The second type of ADU can be built in various forms. It can be conversion of an accessory building such as a guest house or garage, an attached or detached new construction addition, or conversion of existing area in the main house. The maximum allowed square footage is 1000 square feet, depending on the ability to meet certain development standards as further described below.

ADUs less than 750 square feet are not required to pay a development impact fee of approximately $5,000.

It is important to note that if a garage is converted to an accessory dwelling unit, the property will no longer have the required parking for a later addition to the main house.

ADUs on top of detached garages are not permitted. Rooftop decks on top of ADUs are not permitted and any rooftop parapets are limited to 18” in height (and are included in the overall height).

Balconies, porches, patio cover structures, etc. attached to an ADU are limited in size to 5% of the ADU floor area, or 60 SF, whichever is less.

For historic properties, any exterior changes to create an ADU shall not be visible from the public street and must not alter any defining historical characteristic unless it would preclude development of the ADU. Please consult with historic preservation staff for more information.

Developing a site with an ADU requires the property owner to record a legal document that restricts future sale, development and use of the site. See code section 30.34.080(H)  for more information.

If you are interested in pursuing an Accessory Dwelling Unit, make sure to speak with a planner to ensure there are no issues with developing the project site. It is also critically important to check with Glendale Water & Power to make sure the siting of the ADU (including conversion of existing garage) does not conflict with any easements. Click here for information on how to contact GWP.

For estimates of permit fees please contact the Building Division at 818-548-3200.

Updated December 15, 2022

Accessory dwelling units on properties with more than one dwelling unit (“multi-family residential”) are governed by Glendale Municipal Code Section 30.34.80, which supersedes any statements provided in this text. This text outlines basic requirements in the Code and does not cover every scenario.

On multi-family properties, either one of two types of Accessory Dwelling Units can be constructed, but not both. The first type is conversion of existing non-livable area and the second type is detached new construction.

For conversion of existing area, the existing area must be permitted non-livable area, such as garage, storage, laundry, basement or other similar area. This area can be converted to at least one ADU. Additional ADUs are allowed up to a maximum of 25% of the total number of existing dwelling units on the property, rounded down to the nearest whole number. For example, there must be at least 4 existing dwelling units to qualify for a second ADU.

For new construction detached ADU(s), at least two may be constructed. They may be attached or detached from each other, but must be detached from existing building(s) on site (5 feet from roof eave to roof eave). If the ADU(s) will replace an existing garage/carport, it must be located where the existing garage/carport is located and must only replace the garage/carport if necessary to physically accommodate the ADU.

The primary standards for the detached ADU(s) are that it not be located between the house and the street, has a 4-foot setback from the interior property lines, is no more than 16 feet in height (or 18 feet if existing development is multi-story), is architecturally compatibility with the main building, and has an independent entrance, a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen, complies with the building code including minimum size and fire ingress/egress clearance, and is served by utilities. If the project site is located within ½ mile of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor (“High Quality Transit Area” - see map here), the ADU(s) may be 18’ in height with an additional 2’ in height if needed to accommodate a roof pitch to match the primary dwelling. In no case are more than 2 stories allowed.

ADUs less than 750 square feet are not required to pay a development impact fee of approximately $5,000.

ADUs on top of detached garages are not permitted. Rooftop decks on top of ADUs are not permitted and any rooftop parapets are limited to 18” in height (and included in the overall height).