The Complete Los Gatos ADU Requirements Guide
If you’re building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Los Gatos, it’s worth understanding the requirements before you start.
ADUs are secondary housing units—typically a backyard cottage, converted garage, or in-law unit—built on the same lot as a primary home. California law requires cities like Los Gatos to allow ADUs in all residential zones, and the town has updated its rules to comply. These changes have made ADU permitting more consistent, faster, and easier for homeowners.
Read on to learn what you need to know about building an ADU in Los Gatos and how Samara can help.
Los Gatos ADU regulations at a glance
Building an ADU in Los Gatos is much simpler and faster than building a traditional single-family home. ADUs are approved through a ministerial process without hearings or discretionary review and the town must review complete applications within 60 days. Most ADU permits are approved in three to four months.
Size and lot requirements
There is no minimum lot size for an ADU in Los Gatos. Maximum size and height depend on the type:
- Detached ADUs can be up to 1,200 square feet. The base height limit is 16 feet, or 18 feet if the property is within half a mile of a major transit stop or on a multifamily lot. Up to 20 feet is allowed to allow the ADU to match the primary home’s roof pitch. Detached ADUs must be set back at least 4 feet from the rear and side property lines and 5 feet from other structures on the lot.
- Attached ADUs can also be up to 1,200 square feet or 50 percent of the floor area of the main residence, whichever is less. They may be built up to 25 feet tall or match the zoning height limit, whichever is lower. Attached ADUs must follow the same setbacks as detached units.
- Junior ADUs (JADUs) must be located entirely within the existing or proposed single-family home and are limited to 500 square feet.
ADUs may not be built in front of the main home, except on lots in Hillside Residential (HR) or Resource Conservation (RC) zones, where sloped terrain may require more flexible placement. Setbacks do not apply to conversions or rebuilds of existing structures. Additional height may be required in flood zones to meet elevation requirements.
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Design requirements
Los Gatos requires ADUs to be visually compatible with the primary home and neighborhood based on objective design standards. These include:
- Use of the same exterior wall materials, roofing, trim, and window frames as the main home
- Roof eaves that align with the adjacent eave line at the front entry
- No balconies, rooftop terraces, or second-story decks
- Front porches with a minimum depth of 6 feet and a width equal to 25% of the front elevation
- No exterior stairs facing the street
ADUs are generally limited to one story unless built above an existing accessory structure or attached to a two-story home.
Parking requirements
ADUs in Los Gatos generally require one off-street parking space. However, no parking is required if the ADU is within half a mile of public transit, part of an existing structure, in a historic district, near a car-share location, or on a lot with restricted permit parking. No replacement parking is required when converting a garage or carport. JADUs never require parking.
Meet the KurodasZoning eligibility
ADUs are allowed on any lot in Los Gatos zoned for single-family or multifamily residential use. All ADUs must be located on a lot with an existing or proposed primary residence. JADUs are allowed only within existing or proposed single-family homes.
Number of ADUs allowed
On single-family lots, you can build one detached or attached ADU, plus one JADU within the existing home.
On multifamily lots with an existing residential building, California law allows up to eight detached ADUs—or fewer if that would exceed the number of existing units—and interior conversion ADUs totaling up to 25% of the unit count. If the multifamily building is still under construction, up to two detached ADUs are allowed during development.
Streamline your ADU project in Los Gatos
If you’re looking to build an ADU, Samara makes it easy. We handle everything from permits to installation and even offer our own financing. Call us at 650-420-2607 to schedule a 15-minute consultation and discover how simple adding a Backyard ADU can be.
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