Los Gatos / Accessory dwelling units
ADU Builder in Los Gatos
The Town of Los Gatos ADU Summary Brochure is the size and setback summary for this page. Confirm that brochure and Zoning Ordinance Division 7 before a design is frozen. R&B Master Construction Inc. (CSLB #1158657) covers Los Gatos from the Cupertino office at 10080 N Wolfe Road, Suite SW3-200. Call (650) 562-6324.
What the Town brochure says about size
The Town ADU Summary Brochure states a maximum ADU size of 1,200 square feet. It also describes an efficiency unit as small as 150 square feet, and it says up to 800 square feet may be built while remaining compliant with certain floor-area and coverage encouragement rules. Those lines are the brochure’s summary. They are not a determination for a specific lot.
A JADU may not exceed 500 square feet and must sit entirely within a proposed or existing single-family residence, including an attached garage. It needs a kitchen or efficiency kitchen, a separate entrance, owner-occupancy in either the JADU or the remaining residence, and a recorded deed restriction. The brochure says no additional parking is required for a JADU, and that one JADU may be allowed in addition to an allowed ADU.
Setbacks, garage parking, and the Citizen Portal
For new construction detached and attached ADUs, the brochure lists rear and side setbacks of 4 feet, separation of 5 feet from any other structure, and front setbacks per the zoning district. Most ground-floor ADUs are limited to 16 feet in height. An ADU added to the second story of an existing two-story residence is limited to 25 feet. Conversions of existing space meet fire-safety setbacks.
The brochure FAQ says that when a garage is converted to an ADU, lost off-street parking spaces required for the primary dwelling do not need to be replaced. Separate ADU parking rules can still apply unless a Town Code exception covers the lot. Applications go through the Citizen Portal at permits.losgatosca.gov. Planning can be reached at (408) 354-6874 or Planning@LosGatosCA.gov.
ADU Builder in Los Gatos — FAQ
What is the maximum ADU size in Los Gatos?
The Town of Los Gatos ADU Summary Brochure states the maximum size of an ADU is 1,200 square feet. An ADU can be as small as 150 square feet as an efficiency unit, and up to 800 square feet may be built while remaining compliant with certain FAR/coverage encouragement rules described in the brochure. Confirm the live brochure and Zoning Ordinance Division 7 before you design. R&B: info@rbmasterconstruction.com.
What setbacks and height apply to new Los Gatos ADUs?
For new construction detached and attached ADUs, the Town brochure lists rear and side setbacks of 4 feet, separation of 5 feet from any other structure, and front setbacks per the zoning district. Most ground-floor ADUs are limited to 16 feet in height; ADUs added to the second story of an existing two-story residence are limited to 25 feet. Conversions of existing space meet fire-safety setbacks.
How do JADU rules differ from ADU rules in Los Gatos?
A JADU in Los Gatos may not exceed 500 square feet and must sit entirely within a proposed or existing single-family residence, including an attached garage. It needs a kitchen or efficiency kitchen, a separate entrance, and owner-occupancy in either the JADU or the remaining residence, plus a recorded deed restriction. No additional parking is required for a JADU. One JADU may be allowed in addition to an allowed ADU.
Do I need replacement parking if I convert a Los Gatos garage to an ADU?
The Town FAQ in the ADU Summary Brochure states that when a garage is converted to an ADU, any lost off-street parking spaces required for the primary dwelling do not need to be replaced. Separate ADU parking rules still apply to new ADUs unless an exception in Town Code applies. Confirm your parcel with Planning at (408) 354-6874 or Planning@LosGatosCA.gov.
How do I apply for a Los Gatos ADU or JADU permit?
Los Gatos uses a streamlined ADU/JADU permitting path: submit the ADU/JADU application packet and plans through the Citizen Portal (permits.losgatosca.gov). Building Division handles plan review; Planning answers zoning questions. When contracted, R&B Master Construction Inc. (CSLB #1158657) coordinates drawings and submittals — (650) 562-6324 or info@rbmasterconstruction.com.
Official sources
City rules change. The links below are the pages and documents these notes were checked against. Your address can still differ.
Talk with R&B
R&B Master Construction Inc. · CSLB #1158657. Email info@rbmasterconstruction.com. Headquarters: 84 W Santa Clara St, Suite 700, San Jose, CA 95113. Hours: Monday–Sunday, Open 24 hours Pacific Time.