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Unincorporated Ventura County, Ventura County
ADUs & additions in unincorporated Ventura County.
From Oak View and Meiners Oaks to Somis, Saticoy, Oak Park and the rural canyons, ADUs and additions outside city limits are permitted through the County of Ventura.
Building in Unincorporated Ventura County
County lots, county rules.
If your home is outside city limits, your ADU or addition is permitted by the County of Ventura's Resource Management Agency rather than a city.
Unincorporated areas include communities such as Oak View, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte, Casitas Springs, Somis, Saticoy, El Rio, Piru, Oak Park, Lake Sherwood, Bell Canyon and Ventura County's rural canyons and agricultural land. Lots tend to be larger, which opens up options for detached ADUs, but they can also come with septic systems, wells, private roads, slopes and fire hazard areas that affect design and cost.
The county offers free pre-approved ADU plans that can also be used for farmworker dwelling units, a helpful option on agricultural properties. A consultation can tell you whether those plans fit your parcel; the site-specific drawings and the RMA process from submittal to final are handled by the contractor.
What to know in Unincorporated Ventura County
- ADUs in unincorporated areas are handled by the County Resource Management Agency (RMA), whose Building and Safety Division offers free pre-approved standard ADU plans that can be used for ADUs or farmworker dwelling units.
- The county's 700, 900 and 1,188 sq ft standard plans may not be used in the Lockwood Valley area, above 4,000 feet elevation, or in La Conchita and other areas with adverse geotechnical conditions; the 1,188 sq ft plan requires a soils report.
- The county applies separate Non-Coastal and Coastal Zoning Ordinances; coastal ADU applications are reviewed under existing standards while a coastal ADU ordinance update is pending.
Project types in Unincorporated Ventura County
ADUs and additions in Unincorporated Ventura County.
ADUs
Accessory dwelling units of every type, from feasibility and permits through final inspection.
Learn more →Garage-to-ADU Conversions
Reuse an existing garage for the fastest, most economical path to a complete ADU.
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Detached ADUs
Freestanding backyard homes with full foundations, framing, utilities and finishes.
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Attached ADUs
Units that share a wall with the main house, including attached-garage conversions.
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Junior ADUs (JADUs)
Up to 500 square feet created within your existing home, with an efficiency kitchen.
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Home Additions
Room additions, kitchen expansions and roof decks built to blend with your home.
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Second-Story Additions
Build up instead of out, with structural evaluation, engineering and framing done right.
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Primary Suite Additions
Master bedroom and bathroom additions with closets, showers and soaking tubs.
Learn more →Questions
Unincorporated Ventura County ADU & addition questions
Who issues ADU permits outside city limits in Ventura County?
The County of Ventura Resource Management Agency (RMA), through its Planning and Building and Safety divisions.
Can I use the county's pre-approved ADU plans?
In most areas, yes. They come in 700, 900 and 1,188 square-foot sizes and can be used for ADUs or farmworker housing. They cannot be used in Lockwood Valley, above 4,000 feet or in areas with adverse geotechnical conditions such as La Conchita, and the largest plan requires a soils report.
My property has a septic system. Can I still build an ADU?
Often, but the septic system must be evaluated for the added load and may need to be expanded or replaced. That review is part of the feasibility stage.
Nearby areas
Also serving areas near Unincorporated Ventura County.
Free consultation
Planning an ADU or addition in Unincorporated Ventura County?
Share a few details about your property and the space you want to add. We will pass your request to a licensed local general contractor who specializes in ADUs and additions, and they will follow up directly.
- Free consultation and site visit
- A realistic budget conversation before you pay for plans
- A licensed general contractor from permit to final