Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
10 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Historic
- ADUAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. within 600 ft of historicHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. resource must not be visible from public right-of-way
An ADU that is on or within six hundred feet of real property that is listed in the California Register of Historic Resources must be located so as to not be visible from any public right-of-way.
Lighting
- Exterior lighting limited to down-lights
The exterior lighting must be limited to down-lights or as otherwise required by the building or fire code.
Other
- Independent exterior entrance
The ADU must have an independent exterior entrance, apart from that of the primary dwelling.
- Exterior materials and colors match primary dwelling
The materials and colors of the exterior walls, roof, and windows and doors must be the same as those of the primary dwelling.
- No direct line of sight to adjoining residential property
No window or door of the ADU may have a direct line of sight to an adjoining residential property. Each window and door must either be located where there is no direct line of sight or screened using fencing, landscaping, or privacy glass to prevent a direct line of sight.
- Roof slope matches dominant roof slope of primary dwelling
The roof slope must match that of the dominant roof slope of the primary dwelling. The dominant roof slope is the slope shared by the largest portion of the roof.
- Windows/doors within 30 ft of property line must be clerestory or frosted
All windows and doors in an ADU less than thirty feet from a property line that is not a public right-of-way line must either be (for windows) clerestory with the bottom of the glass at least six feet above the finished floor, or (for windows and for doors) utilize frosted or obscure glass.
- Minimum interior wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.7 ft
The interior horizontal dimensions of an ADU must be at least ten feet wide in every direction, with a minimum interior wall height of seven feet.
- Minimum interior width10 ft
The interior horizontal dimensions of an ADU must be at least ten feet wide in every direction, with a minimum interior wall height of seven feet.
Parking
- Parking exceptions
No parking required if ADU is within one-half mile walking distance of public transit, in a historic district, part of primary residence or accessory structure, on-street parking permits not offered, car share within one block, or submitted with new dwelling application.
From the ordinance
ADUs that are subject to this subsection (F) must conform to four-foot side and rear setbacks. ADUs that are subject to this subsection (F) must conform to fifteen-foot front setbacks, subject to subsection (F)(1)(c) above.