In Glendale, an ADU goes through two steps. First you get a Planning clearance for the ADU or JADU on the GlendalePermits portal. Once Planning approves it, you apply for the building permit on the same portal. Glendale Water & Power clearance is also part of the process. State ADU law sets the baseline rules.
How do you get an ADU permit in Glendale?
As of October 2026, the city's ADU permit page lays out this sequence:
- Review the ADU rules and screen your concept with Planning/Zoning, by email, phone or a booked counter consultation.
- Prepare drawings: site plan, floor plan, elevations, roof plan and sections, each as a separate PDF, plus a photo survey of the site and existing buildings.
- Apply for and obtain the "Accessory Dwelling Unit – Planning Clearance for Building Submittal" (or the junior ADU version) on the GlendalePermits portal.
- Apply for the building permit on the portal.
We prepare the drawings to the city's list and handle both submittals.
What changes on a Glendale hillside lot?
North and east Glendale climb into the foothills, and those lots behave differently from the flat grid in the south. Slope can push an ADU toward a smaller footprint, a split-level design or a conversion of an existing structure. Steeper sites can need soils reports, retaining walls and deeper foundations, and access for equipment can be tight. We check slope, access and any fire safety requirements before design, because they drive both feasibility and cost.
Can I add an ADU to an apartment building in Glendale?
Often, yes. Glendale's southern neighborhoods include many apartment buildings, and state law applies to them too. As of October 2026, the HCD ADU Handbook says cities must allow ADUs converted from non-livable space in an existing multifamily building, up to 25% of the existing unit count, and up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing multifamily building, not exceeding the number of existing units. Junior ADUs are not allowed on multifamily sites.
What about a single-family lot in Glendale?
On flatter single-family lots, the usual options apply: a detached ADU, a garage conversion, an attached ADU or a junior ADU. Under state law, cities cannot require more than 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and must allow at least an 800 sq ft unit where other standards are met.
What does a Glendale ADU depend on?
- Flat or hillside lot, and how equipment reaches the build area.
- Single-family or multifamily zoning.
- Electrical and water service capacity from Glendale Water & Power.
- Fire safety rules where they apply.