 36.220.040. The exception in subsection A.4.c allows
tighter separation if the 10-foot rule would preclude
construction of an 800 sqft ADU.
Historic-property ADU rules
South Pasadena is one of the most historically intact small
cities in LA County. The Mission West, Buena Vista, and
Marengo neighborhoods are full of Craftsman, Spanish Colonial
Revival, and early-20th-century bungalows that the city
actively protects. ADUs on historic properties carry three
additional constraints beyond the standard rules.
A “historic property” under SPMC
§ 36.350.200.A is broader than a formal landmark
designation. It covers two cases:
Properties designated as a city landmark or contributor to a designated historic district.
Properties on the city’s inventory of potential historic resources, per Health and Safety Code § 18955.
A property doesn’t need formal designation to fall
under these rules. The inventory is wide.
The three historic-property ADU constraints:
One story, 16 ft maximum (§ E.3.d).
No two-story ADU is permitted on a historic property,
regardless of zone or transit proximity. This is a
Mills-Act-grade preservation rule that overrides the
general two-story allowance.
Rear placement and visibility shielding
(§ E.1.f). An ADU on a historic property must
be located in the rear of the property such that at least
50% of the ADU’s first-floor front-facing facade sits
behind the predominant massing of the existing dwelling.
The ADU may not block visibility of the historic resource
from the public right-of-way or compete with the
resource’s character-defining features.
Demolition Certificate of Appropriateness
(§ C.1.e). Demolition of any existing
structure 45 years or older on a historic property requires
a Certificate of Appropriateness before the ADU application
can be deemed complete. The resulting ADU must comply with
the new-construction setback rules in § E.4.
South Pasadena also publishes ADU Design Standards and Design
Guidelines for Historic Properties (prepared by Architectural
Resources Group, adopted September 2021). The city applies
them during plan review. The Guidelines cover massing,
materials, roof form, windows, and proportion. The goal: a
new ADU that reads as compatible with the historic primary
dwelling, but still distinct.
For these reasons, every CALI ADU project on a South Pasadena
historic property uses a one-story Signature Home — the
Wilshire (400 sqft Studio), the Sunset (480 sqft 1BR), the
Westwood (550 sqft 1BR), the Laurel Canyon (660 sqft 2BR),
the Melrose (800 sqft 2BR/2BA), or the Lincoln (1,000 sqft
3BR). All six sit comfortably within the 16 ft envelope and
can be sited per the rear-placement rule.
The High Risk Fire Area
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.A and Chapter 14.1, the High Risk
Fire Area is the area south of Monterey Road, west of
Meridian Avenue, extending to the city border. The
designation reflects the topographic and climatic conditions
of the area — narrow streets, hillside terrain, and
fire-apparatus access constraints.
ADUs in the High Risk Fire Area face three additional rules
on top of the standard ones, all under
SPMC § 36.350.200.I:
Parking on narrow streets. If the property
is adjacent to a street less than 28 feet wide, one
off-street parking space is required for the ADU. The ADU
may not displace existing primary-residence parking.
However, a garage may be converted to an ADU if all removed
parking spaces are replaced elsewhere on the property
in addition to the ADU’s parking space.
(§ I.1)
Fire sprinklers required. Every ADU in the
High Risk Fire Area must be equipped with fire sprinklers
— even if the primary dwelling is not. This applies
to both new construction and conversions. (§ I.2)
Distance from front property line. A
detached ADU must be located within 150 feet of the front
property line to facilitate emergency fire access —
specifically, deployment of a 250-foot pre-connected hose
line. On flag lots, the ADU may be located within 100 feet
of a dry standpipe installed on the property with Fire
Chief approval. (§ I.3)
How state law constrains these rules
Two of the three SP rules survive state-law scrutiny. One is
partially preempted. The picture for a homeowner:
Rule 1 (parking) — partially preempted
State law has five parking exemption triggers in Gov. Code
§ 66322 that block a city from requiring ADU parking:
within ½ mile of transit, in a historic district,
conversion ADU, on-street permits not offered, or a car-share
vehicle within one block. The SP HRFA rule requires one
off-street space on narrow streets regardless of those
triggers. If the lot qualifies for any of the five exemptions,
state law preempts the SP requirement.
A second preemption issue: Gov. Code § 66314(d)(11)
prohibits a city from requiring replacement parking for the
primary dwelling when a garage is demolished or converted in
conjunction with ADU construction. The SP rule that an HRFA
ADU “may not displace existing primary-residence
parking” and that garage conversion requires replacement
parking elsewhere conflicts with § 66314(d)(11). State
law governs. Lost garage parking does not have to be replaced.
Rule 2 (fire sprinklers) — allowed in state-designated fire zones
The general ADU statute exempts an ADU from sprinkler
requirements unless the primary dwelling itself requires them
(Gov. Code § 66314(d)(13)). But California Fire Code
§§ 903–915 and Public Resources Code
§§ 4201–4204 give local jurisdictions authority
to impose stricter sprinkler rules in state-designated Very
High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs). CalFire publishes
the official zone maps.
South Pasadena’s HRFA largely overlaps the
state-designated VHFHSZ. The sprinkler requirement survives
preemption under fire-code authority — not ADU-statute
authority. Verify the lot’s specific CalFire
designation; we check this on every HRFA project.
Rule 3 (150 ft from front property line) — mirrors state fire code
California Fire Code § 503.1.1 requires fire apparatus
access within 150 feet of all portions of any facility’s
exterior. SP’s ADU rule mirrors the state-mandated
provision rather than imposing an ADU-specific restriction.
The flag-lot 100-foot dry-standpipe alternative also tracks
California Fire Code § 503.
One caveat: if applied so strictly that it prevents ADU
construction entirely on a deep lot, the rule could face an
“unreasonably restrict” challenge under Gov. Code
§ 66311. On most SP HRFA lots, that’s not the
binding constraint — siting the ADU within 150 feet of
the front PL works on standard lot geometries.
We confirm whether a property sits in the HRFA during the
Backyard Review, verify the lot’s CalFire designation,
and price fire sprinklers and the additional parking only
where state law actually permits the city to require them.
For tight HRFA lots, the one-story Signature Homes (Wilshire,
Sunset, Westwood, Laurel Canyon, Melrose) typically pencil
better than two-story options — the 16 ft envelope is
easier to site within the 150-foot front-PL distance rule.
How California state law preempts local
State law sets a floor every California city must meet under
Gov. Code § 66316. South Pasadena’s ordinance is
mostly aligned with state law — the city’s own
fact sheet describes the recent SPMC update as bringing the
ordinance into compliance with state amendments. Three
state-law backstops are worth knowing about:
The 800-sqft floor (Gov. Code § 66321(b)(3)).
Local FAR, lot coverage, and open-space requirements cannot
be used to prevent an ADU of at least 800 sqft (with 4-foot
side and rear setbacks) on any single-family lot. Even if
your South Pasadena primary dwelling has consumed the
lot’s FAR allowance, state law still entitles you to
800 sqft of new ADU floor area.
JADU owner-occupancy narrowing (AB 1154).
AB 1154 (effective January 1, 2026) narrowed the JADU
owner-occupancy requirement at Gov. Code § 66333(g) to
JADUs that share sanitation facilities with the primary
dwelling. SPMC § 36.350.200.D.1 still requires
owner-occupancy on every JADU, but state law preempts the
broader rule for JADUs with their own bathrooms.
Height floor for transit-proximate ADUs
(Gov. Code § 66321(b)(4)(B)). State law
requires cities to allow up to 18 feet (plus a 2-foot
roof-pitch bonus) on detached ADUs within ½ mile of
a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor. The
SPMC’s 16-foot one-story default is more restrictive
than this floor; state law applies on transit-proximate
lots regardless.
Multifamily detached ADU count (SB 1211).
SB 1211 (effective January 1, 2025) amended Gov. Code
§ 66323 to allow up to eight detached ADUs on
a multifamily lot — not to exceed the number
of existing primary units. SPMC § 36.350.200.F.1 still
caps detached ADUs at two on multifamily lots, but state
law preempts the local cap. For a 4-unit multifamily lot,
up to 4 detached ADUs are allowed under state law (the
existing-unit ceiling); for an 8+ unit lot, the full 8 are
available.
Permitting your ADU in South Pasadena
ADU and JADU applications in South Pasadena are
non-discretionary — ministerial review only, no public
hearing, no design review (SPMC § 36.350.200.C and
Gov. Code § 66317). The city’s own ADU fact sheet
confirms this: “ADUs are non-discretionary approvals,
meaning the City does not have the ability to deny them
provided they comply with required objective standards.”
The standard pathway
Applications go through the South Pasadena Community
Development Department (1414 Mission Street, (626) 403-7220)
via the city’s Virtual Planning Desk. Per state law,
the city has 60 days from the date the application is deemed
complete to approve or deny it (Gov. Code
§ 66317(a)(3)). If the city misses the 60-day deadline,
the application is deemed approved by operation of law. SB
543 (effective January 1, 2026) requires the city to
determine application completeness within 15 business days.
Concurrent applications
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.C.1, the timing of concurrent
applications depends on what else is being built:
New primary + ADU/JADU: approval of all discretionary entitlements for the primary dwelling required before the ADU application can be deemed complete.
Conversion of existing accessory structure: 60-day timeline applies regardless of any concurrent primary-dwelling application; replacement parking not required if a garage is converted.
Additions to existing primary + attached ADU/JADU: primary entitlements first, except for conversion ADUs.
Additions to existing primary + detached ADU: 60-day timeline; if both deemed complete together, 800 sqft of the ADU is allowed to exceed FAR/coverage when calculating the addition.
Discretionary prerequisites
Per § C.2, an ADU application can’t be deemed
complete until any required discretionary prerequisites are
approved. These include tree removal permits, Certificates of
Appropriateness on historic properties, and Hillside
Development Permits in hillside areas (SPMC division 36.340).
We surface every prerequisite during your Backyard Review so
there are no surprises in the permit cycle.
Certificate of Occupancy
Per § L: a Certificate of Occupancy for an ADU or JADU
cannot be issued before the primary dwelling has its own
Certificate of Occupancy. On new-construction projects where
the primary and ADU are built concurrently, this means
sequencing the inspection schedule so the primary closes out
first.
The ADU Amnesty Program for existing unpermitted units
South Pasadena is one of the few LA-area cities with a formal
ADU Amnesty Program. The program is for existing accessory
dwelling units that were constructed without some or all of
the required permits and approvals — and it lets owners
bring their unit into compliance with basic health and safety
standards without the risk of fines or code
enforcement action.
The city’s amnesty flyer summarizes the four benefits:
improved property values, reduced risks, ensured
habitability, and the ability to legally rent the unit. The
program also provides “significant fee reductions and
assistance in determining necessary improvements.”
To apply, homeowners download the standard ADU application
from the city’s Virtual Planning Desk and note
“Existing — legalization” on the
application form. The city then reviews the existing unit
against the SPMC ADU standards and identifies whatever
health-and-safety upgrades are needed. The program is for
non-historic properties; existing unpermitted ADUs on
historic properties have a separate review pathway through
the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission.
A note on state law: AB 2533 (effective September 28, 2024,
codified at Gov. Code § 66332) provides a parallel
state-law pathway for legalizing pre-2020 unpermitted ADUs.
Where the SPMC amnesty program and AB 2533 both apply, the
more permissive set of rules controls. We can model both
pathways during your Backyard Review if you have an existing
unpermitted unit.
Signature Homes that fit South Pasadena lots
Three 1-story Signature Homes that respect South Pasadena's historic-property limit (16 ft, single-story) and the High Risk Fire Area's tighter siting and parking rules — without giving up Craftsman-scale livability.
Four projects from our 126-build LA portfolio — all within a few miles of South Pasadena, including Pasadena 2-story and garage conversion projects and historic-Spanish work in Central LA.
The honest answer: it depends on what you build and where on
the lot it goes. After 126 ADU projects across LA County, we
can tell you exactly where the money goes — and where
most people lose it.
A custom-designed, detached new-construction ADU in a premium
historic-heavy market like South Pasadena typically costs
$400 to $600+ per square foot when you add up architecture,
engineering, permitting, construction, finishes, and utility
connections. On historic properties, custom designs often
climb further on the architectural review and Certificate of
Appropriateness process. In the High Risk Fire Area, fire
sprinklers and the 150-foot front-PL siting rule add their
own cost layers.
CALI ADU Signature Homes are fixed-price from
$219,000 to $459,000,
all-inclusive — design, engineering, permits,
construction, interior finishes, appliances, and utility
connections. The number in your contract is the number you
pay. No change orders. No “unforeseen
conditions” surcharges. Pricing is the same whether
the lot is in South Pasadena, Pasadena, or the Valley
— the model isn’t marked up for the historic
neighborhood.
The Laurel Canyon
— 2 BR / 1 BA, 660 sqft, $289,000 all-inclusive. A
single-story Signature Home with a traditional gable roof
that fits South Pasadena’s 16 ft historic-property
envelope (SPMC § 36.350.200.E.3.d) and reads
naturally next to a Craftsman bungalow.
South Pasadena city fees
On top of construction costs, every ADU project in South
Pasadena carries city fees. The state and city have exempted
ADUs from most of the largest ones. ADUs under 750 sqft are
exempt from impact fees entirely (SPMC
§ 36.350.200.K.3 and Gov. Code § 66318). ADUs of
750 sqft and above pay impact fees proportional to the
primary dwelling’s square footage. ADUs deed-restricted
at no more than 80% of Area Median Income are also exempt
from impact fees. Connection fees are not charged unless the
ADU is part of a new single-family-dwelling application
(§ K.2). School impact fees are charged per state law.
For most CALI ADU Signature Home projects in South Pasadena,
total city plan check, permit, and connection fees run
between $7,000 and $20,000 depending on model size and the
primary dwelling’s square footage. Your Backyard Review
includes a line-item estimate of those pass-through costs for
your specific lot.
Renting your ADU
A South Pasadena ADU is a long-term rental asset. Per SPMC
§ 36.350.200.J, an ADU shall not be rented for a period
of less than 30 consecutive days — matching the
California state floor in Gov. Code § 66314(e). The
city may require a deed restriction to enforce this
limitation. Short-term, vacation, and weekly rentals are not
permitted.
A well-built ADU in South Pasadena rents for $2,800 to
$5,000+ per month depending on size, finish, and proximity
to Mission Street, the Gold Line station, and the historic
downtown. A 1-bedroom Sunset (480 sqft) at the lower end of
that range; a 2-bedroom Laurel Canyon (660 sqft) in the
middle; a 3-bedroom Lincoln (1,000 sqft) at the upper end.
Most CALI ADU clients in South Pasadena see their project
pay for itself within 6 to 10 years while collecting monthly
income from day one.
Use our ROI Calculator to
model the math for a specific Signature Home and your lot.
Why South Pasadena is a strong ADU market
South Pasadena is a 3.4-square-mile independent city. It
sits between Pasadena, San Marino, and the Northeast LA
neighborhoods of Eagle Rock and Highland Park. The lots are
mostly compact — 4,000 to 8,000 sqft. The housing
stock skews historic. Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Colonial
Revival, and early-20th-century cottages dominate the
Mission West, Buena Vista, and Marengo neighborhoods.
Three things make it a strong ADU market: rental demand,
school proximity, and a city ordinance that wants the
supply.
Demand is durable. The South Pasadena Unified School
District is one of the highest-rated public districts in LA
County. That draws professional families to long-term
rentals. The Metro Gold Line station at Mission Street puts
downtown LA and Pasadena both within a 20-minute ride. That
supports steady 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom rental absorption.
And the city has been progressive on ADUs since Ord. No.
2356 in 2021 — including the Amnesty Program, the
Mission Street Specific Plan eligibility expansion, and the
objective-standards ministerial review pathway.
The constraints — the historic-property regime and the
High Risk Fire Area — are real. But they reward a
builder who knows the rules cold. We’ve worked the
adjacent Pasadena historic-district market for years.
South Pasadena ADU questions, answered
The questions South Pasadena homeowners actually ask before
they start — with citations to SPMC § 36.350.200
and Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342.
Can I build a two-story ADU in South Pasadena?
Yes — on most non-historic properties outside the
High Risk Fire Area. Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.3, a
two-story detached ADU is capped at 18 feet for a
flat roof (plus a 1-foot parapet) or
22 feet for a pitched roof.
Two important exceptions: ADUs on historic properties are
limited to one story and 16 feet (§ E.3.d), and
detached ADUs in the High Risk Fire Area south of
Monterey Road must comply with additional fire-safety
requirements. Two-story detached ADUs also have specific
design standards under § G — including 4-foot
second-floor setbacks, 30% facade articulation with
18-inch recesses, and obscured glass on windows facing
shared property lines within 6 feet.
How large an ADU can I build in South Pasadena?
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.E.2:
Detached ADU (new construction): 1,200 sqft maximum
Attached ADU (new construction): 850 sqft (studio or 1BR), 1,000 sqft (2BR+)
Conversion ADU: existing structure size + up to 150 sqft for ingress/egress; expansions max 1,200 sqft
JADU: 500 sqft
For each new-construction type, up to 800 sqft of floor
area is allowed to exceed the property’s lot
coverage and FAR requirements. State law (Gov. Code
§ 66321(b)(3)) protects this 800-sqft floor
regardless of FAR — even if your primary dwelling
has fully consumed the lot’s allowance, you are
still entitled to 800 sqft of new ADU floor area.
Can I build an ADU on a South Pasadena historic property?
Yes, with significant constraints. Per SPMC
§ 36.350.200.E.3.d, ADUs on historic properties are
limited to one story and a maximum height of 16
feet. Per § E.1.f, a new ADU on a historic
property must be located in the rear with at least 50% of
its first-floor front-facing facade behind the
predominant massing of the existing dwelling. The ADU
cannot block visibility of the historic resource from
the public right-of-way or compete with the
resource’s character-defining features.
A “historic property” under the ordinance
includes any property designated as a city landmark,
contributor to a designated historic district, or
identified on the city’s inventory of properties
with historic potential (per Health and Safety Code
§ 18955). Demolition of an existing accessory
structure 45 years or older requires a Certificate of
Appropriateness before the ADU application can be deemed
complete (§ C.1.e). South Pasadena also publishes
specific Design Guidelines for ADUs on Historic
Properties, prepared by Architectural Resources Group,
which the city applies during plan review.
Are ADUs allowed in the South Pasadena High Risk Fire Area?
Yes, with additional fire-safety requirements.
Per SPMC § 36.350.200.I, the High Risk Fire Area is
the area south of Monterey Road, west of Meridian Avenue,
extending to the city border. ADUs in this area face
three extra rules:
Parking on narrow streets: on streets less than 28 feet wide, one off-street space is required for the ADU; the ADU may not displace primary-residence parking. A garage may still be converted to an ADU if removed parking is replaced elsewhere on the property in addition to the ADU’s space.
Fire sprinklers required on every ADU.
Distance from front PL: a detached ADU must be located within 150 feet of the front property line, or within 100 feet of a dry standpipe with Fire Chief approval on flag lots.
These requirements are in addition to the standard ADU
rules in § E.
Can I rent my South Pasadena ADU on Airbnb?
No. Per SPMC § 36.350.200.J, an
ADU shall not be rented for a period of less than 30
consecutive days. The city may require a deed restriction
to enforce this limitation. The 30-day floor matches
California state law (Gov. Code § 66314(e)).
For practical purposes, a South Pasadena ADU is a
long-term tenancy asset only — short-term,
vacation, and weekly rentals are not permitted. AB 1154
(effective January 1, 2026) adds a parallel statewide
30-day rental requirement for JADUs at Gov. Code
§ 66333(g).
Can a South Pasadena ADU be sold separately from the main house?
Almost never. Per SPMC
§ 36.350.200.D, an ADU or JADU may not be owned or
sold separately from the primary dwelling — the
city may require a deed restriction to enforce this.
There is one narrow exception under California Government
Code §§ 66340 and 66341 (formerly § 65852.26):
an ADU developed by a qualified nonprofit corporation as
defined in state law may be sold separately to a low- or
moderate-income buyer. The eligibility requirements are
narrow and won’t apply to typical homeowner
projects. South Pasadena has not adopted an AB 1033
condominium-conversion ordinance, so the broader
separate-sale pathway available in Santa Monica and
Culver City does not apply here.
What is South Pasadena’s ADU Amnesty Program?
The City of South Pasadena offers an
ADU Amnesty Program for existing
accessory dwelling units that were constructed without
some or all required permits and approvals. The program
lets owners bring their unit into compliance with basic
health and safety standards without the risk of fines or
code enforcement action — and provides significant
fee reductions and assistance in identifying necessary
improvements.
To apply, homeowners download the standard ADU
application from the city’s Virtual Planning Desk
and note “Existing —
legalization” on the application. The benefits
the city cites: improved property values, reduced risks,
ensured habitability, and the ability to legally rent the
unit. The program is for non-historic properties; historic
properties have a separate review pathway. The amnesty
program also lets the city count the legalized unit
toward its RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation)
requirement.
Does South Pasadena require owner-occupancy for ADUs?
It depends on the unit type. For a standard
ADU, no — owner-occupancy is not required,
consistent with state preemption under Gov. Code
§ 66315. For a JADU, yes —
per SPMC § 36.350.200.D.1, the owner shall reside in
either the remaining portion of the primary residence or
in the newly created JADU.
AB 1154 (effective January 1, 2026) narrowed the JADU
owner-occupancy requirement to JADUs that share
sanitation facilities with the primary dwelling —
a JADU with its own bathroom is no longer subject to the
mandate under state law, even if the local ordinance has
not been formally updated to reflect AB 1154.
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