ADU Builder in Burbank, CA: Permits, Costs and Local Rules

What are Burbank's ADU rules?

Burbank updated its ADU ordinance on November 7, 2023 with Ordinance 23-4,002, covering ADUs and JADUs in all single-family and multifamily residential zones for consistency with state law. State rules still control the core numeric standards: a local agency cannot require rear or side setbacks greater than four feet for a new construction ADU, cannot set a maximum size below 850 sq ft (or 1,000 sq ft for more than one bedroom), and cannot require parking within a half mile of a major transit stop or high quality transit corridor, per Gov. Code 66321 and 66314. The Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in Burbank limits BPAP plans to 800 sq ft with no exceptions, and the Rancho area does not allow new construction ADUs.

How does the Burbank BPAP pre-approved ADU program work?

The Burbank Preapproved Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (BPAP), created under Assembly Bill 1332, lets owners use a pre-approved design to skip a full plan check. Two BPAP designs are accepted as of this writing: BPAP 24001, a 432 sq ft 1-story studio ADU reviewed by city staff, and ADU17 IT House, a 360 sq ft 1-story studio carried over from LADBS. The BPAP enrollment review runs 30 business days for the first cycle and 15 business days for any recheck, with the broader ProjectDOX review running 6-8 weeks followed by a 2-3 week recheck. The published program goal is 30 days from permit submittal to permit issuance. Five departments must review every BPAP permit: Planning, Public Works, Burbank Water and Power (BWP) Electric, BWP Water, and the Fire Department, plus Burbank Unified School District for school facility fees.

What fees does a Burbank ADU pay?

The Planning Division ADU application fee is $1,728.42, effective July 1, 2026 under the city's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 schedule. A mailing fee of $399.98 and a noticing fee of $399.98 may also apply, and a General Plan Maintenance Fee equal to 20 percent of the application fee can be added for the categories that list it. BWP charges separately for water and electric plan check reviews, with separate ADU plan check requirements sheets published on the city's documents page. Under Senate Bill 13, an ADU of 750 sq ft or less is exempt from city development impact fees, and any impact fee on an ADU over 750 sq ft is charged proportionally to the primary dwelling. Burbank Unified School District facility fees are billed through the same BPAP review.

How much does an ADU cost in Burbank?

L Square publishes configured model prices on the cost guide page: $180,000 for Model 600, $240,000 for Models 800A and 800B, $295,000 for Models 1000A and 1000B, and $354,000 for Model 1200. These are model prices, not a final total for your lot. Burbank lots often carry older sewer laterals, BWP electric service upgrades for an ADU meter, fire sprinkler work tied to a sprinklered main home, and school facility fees, all priced after a site review. A garage conversion or a Junior ADU inside the house is priced from a property specific scope, and the city's BPAP rules explicitly do not cover garage conversions because each conversion is site specific.

What should you confirm before building in Burbank?

Check three things before drawings are final. First, ask the Planning Division whether the lot sits inside the city's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, because BPAP plans are capped at 800 sq ft there and a different fire set of requirements applies. Second, confirm whether the lot is in the Rancho area, where new construction ADUs are not allowed. Third, confirm that the BPAP enrollment is still in effect under the current triennial California building standards code cycle, which the city lists as starting January 1, 2026. If you plan to build outside any BPAP design, request a Planning preclearance for site-specific setbacks, height, and zoning before submitting for plan check.

Official Burbank ADU sources

• Burbank updated its ADU and JADU ordinance with Ordinance 23-4,002 on November 7, 2023, applying to all single-family and multifamily residential zones for consistency with state law. Official source
• The Burbank Preapproved Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (BPAP) was created under Assembly Bill 1332 with a published program goal of 30 days from permit submittal to permit issuance. BPAP plans are accepted up to 850 sq ft for studio and 1-bedroom units and up to 1,000 sq ft for 2-bedroom units; in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone BPAP plans are limited to 800 sq ft with no exceptions, and the Rancho area does not allow new construction ADUs. Under Senate Bill 13, an ADU of 750 sq ft or less is exempt from city development impact fees. Official source
• The Planning Division ADU application fee is $1,728.42, effective July 1, 2026 under the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 fee schedule; a mailing fee of $399.98 and a noticing fee of $399.98 may also apply. Official source
• A permitting agency must approve or deny a completed ADU application within 60 days, and the application is deemed approved if the deadline is missed. Official source
• HCD sent Burbank a Letter of Technical Assistance on December 5, 2025, noting the most recent ADU ordinance on file is from 2020 and that the ordinance may be outdated and out of compliance with State ADU Law, and requesting a response by January 4, 2026. Official source