San Mateo County · California
Burlingame ADU guide: local rules, permits & property planning
Burlingame’s development guide brings Fire, Building, Parks and Engineering into the same project checklist. Garage slab waterproofing, protected trees and the actual fire-access route can all affect an otherwise compact ADU.
Local planning guide · Reviewed October 2, 2026
What matters for an ADU in Burlingame
Permitting authority: City of Burlingame — ADU Development Guide
Official local guidanceLocal rules and design checks
| Topic | Local guidance |
|---|---|
| Fire access | The guide measures a 150-foot access distance along a usable pedestrian route to the farthest part of the ADU, not a straight line through obstacles. |
| Garage conversion | Plans must detail waterproofing over an existing slab-on-grade foundation. |
| Protected trees | Identify protected trees on and adjacent to the property; retained trees can require an arborist’s protection plan. |
Selected local requirements, not a complete zoning determination. Confirm the current rules for your address with the responsible agency.
Fees and budget checks
Request the Building Division’s current assessment and identify any Parks, Engineering or fire review charges triggered by the site. Use the City’s ADU contact and application resource to obtain an itemized scope-specific estimate.
Burlingame ADU application contactsHow to start the permit process
Prepare coordinated drawings for the City’s four reviewing disciplines. Show the fire route, tree protection and drainage with the building plans, then resolve the separate agency comments through the building permit review.
Municipal design requirement
Burlingame garage-conversion detail
The City’s guide specifically requires a vapor-barrier detail and evaluation-report reference for slab waterproofing—a useful design check before pricing a garage conversion.
View the original sourceBurlingame ADU questions
- Can the fire-access measurement cross a pool or fence?
- The City’s guide excludes routes through fences, pools, retaining walls and landscaping other than lawn.
- Are neighboring trees relevant to my plans?
- Yes. The guide includes protected trees on neighboring land that overhang the project property.
Sources for this guide
Local sources reviewed October 2, 2026. Historical examples retain their stated dates. Contact ADU California to confirm project availability; this guide does not establish an office location or property approval.
A useful first review
Separate what is available from what still needs verification.
01
Confirm the property
Start with a complete address and review the available parcel, building, and map context.
02
Identify the unknowns
Keep missing setbacks, easements, utilities, access, hazards, and local requirements visible.
03
Choose the next review
Use the preliminary result to prepare a focused conversation with the required professionals and agencies.
Explore project types
Compare the scope before choosing a solution.
These pages explain the questions each project type introduces. They do not assert that a particular scope is permitted or suitable for your address.
Compare planning footprints
See common ADU sizes before choosing a design.
These model pages are planning references only. They are not a statement that a particular size is allowed or buildable at a Burlingame address.
California directory
Explore more city guides.
The next useful action
Put your address at the center of the conversation.
The online review is preliminary and is not a permit decision, survey, engineering opinion, construction document, final price, or guaranteed schedule.