The best place to start is with thinking about what you want and looking at other ADUs to get a sense of what’s possible. Once you have some ideas in mind, you can move on to Learning the Rules to figure out what you can build on your property.

You can also use our Process-at-a-Glance resource for an overview of the process and some initial issues to consider as you get started.

You’re not required to tell your neighbors about your ADU, but it’s always a good idea to communicate with them early in the process. Your project will run more smoothly if they are kept informed, and they may have great ideas for your project!

If you live in a Neighborhood or Homeowners Association, talk with your representative or board early in the process. They can’t prevent you from building or renting an ADU, but they may have guidelines or standards you’ll need to know for design and construction.

If your property is in the Coastal Zone (you can verify this on the Newport Beach Address Search Tool), you may face some slightly different requirements for your project. Additionally, your ADU may require a Coastal Development Permit (CDP), a process that will lengthen your project timeline. See Permitting for more details.