ADU Builder in Covina, CA: Permits, Covina ADU Rules and Costs

What does the City of Covina require for an ADU submittal?

The City of Covina ADU Application Form PDF, hosted on covinaca.gov, lists the documents required at submittal as a completed ADU Plan Review Application, a Filing Fee of $837.00 under the New Fee Schedule effective 7/1/25, a copy of an updated Deed or Title Report showing the new property owners, and Site Plan, Floor Plan, and Elevations. The same PDF states that in-person submittals require two sets of complete plans on 24 by 36 inch paper plus one electronic version on flash drive. The site plan must indicate proposed and existing structures, driveways, building separations, setbacks, easements, public streets, parking, and an aerial image showing whether the lot is within one half mile of public transit, including transit stations and bus stations. Email submittals to the City of Covina Planning Division are accepted as PDF attachments up to 10 MB, with larger files sent through a Google or Dropbox share link.

How does the Covina ADU application process work?

The City of Covina ADU Application Form PDF, hosted on covinaca.gov, states that an Approval or Clearance from the Planning Division is not a permit, but it is required before Building Plan Check begins, and that the Building and Safety Division will reject submittals that do not possess a Planning Approval or Clearance. The City of Covina ADU page on covinaca.gov confirms that the Planning Division runs an eligibility screening that verifies the proposed ADU complies with state ADU guidelines, and applicants may proceed to apply for building permits only after receiving notification from the Planning Division that ADU approval verification has been issued. Covina City Hall is at 125 East College Street, Covina, California 91723, with Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. hours. California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3) gives the permitting agency 60 days from receipt of a complete application to approve or deny it, after which the application is deemed approved, and Section 66317(a)(2)(A) requires a written completeness determination within 15 business days.

What size, setback, and height rules apply to a Covina ADU?

California Government Code Section 66314 limits a detached ADU on a lot with an existing single-family dwelling to 1,200 square feet of floor area, and Section 66321(b)(2)(A) and (B) set statewide minimum size floors of 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom detached ADU and 1,000 square feet for a multi-bedroom detached ADU that a local ordinance cannot undercut. Section 66314(d)(7) protects a four-foot side and rear setback for a qualifying detached ADU. Section 66321(b)(4) sets the height tiers at 16 feet for a detached ADU, 18 feet within one-half mile of a major transit stop or a high-quality transit corridor as defined in Public Resources Code Section 21155, and 18 feet on a multifamily lot, plus an additional two feet of roof pitch allowed. Section 66325(a) states that the state ADU article supersedes any conflicting local ordinance, and the City of Covina publishes the local ordinance through Covina Municipal Code Chapter 17.69 on the ADU resource page on covinaca.gov.

What impact fees does Covina charge on an ADU?

California Government Code Section 66311.5(c)(1) states that a local agency, special district, or water corporation shall not impose any impact fee upon the development of an ADU that has 750 square feet of interior livable space or less, and any impact fees charged for an ADU with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space shall be charged proportionately in relation to the primary dwelling square footage. Section 66311.5(b) treats an ADU as not a new residential use for water and sewer connection fees, unless the ADU was constructed with a new single-family dwelling. The City of Covina publishes the local fee schedule on the Finance Department page on covinaca.gov; L Square confirms the project-specific fee total with Planning and Building before submittal.

How much does an ADU cost in Covina?

L Square's configured model prices on the cost guide page run from $180,000 for Model 600, to $240,000 for Models 800A and 800B, to $295,000 for Models 1000A and 1000B, and to $354,000 for Model 1200. Those are configured model prices for the design-build path, not a final project total. Covina lots often carry older water and sewer laterals, a separate utility meter setup for the ADU, a separate impact fee proportional to the primary dwelling for ADUs over 750 square feet, and the City of Covina ADU Application Form filing fee of $837.00 under the New Fee Schedule effective 7/1/25, all priced after a site review. Garage conversions, attached ADUs, and JADUs are priced from a property specific scope because each one depends on the existing structure and the lot layout.

What should a Covina homeowner check before building an ADU?

Before applying, confirm four items on the property. First, identify the lot dimensions, zone, slope, and any easements, because Covina Municipal Code Chapter 17.69 imposes additional planning and Los Angeles County Fire Department review on steeper slopes. Second, confirm the location and dimensions of any existing detached garage, carport, or covered parking, because Section 66314(d)(11) bars the City from requiring replacement parking when a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is demolished in conjunction with an ADU or converted into one. Third, confirm the size of the existing primary dwelling, because the proportional impact fee under Section 66311.5 for ADUs over 750 square feet is calculated against the primary dwelling square footage. Fourth, check the school district boundary and any separate utility providers, because Covina runs separate water, sewer, and electrical clearances before permit issuance. L Square prepares the full submittal package and tracks the 60 day clock under California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3).

Official Covina ADU sources

• The City of Covina ADU page on covinaca.gov states that applicants must first obtain ADU approval from the Planning Division before Building Plan Check, that the Planning Division runs an eligibility screening that verifies the proposed ADU complies with state ADU guidelines, that the page lists a Pre-approved ADU Program section that currently reads Under Construction and Coming Soon, and that the page provides links to Covina Municipal Code Chapter 17.69, the ADU Submittal Requirements Packet, and the HCD Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook from March 2026. Official source
• The City of Covina ADU Application Form PDF, hosted on covinaca.gov, lists submittal documents as a completed ADU Plan Review Application, a Filing Fee of $837.00 under the New Fee Schedule effective 7/1/25, an updated Deed or Title Report, and Site Plan, Floor Plan, and Elevations; the same PDF states that in-person submittals require two sets of complete plans on 24 by 36 inch paper plus one electronic version on flash drive and that the site plan must show separations, setbacks, easements, public streets, parking, and an aerial image showing within one half mile of public transit. Official source
• The City of Covina Community Development Department page on covinaca.gov lists Covina City Hall at 125 East College Street, Covina, California 91723, with Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. hours for Planning, Building and Safety, and Code Enforcement. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3) requires the permitting agency to approve or deny a completed ADU or JADU application within 60 days from receipt, and states that if the local agency has not acted within 60 days the application shall be deemed approved; Section 66317(a)(2)(A) requires a written completeness determination within 15 business days. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66314(d)(5) limits a detached ADU on a lot with an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling to 1,200 square feet of floor area; Section 66314(d)(10) caps required parking at one space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less; Section 66314(d)(11) bars a local agency from requiring replacement parking when a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is converted to an ADU. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66321(b)(2)(A) and (B) set statewide minimum floors of 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom detached ADU and 1,000 square feet for a multi-bedroom detached ADU that a local ordinance cannot undercut. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66325(a) states that except as provided in subdivision (b) the state ADU article shall supersede a conflicting local ordinance. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66311.5(c)(1) states that a local agency, special district, or water corporation shall not impose any impact fee upon the development of an ADU that has 750 square feet of interior livable space or less, and any impact fees charged for an ADU with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space shall be charged proportionately in relation to the primary dwelling square footage. Official source