City of Chino — Municipal Code Chapter 16.54

The City of Chino governs ADUs under Chapter 16.54 of the Chino Municipal Code. Chino's ordinance follows California state law closely with objective design standards around exterior materials and compatibility with the primary dwelling. The Development Services Department at 13220 Central Ave handles all ADU applications. Plan check: 6–10 weeks. City of Chino sits entirely within San Bernardino County — not Riverside County — which affects assessor information, court jurisdiction, and county agency contacts.

City of Chino properties are generally on flat terrain with clay-adobe soils — a distinct soil type that expands when wet and requires specific foundation design. Most City of Chino lots are in the 6,000–10,000 sf range with city sewer and Chino Basin Water District or Inland Empire Utilities Agency water service.

City of Chino Hills — Title 16

The City of Chino Hills governs ADUs under Title 16 of the Chino Hills Municipal Code. The Planning Department at 14000 City Center Dr processes all Chino Hills ADU applications. Plan check: 6–12 weeks — 2–4 weeks longer than City of Chino because the Engineering Department conducts a parallel review for hillside development standards. This adds time but catches the geotechnical and grading issues that are genuinely common in Chino Hills.

The critical Chino Hills overlay: Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) designation covers significant portions of the city, particularly hillside areas and neighborhoods backing up to open space. ADU construction in a VHFHSZ requires fire-resistant construction materials — Class A roof assembly, ember-resistant vents, multi-pane windows, fire-resistant exterior cladding. This adds $8,000–$18,000 to construction cost and must be included in permit plans.

VHFHSZ — The Fire Zone Requirement

Check your Chino Hills parcel's fire zone status before any design investment. The California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) maintains the official VHFHSZ maps at osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/wildfire-prevention-planning-research/wildland-hazards-building-codes/fire-hazard-severity-zones-maps/. If your parcel is in a VHFHSZ, California Building Code Chapter 7A applies — requiring fire-resistant exterior construction regardless of what the ADU ordinance says. We verify fire zone status during the free site visit and include Chapter 7A compliance in all Chino Hills designs where applicable.

State Law Guarantees — Same in Both Chinos

California Government Code §66314 applies identically in both the City of Chino and the City of Chino Hills: ministerial approval for compliant applications, no HOA veto authority, no owner-occupancy requirement (AB 976, January 2024), impact fee exemption for ADUs under 750 sf, and 4-foot minimum rear and side setbacks for detached ADUs. Neither city can deny a compliant application. What differs between the two cities is everything else: the local ordinance details, the planning departments, the fee schedules, the fire zone requirements, and the engineering review processes.

HOA Landscape

City of Chino: approximately 35% HOA penetration. The Preserve (a major master-planned community in Chino) has active HOA governance with ARC review. Most older City of Chino neighborhoods are HOA-free.

City of Chino Hills: approximately 55% HOA penetration — one of the highest in San Bernardino County. Butterfield Ranch, The Preserve (Chino Hills portion), Carbon Canyon Road neighborhoods, and many hillside tracts have HOA governance with architectural review requirements. The Chino Hills HOA landscape is nearly as complex as Temecula's for ADU planning purposes.