California Zoning & Land Use Laws
Zoning regulations, ADU laws, short-term rental rules, and land use policies for California. Source-cited from state legislation and municipal codes.
Total Cities
482
Total Counties
58
ADU State Law
Yes
Lot Split Law
Yes
Cottage Food Law
Yes
Cities With Data
16
California ADU Law
California has a statewide ADU law — California ADU Law (Government Code Section 65852.2) — effective 2020-01-01. This law preempts local ordinances — cities and counties cannot impose restrictions stricter than the state standard. Key provisions include: ADUs permitted by-right on all single-family and multifamily residential lots — no discretionary review allowed; JADUs (Junior ADUs) up to 500 sqft permitted within existing residential structures; Owner-occupancy requirement eliminated effective January 1, 2020, and 11 more. The most recent amendment was AB 2533 (2024): Further streamlined ADU permitting, clarified ministerial approval standards, strengthened local compliance requirements
View full CaliforniaADU law details →Lot Split Law
Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) — California Urban Lot Split: SB 9 (effective January 1, 2022) requires cities to ministerially approve: (1) splitting a single-family lot into two parcels where the original lot is at least 2,400 sqft and the resulting parcels are each at least 1,200 sqft; and (2) building 2 units on each resulting parcel. This effectively allows up to 4 units on a single-family lot via SB 9. The split must be in an urbanized area or urban cluster. Owner must intend to occupy one unit for 3 years. Does not apply to historic districts, coastal zones, high fire hazard zones, earthquake fault zones, or floodplains.
Cottage Food Law
California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, 2012; expanded by AB 626 Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, 2018): Class A operations allow direct sales to consumers from home with no revenue cap. Class B operations allow sales through retailers with a $75,000 annual revenue cap. AB 626 created Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) — allows up to $75,000/year in sales and up to 30 meals per day prepared in a home kitchen, subject to local health department permitting. As of 2025, many California counties allow MEHKOs. State registration via CDFA required for Class A/B cottage food; county health department permit required for MEHKO. California AB 2132 (2022) expanded MEHKO program. Local counties must opt-in to allow MEHKOs — check with your county environmental health department.
State Preemption Active
California state law preempts local zoning ordinances in several areas. Local governments cannot enact rules stricter than the state baseline.
Learn about Californiazoning preemption →Recent Legislative Changes
2019 — AB 68
Eliminated owner-occupancy requirement, reduced setbacks to 4 ft, eliminated minimum lot size requirement, streamlined approval to ministerial with 60-day deadline
2019 — AB 881
Prohibited cities from requiring ADU setbacks exceeding 4 ft rear/side, eliminated impact fees for ADUs under 750 sqft, expanded parking waivers
2021 — SB 9
Authorized urban lot splits on single-family parcels, allowing up to 4 units on lots that were previously single-family only. Ministerial approval required for qualifying splits.
2023 — AB 1033
Authorized local jurisdictions to optionally allow ADUs to be sold separately as condominiums from the primary dwelling unit
2024 — AB 2533
Further streamlined ADU permitting, clarified ministerial approval standards, strengthened local compliance requirements
California Cities with Zoning Data
Source: California ADU Law (Government Code Section 65852.2). Last verified April 3, 2026. View source