Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Glendale, Arizona

Glendale requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: A Zoning Clearance Letter (reviewed and approved by the Planning Division) is required before submitting construction documents or permit applications; contact Planning at 623-930-2800; ADU must not exceed 1,000 square feet; All ADUs must have separate utility meters, including a separate city water meter (requires a new water tap to the city main; work in the right-of-way requires additional permits and a specially licensed contractor); No more than one attached ADU and one detached ADU per lot; on lots one acre or more, up to two detached ADUs if one is recorded as a restricted-affordable unit; ADU setbacks: rear and side setbacks of no less than 5 feet; front setback per zoning district requirements; ADU shall not be sold or conveyed separately from the primary dwelling; ADU shall not have a separate street address; it shares the primary dwelling's address with a Unit 1 or Unit 2 suffix; ADU impact fees (attached or detached): fire, library, parks and police impact fees are charged at 25% of the single-family rates; water and sewer impact fees apply only if the ADU's added demand requires upsizing the home's water meter, in which case the fee is the difference between the existing and upsized meter impact fees (ARS 9-463.05.U.1) — per the ADU Requirements document revised 6/25/2026 and the Impact Fee Schedule updated 6/24/2026; ADUs may not be constructed before the primary single-family dwelling unit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Glendale Development Services at 623-930-2800 before starting work.

In Glendale, the published Zoning Clearance Letter (Planning Division) is: Contact Planning Division at 623-930-2800 for current fee; rough estimate table in the ADU document lists $144.00. Additional published fees: Building Safety Plan Review (per ADU rough estimate) — Approximately $1,052.90 for a 1,000 sq ft detached or attached ADU (rough estimate only); Building permit — valuation-based (Table 3A) — Based on construction valuation per Table 3A (e.g. for a $100,000–$500,000 ADU: $1,257.16 for first $100,000 plus $7.07 per additional $1,000); Water & Sewer impact fees (ADU — attached or detached) — No additional water/sewer impact fee unless the ADU's added demand requires upsizing the home's water meter; if upsized, the fee is the difference between the existing and upsized meter impact fees (example in the schedule: 3/4-inch to 1-inch meter, East Glendale: $4,773 = $11,898 - $7,125). Other ADU impact fees are 25% of single-family rates: Parks & Rec $298.50, Libraries $88.75, Police $175.50, Fire $212.50, Streets $0. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit in Glendale typically runs 15–25 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Glendale Development Services at 623-930-2800.

You'll need: Accessory Dwelling Unit Requirements and Updates (revised 6/25/2026); Permit/Plan Review Application — Residential (2026). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Glendale requires 3 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Foundation / Footing (detached ADU), Rough Framing and Trades, Final. Schedule each through City of Glendale Development Services (623-930-2800).

Apply through City of Glendale Development Services at 5850 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301. Phone: 623-930-2800, email: permits@glendaleaz.com. Office hours: Counter assistance hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Development Services Center, per the Building Safety Contact Information page; verified 2026-07-16). Official information: https://www.glendaleaz.gov/Business/Building-Safety-Codes-Services.

Glendale, Arizona has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and I, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices BB, BC, BF, BO and CF, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), including Appendices C and E, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), including Appendices A and B, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-52, effective January 9, 2026; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Green Construction Code (IgCC), as published by ICC — adopted by Ordinance O25-51 (voluntary compliance), effective January 9, 2026; 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines; Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. §§ 41-1492.03); ICC A117.1-2009 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; City of Glendale Revised Sound Attenuation Standards; Maricopa Association of Governments Fireplace Standard; Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, March 6, 1991). Local amendments apply — see the Glendale overview page for the full list.

Yes. Glendale permits up to one attached and one detached ADU per single-family lot. ADUs must not exceed 1,000 square feet. A Zoning Clearance Letter from the Planning Division is required before submitting construction plans. All ADUs must have separate utility meters. Source: Glendale ADU Requirements and Updates document (revised 6/25/2026, based on UDC Section 35.3.204 as amended December 10, 2024).