Junior ADUs (JADUs)
Make more of the space within your home.
A junior ADU follows a different planning path from a detached backyard home. It can suit a family member, caregiver or long-term housing arrangement when the existing layout works.
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What makes a JADU different
California’s March 2026 HCD handbook describes a JADU as up to 500 square feet of interior livable space within a single-family residence. Qualifying attached-garage space may be considered; a detached garage follows a different ADU pathway.
Kitchen, entry and bathroom planning
A JADU needs an efficiency kitchen and a separate entrance. Bathroom arrangements affect both the layout and the applicable rules. Under current HCD guidance, owner occupancy is required when sanitation facilities are shared; a private bathroom changes that treatment. JADU rentals must exceed 30 days.
Before choosing a room
Bring a current floor plan and explain which rooms the main household needs to keep. Discuss circulation, separation, ventilation and utility work. Confirm deed restrictions and the proposed arrangement with the permitting agency before committing to construction.
State-rule source: California HCD ADU Handbook, March 2026. Confirm the requirements for your property with the permitting agency.
Start with the California ADU Handbook.
The March 2026 edition covers statewide ADU and JADU planning topics. Download the 55-page PDF free, with no signup required.
Bring the plan back to your property.
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