Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU)

JADU Interior

Accessory Dwelling Unit. (2022). California Department of Housing and Community Development. https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/ADUHandbookUpdate.pdf

What is a JADU?

  • Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) are semi-independent dwelling units no larger than 500 square feet within a portion of an existing single-family home such as a garage, great room, home office, etc.
  • JADUs include a bedroom, a food preparation area and storage cabinets, and may include a separate bathroom. JADUs also require separate exterior entrance. 
    • If the unit does not include its own separate bathroom, then it shall contain an interior entrance to the main living area of the existing or proposed single-family structure to allow bathroom access from the main house, in addition to an exterior entrance that is separate from the main entrance to the primary dwelling.

What makes a JADU different from an ADU? 

  • A JADU can be no larger than 500 square feet.
  • It must be within a portion of an existing single-family.
  • Only 1 JADU is permitted on a single-family lot. 
  • JADUs can share a sanitation facility (bathroom) with the primary dwelling.
  • JADUs can have an efficiency kitchen,
    • A cooking facility with smaller plug-in kitchen appliances.
    •  A food preparation counter or counters that are of reasonable size in relation to the size of the junior accessory dwelling unit. 
    • Food storage cabinets that are of reasonable size in relation to the size of the junior accessory dwelling unit.

Are JADUs subject to owner occupancy requirements?

  •  All JADUs are subject to owner occupancy requirements.
  • Primary resident must live in either the primary dwelling or the JADU.