Prefab ADUs in Santa Maria
In Santa Maria, most new homes are ADUs — in 2023 and 2024, about nine of ten homes the City permitted were ADUs. We deliver an all-in prefab ADU from our factory in Lathrop — permits, foundation, delivery and installation included — at one fixed price.
Free lot check · zoning, setbacks, utilities · reply with a fixed price
Licensed builder · Our own factory in Lathrop, CA
Real homes we build, start to finish
Quick answer
ADUs in Santa Maria — key facts for 2026
Most Santa Maria homeowners can add a detached ADU of up to 1,200 sq ft, with no growth mitigation fees under 750 sq ft and no parking near transit. Bay Modular delivers a factory-built ADU all-in for $124,900–$271,900 — the same price anywhere in California.
- Can I build an ADU in Santa Maria?
- Yes, on most residential lots with a house. Santa Maria allows a detached ADU up to 1,200 sq ft with 4-ft side and rear setbacks, and no minimum lot size.
- How long does a Santa Maria ADU permit take?
- ADUs are approved ministerially with a building permit; state law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application.
- What fees does Santa Maria charge?
- No growth mitigation fees under 750 sq ft, and an ADU isn't treated as a new use for water and sewer connection charges. School fees apply only over 500 sq ft.
- How much does a prefab ADU cost in Santa Maria?
- Bay Modular: $124,900–$271,900 all-in, the same price as anywhere in California, permits and installation included.
- How many ADUs does Santa Maria build?
- 479 ADU permits in 2025 and 2,198 from 2021 to 2025 — in 2023 and 2024, about nine of ten new homes permitted were ADUs.
- What does an ADU rent for in Santa Maria?
- Average asking rent in Santa Maria was $2,537 a month in August 2026 (Zillow), up 2.9% in a year.
Sources: HCD APR 2025, Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2021-03 (ADU chapter), City Pre-Approved ADU Program, Zillow ZORI Aug 2026. Last reviewed October 2026.
Santa Maria in numbers
In Santa Maria, most new homes are ADUs
Santa Maria issued 2,198 ADU permits from 2021 to 2025 — in 2023 and 2024, about nine of ten new homes permitted were ADUs.
ADU permits issued in the City of Santa Maria
Source: California HCD Annual Progress Report data (Table A2), City of Santa Maria, permits issued per year. Percent = ADUs among all housing units permitted in the city that year.
average Santa Maria asking rent in one year ($2,466 → $2,537)
Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Santa Maria, Aug 2026ADU permits issued in Santa Maria in five years (2021–2025)
HCD APR data, 2021–2025Can I build in Santa Maria?
Most Santa Maria lots with a house can add an ADU
Santa Maria’s ADU chapter (Ordinance No. 2021-03) follows state law with a few local details. Here is what matters for most homeowners:
A detached new ADU can be up to 1,200 sq ft — all our models fit. Conversions of existing space have no size limit.
At least 4 ft from side and rear lot lines; detached height follows the zoning district, and a 16-ft, 800 sq ft ADU is always allowed.
One space per ADU (tandem OK) — but none within half a mile of transit, in historic districts, near car share, or for conversions.
Any residential lot with a house can qualify; each home and ADU keep a 15×15 ft private yard.
The ADU should match the main house in materials, windows and roof — our finishes can be chosen to fit.
An ADU isn't treated as a new use for water and sewer connection charges; separate connections must be proportionate.
Based on Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2021-03; later state ADU law changes also apply. Not legal advice — rules depend on your exact lot. More in our ADU guides.
New in 2027: under AB 956 (Chapter 791, Statutes of 2026), from January 1, 2027 state law lets you build two detached ADUs on a lot with a single-family home, and HOA rules can’t block an ADU on a lot zoned to allow one.
Costs & fees in Santa Maria
What an ADU costs in Santa Maria
Same all-in price as anywhere in California. Our models are all under 750 sq ft, so none pays impact fees — and four of five pay no school fees.
| Model | All-in price | School fees | City impact fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard Studio120 sq ft · home office or guest studio, not a rentable ADU | $75,900 | $0 | $0 |
| Small Studio256 sq ft | $124,900 | $0 | $0 |
| Large Studio ADU320 sq ft | $154,900 | $0 | $0 |
| 1 Bedroom ADU480 sq ft | $214,900 | $0 | $0 |
| 2 Bedroom ADU640 sq ft | $271,900 | $3,443 | $0 |
Sources: Gov. Code §66311.5; Ed. Code §17620 and State Allocation Board 2026 school fee maximum; Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2021-03 (growth mitigation fees). Launch pricing runs through December 31, 2026. Comparison is general — every project differs.
Renting in Santa Maria
Renting out an ADU in Santa Maria
average asking rent for all homes in Santa Maria — up 2.9% in a year. HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom in the area is $3,106.
Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Santa Maria, Aug 2026 · HUD FY2027 FMR ADU for rental incomeSanta Maria's ADU chapter explicitly allows renting the ADU; long-term tenants are the safe plan.
Owner occupancy applies only to a JADU, not to an ADU.
A new ADU is exempt from California's statewide rent cap (AB 1482) for 15 years after its certificate of occupancy.
Same money, other options
Yearly income per dollar, before taxes and costs. An ADU wins because you already own the land. Full comparison →
Sources: Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2021-03; Civil Code §1947.12. Comparison: HUD FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area ($3,106) × 12 ÷ $271,900; U.S. Treasury (Oct 6, 2026); FTSE Nareit (Sep 2026); FDIC (Sep 2026). Not legal or investment advice.
Permits in Santa Maria
How your Santa Maria permit works — we handle it
Free lot check
Zoning, parking exemption, setbacks, sewer, water and power for your Santa Maria address.
Plans & submittal
Our HCD-approved plans plus your site, grading and utility plans for the building permit.
City review
Ministerial plan check by the Building Division; we answer comments and match the design to your house.
Decision in 60 days
State law requires a decision on a complete ADU application within 60 days. Your ADU is built in our factory meanwhile.
Install & move in
Delivered from our Lathrop factory, installed in about a week, inspected, then your Certificate of Occupancy.
Based on Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2021-03 and Gov. Code §66317. Santa Maria is also launching an AB 1332 Pre-Approved ADU Program.
Why now
Start your Santa Maria ADU with zero risk
Lock in launch pricing, see exactly what you get, and only decide once you have a fixed price for your lot.
All-in from $75,900 — everything included
- Backyard Studio (home office)$75,900All-in · fixed in writing
- Small Studio$124,900All-in · fixed in writing
- Large Studio ADU$154,900All-in · fixed in writing
- 1 Bedroom ADU$214,900All-in · fixed in writing
- 2 Bedroom ADU$271,900All-in · fixed in writing
Zero-risk start
- Free lot check & quoteNo obligation, no credit card.
- One fixed all-in priceDesign, permits, delivery and install — one number.
- HCD-approved plansState approval #1585366, financed and appraised like a home.
- 2-year warrantyOn materials and workmanship.
Visit our factory in Lathrop, CA and walk through a finished ADU.
Santa Maria ADU questions
Read our ADU guides, see all of California, or call (209) 214-6845.
Can I build an ADU on my lot in Santa Maria?
Most Santa Maria residential lots with a house can add a detached ADU of up to 1,200 sq ft with at least 4-foot side and rear setbacks — there is no minimum lot size. We check your address for free.
How much does an ADU cost in Santa Maria?
Our all-in prices are the same as anywhere in California: from $124,900 for a Small Studio to $271,900 for a 2 Bedroom ADU, with launch pricing through December 31, 2026. No growth mitigation fees under 750 sq ft, and school fees only above 500 sq ft.
How long does an ADU permit take in Santa Maria?
ADUs are approved ministerially with a building permit, and state law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application. Your ADU is built in our factory at the same time, so most projects take 4–6 months from signing to keys.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Santa Maria?
One space per ADU, tandem allowed — but none if you are within half a mile of public transit, in a historic district, near a car-share vehicle, or converting existing space.
Does my ADU have to match my house?
Santa Maria asks that an ADU's scale and materials be compatible with the main house. We choose siding, windows and roof finishes to fit.
Do I have to live on the property?
No. Owner occupancy applies only to a JADU, not to an ADU.
Can Bay Modular deliver to Santa Maria?
Yes. We build in our Lathrop factory and deliver statewide at the same all-in price, including the Central Coast.
Is an ADU a better investment than other options in Santa Maria?
For most homeowners with room on their lot, yes: you don't buy land. A 2 Bedroom ADU at HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area ($3,106) earns about 13.8% a year on its price before costs, vs. about 5.3% for a 10-year Treasury. Not investment advice.
Free · no obligation
Can you build an ADU on your Santa Maria lot?
Send your Santa Maria address. We'll check zoning, parking, setbacks and utilities, and send a fixed all-in price — permits included.
HCD-approved plans (#1585366) · 2-year warranty · factory in Lathrop, CA
Sources: California HCD Annual Progress Report data, Table A2 (City of Santa Maria, 2021–2025, updated Oct 2026); Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Santa Maria (Aug 2026); HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents (Santa Maria-Santa Barbara); City of Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2021-03 and Pre-Approved ADU Program. Prices: Bay Modular, October 2026. Not legal advice.