Among the largest residential lot sizes in Orange County — ideal for spacious detached ADUs — top-rated Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified schools driving family rental demand, an affluent homeowner base with significant equity for ADU investment, and premium rental rates reflecting the city's upscale character.
Yorba Linda — known as the "Land of Gracious Living" — is an upscale residential city of approximately 68,000 residents in northeast Orange County. The city is the birthplace of President Richard Nixon, and the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum remains a prominent cultural landmark. Yorba Linda is distinguished by exceptionally generous lot sizes, particularly in the hills and equestrian areas where parcels regularly exceed 15,000 sqft and some reach half an acre or more. The city is served by the highly rated Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, consistently ranked among the top districts in Orange County. Rolling hills, horse trails, and the proximity to Chino Hills State Park give Yorba Linda a semi-rural character rare in suburban OC. Properties in hillside overlay zones may be subject to additional grading and geological review requirements.
Check your property on the city's zoning map. Identify whether your parcel falls within a hillside overlay zone or equestrian district, as these designations add review requirements. Confirm ADU eligibility and any site-specific constraints.
For properties with significant slope, commission a geotechnical soils report and preliminary grading plan. Hillside overlay zones require slope stability analysis and may mandate specific foundation types (caissons, grade beams) that affect design and budget.
Create architectural plans including site plan, floor plan, elevations, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Yorba Linda's large lots allow generous ADU footprints up to 1,200 sqft. Design to complement the neighborhood — ranch, Mediterranean, and custom estate styles are prevalent.
Submit your complete plan set to the Community Development Department. Include Title 24 energy compliance, geotechnical report (if in hillside overlay), and grading plans if required. Pay plan check fees at submission.
The city reviews plans for compliance with building codes, ADU regulations, and any applicable overlay zone standards. State law mandates a 60-day maximum review period for compliant ADU applications.
Once permitted, begin construction with your licensed contractor. Hillside projects may require additional inspections for grading, retaining walls, and drainage. Schedule standard inspections at each milestone through final. Certificate of Occupancy issued upon passing final inspection.