San Mateo County · California
Menlo Park ADU guide: local rules, permits & property planning
Menlo Park adopted an ADU ordinance in June 2026 that took effect July 10. Begin with the City’s current guidance before reusing an older checklist or a neighboring city’s design assumptions.
Local planning guide · Reviewed October 2, 2026
What matters for an ADU in Menlo Park
Permitting authority: City of Menlo Park — ADUs
Official local guidanceLocal rules and design checks
| Topic | Local guidance |
|---|---|
| Applicable ordinance | Use the City’s July 2026 rules when discussing a new application; an older plan set may need reconciliation. |
| Building type | The City separates single-family guidance from its multifamily and mixed-use ADU guidance. |
| Preapproval scope | A catalog design still requires a site-specific building permit application and supporting drawings. |
Selected local requirements, not a complete zoning determination. Confirm the current rules for your address with the responsible agency.
Fees and budget checks
Ask the City for the parcel-specific building and agency fee assessment, and ask the plan designer separately for reuse and site-adaptation charges. The homeowner program makes designer arrangements distinct from City approval.
Menlo Park preapproved ADUs — homeowner instructionsHow to start the permit process
Identify the single-family or multifamily path in the current City guidance. For a preapproved design, contact its designer, resolve the reuse agreement and prepare the property-specific permit package.
Plan resource
Menlo Park preapproved ADU catalog
The City’s program connects homeowners with designers whose drawings have been reviewed. Catalog inclusion is not a completed-project record.
View the original sourceMenlo Park ADU questions
- Can I rely on a 2025 Menlo Park checklist?
- Check it against the ordinance effective July 10, 2026 before commissioning revisions or submitting.
- Does selecting a City-listed plan complete permitting?
- No. The homeowner instructions require a designer agreement and site-specific application after plan selection.
Sources for this guide
- City of Menlo Park — ADUs
- Menlo Park preapproved ADUs — homeowner instructions
- Menlo Park preapproved ADU catalog
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 Menlo Park 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.