ADU Builder in Newark, CA
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Newark's 2026 ADU Ordinance
Newark updated its ADU rules with Ordinance 563 in February 2026 (Municipal Code ยง17.26.040). Review is ministerial, with a decision within 60 days.
- Attached: up to 1,000 sq ft; height follows the zone limit, two stories maximum.
- Detached: up to 1,200 sq ft; 16 feet tall, or 18 feet near major transit or on a lot with multistory multi-unit housing.
- Conversions: no size limit.
- Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft, with a recorded deed restriction; owner occupancy is required unless the JADU has its own bathroom.
- Setbacks: 4 feet side, rear and street side.
- Parking: none required, and none needs to be replaced when a garage is converted.
ADU Construction
Newark ADU Design Rules
- Colors and materials must match the main house.
- No entrances on the street-facing wall.
- Second-story windows within 5 feet of a side or rear line must be obscured or have a sill at least 5 feet above the floor.
- No balconies within 10 feet of a property line.
- A converted garage door must be replaced with a wall containing windows.
Newark’s pre-approved ADU program is accepting designer applications; its plan gallery is still being built.
Permits
37101 Newark Boulevard, Newark, CA 94560 · (510) 578-4000
Building Inspection (510) 578-4261 · Planning (510) 578-4330 · Fire Prevention (510) 578-4218 · Engineering (510) 578-4589
Drop-ins Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed alternate Fridays); 2 to 5 p.m. by appointment. Permits are applied for and issued electronically through eTRAKiT.
Agencies that sign off before permit issuance: Newark Unified School District (fees for new construction and additions over 500 sq ft), Union Sanitary District, Alameda County Water District, PG&E and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Inspections: call (510) 578-4261 or email bi********@******ca.gov at least 24 to 48 hours ahead, with the address, permit number, inspection type, onsite contact and AM (8:30 to noon) or PM (1 to 4:30) preference. A narrower window is available through eTRAKiT.
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Other Newark services: Bathrooms · Kitchens · Additions · New Homes · Newark overview
Same service nearby: Fremont · Union City · Milpitas
Newark ADU FAQ
How big can an ADU be in Newark?
Up to 1,000 sq ft attached and 1,200 sq ft detached; conversions have no size limit. A junior ADU is up to 500 sq ft.
Does Newark require parking for an ADU?
No.
Can my Newark ADU entrance face the street?
No. Entrances are not allowed on the street-facing wall.
What happens to my garage door in a conversion?
It must be replaced with a wall containing windows.