Los Angeles approves ADUs with a ministerial LADBS building permit under LAMC 12.22 A.33 (Ordinance 186,481, effective December 19, 2019, applied through Zoning Administrator Memo 143 Revision 1 of August 1, 2025) in every zone where a house or apartment building is permitted by right. A single-family lot can add a detached ADU of up to 1,200 sq ft under the city ordinance (or an 800 sq ft state-law unit that floor-area and front-setback rules cannot block), an attached or conversion ADU, and a 500 sq ft JADU, with 4-ft side and rear setbacks for new construction and none for a garage or accessory-building conversion. No parking is required within a half-mile walk of a bus or rail stop or for any conversion, and no impact fees apply to a unit of 750 sq ft or less. The city must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days; LADBS permit fees follow the valuation table in LAMC 91.107 plus a General Plan Maintenance Surcharge raised to 10% on June 9, 2026, and 79 pre-approved standard plans (200-1,200 sq ft) are available. A citywide ADU ordinance update (Missing Middle LA) is in its second draft, with a City Planning Commission hearing set for November 12, 2026.
Outside city limits? If your property is in unincorporated Los Angeles County (not within Los Angeles's boundaries), different rules apply — see our Los Angeles County (unincorporated) ADU rules.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Yes — Los Angeles allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 1,200 sq ft under current California and Los Angeles zoning rules.
See what this means for your lot — ask Los Angeles ADU builders for a quote →
| Allowed Zones | Every zone where a single-family or multifamily dwelling is a permitted use, on any lot with an existing or proposed dwelling (LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(3) and (c)(6); ZA Memo 143 Q.2, Q.29): all R, RD, RW, RE, RS, RA and A zones plus commercial zones that list residential uses, but not where housing is allowed only as a caretaker unit (M zones). One exception: a city-ordinance ADU on a lot that is in BOTH a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and a Hillside Area is barred unless it is in the Northeast LA or Silver Lake-Echo Park-Elysian Valley plan area or fronts a 20-ft-wide improved street (12.22 A.33(c)(4)); state-law units under Gov. Code 66323 (800 sq ft detached, conversions, JADUs) are exempt from that bar (ZA Memo 143 Q.42). In the Coastal Zone a Coastal Development Permit is still required and adds a separate City Planning filing (12.22 A.33(k); ZA Memo 143 Q.23). Check ZIMAS for zone, Hillside, VHFHSZ, HPOZ and Coastal flags |
| Max Size (Detached) | 1,200 sq ft under the city ordinance (12.22 A.33(d)(1)), subject to the lot's floor-area (RFA/FAR) and lot-coverage limits; the state-law option (Gov. Code 66323(a)(2)) is 800 sq ft, and no floor-area, lot-coverage, open-space, front-setback or lot-size rule may block an 800 sq ft unit with 4-ft side and rear setbacks (12.22 A.33(c)(1)(iii); Gov. Code 66321(b)(3)). Square footage is measured as Building Code gross floor area inside the exterior walls (ZA Memo 143 Q.3). Conversions of an existing garage or accessory building have no size cap and may add up to 150 sq ft for entry and exit (66323(a)(1)) |
| Max Size (Attached) | 50% of the existing primary dwelling's floor area for a city-ordinance attached ADU, with no percentage cap when the house is being built at the same time; the city may never deny an attached ADU under 850 sq ft, or under 1,000 sq ft with more than one bedroom (12.22 A.33(e)(1)-(3)). The code sets no 1,200 sq ft cap on attached units, but lot floor-area limits still apply (e)(2). A conversion inside the existing house under Gov. Code 66323(a)(1) has no size limit |
| Max Size (JADU) | 500 sq ft, entirely within the walls of an existing or proposed single-family house including an attached garage (LAMC 12.03 definition; Gov. Code 66333). Needs its own exterior entrance and at least an efficiency kitchen; may share a bathroom with the house; one per lot. No parking and no separate utility connection fee (ZA Memo 143 Sec. II.B) |
| Max Height | State-law detached ADU: 16 ft; 18 ft within a half-mile walk of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, plus 2 ft (20 ft) if the roof pitch matches the main house; 18 ft on a lot with a multistory multifamily building (Gov. Code 66321(b)(4); ZA Memo 143 Table 1, Q.34, Q.38). City-ordinance detached ADU: the zone and height-district limit for the lot, up to 2 stories (12.22 A.33(d)(2)). Attached ADU: the zoning height limit or 25 ft, whichever is lower (Table 2). Height is measured the same way as any other building in the zone (Q.5) |
| Max Units | Single-family lot: one attached or conversion ADU (inside the house, garage or accessory building), one detached new-construction ADU and one JADU, in any order (Gov. Code 66323(a)(1)-(2); HCD findings Nov. 19, 2024 item 5); a detached state ADU may be swapped for a 1,200 sq ft city-ordinance detached ADU, or a state conversion for an attached ordinance ADU (ZA Memo 143 Sec. I.A). Multifamily lot: interior conversions of non-living space equal to at least 1 and up to 25% of the existing units, plus up to 8 detached ADUs not exceeding the number of existing units (SB 1211); 2 detached ADUs on a lot with a proposed multifamily building (66323(a)(3)-(4)) |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Los Angeles requires a rear setback of about 4 ft for a detached ADU, and parking requirements vary by unit size or location. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| Rear Setback | 4 ft for a new detached ADU or a new addition (12.22 A.33(c)(8); Gov. Code 66323(a)(2)). None for an ADU created inside an existing house, garage or accessory building, or rebuilt in the same location and dimensions |
| Side Setback | 4 ft for new construction, including the added portion of a unit built over an existing garage; none for a same-footprint conversion or rebuild. If the zone's own side yard is under 4 ft, the smaller figure applies (ZA Memo 143 Table 1 note 7) |
| Front Setback | A city-ordinance detached ADU must sit behind the house, not between the house and the street, unless the lot is a through lot or the unit is added to an existing front-yard garage or accessory building (12.22 A.33(d)(3)). The zone's front yard applies to ordinance ADUs, but it cannot be used to block an 800 sq ft ADU with 4-ft side and rear setbacks, and no front setback may be imposed on state-law units under Gov. Code 66323 (66321(b)(3); ZA Memo 143 Q.37) |
| Parking Required | One space per city-ordinance ADU, waived when the lot is within a half-mile walk of any bus or rail stop, within a block of a car-share pick-up point, in a National or California Register district or an HPOZ, or when the ADU is inside the existing house or an accessory structure (12.22 A.33(c)(12)(i)); state law adds waivers where street parking permits are not offered to the ADU occupant or the ADU is permitted with a new house (Gov. Code 66322; ZA Memo 143 Table 1 note 9). State-law units under Gov. Code 66323 (800 sq ft detached, conversions, multifamily units) and JADUs need no parking at all. Required parking may be tandem or in a yard on an existing driveway, and no replacement parking is required when a garage or carport is converted or demolished for an ADU (c)(12)(iii) |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required for an ADU (Gov. Code 66315 as amended by AB 976, permanent). A JADU requires owner-occupancy of the house or the JADU only when the JADU shares a bathroom with the house (Gov. Code 66333(b) as amended by AB 1154, effective January 1, 2026); every JADU still records a deed restriction against separate sale (66333(c); ZA Memo 143 Sec. II.B). ADUs may not be sold separately from the house except under the Gov. Code 66341 nonprofit exception (12.22 A.33(h)(3)) |
| Min Lot Size | No minimum lot size for any ADU (12.22 A.33(c)(1)(i); Gov. Code 66314(b)(1)); a substandard lot from an old illegal split is not grounds for denial (ZA Memo 143 Q.16) |
Permit Process & Fees [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
An ADU permit in Los Angeles goes through a ministerial, by-right review. Typical timeline: The city must tell you within 15 business days whether the application is complete and must approve or deny it within 60 days of a complete application, or it is deemed approved (Gov. Code 66317(a) as amended by SB 543, in force January 1, 2026; LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(2); ZA Memo 143 Q.24). If the ADU is filed with a new house, the ADU permit may wait for the house permit. LADBS publishes no average ADU plan-check turnaround; the Standard Plan Program is described only as shortening plan check. Permit fees: No flat ADU fee. The LADBS building permit fee is set by construction valuation under LAMC 91.107 Table 1-A: for a valuation between $100,000 and $500,000 the codified base is $395 plus $3.50 per $1,000 (about $1,445 on $300,000, or about $2,384 as a combined building-mechanical permit at 165% of that figure), plus plan check at 90% of the permit fee (91.107.3.1.1), a 2% plan-maintenance fee (91.107.4.3), a fire-hydrant fee of 0.22% of valuation on jobs of $50,000 or more (91.107.4.4), state seismic and green-code surcharges, and the City Planning General Plan Maintenance Surcharge, raised from 7% to 10% on June 9, 2026 (CF 09-0969-S4). Table 1-A amounts are indexed to CPI every July 1 (91.107.1.1), so run the LADBS Permit Fee Calculator for the current total. LAUSD developer fees of $5.38 per sq ft apply to an ADU larger than 500 sq ft from August 11, 2026 (about $4,300 on 800 sq ft).
| Approval Process | Ministerial building permit from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS); no City Planning case, hearing or variance for a code-compliant unit (12.22 A.33(c)(2), Q.21). In order: 1) look up the lot on ZIMAS for zone, Hillside Area, VHFHSZ, HPOZ, Specific Plan and Coastal flags and print the SB 9/transit proximity sheet used for the parking and height waivers (ZA Memo 143 Q.34); 2) pick a state-law unit (Gov. Code 66323) or a city-ordinance unit (12.22 A.33) using ZA Memo 143 Tables 1-2, which decide size, height, setbacks and parking; 3) draw plans or license one of LADBS's pre-approved standard plans; 4) file plan check with LADBS through ePlanLA or at a Development Services Center, where LADBS checks building, residential and green code plus zoning; 5) clear Fire Department address assignment, Bureau of Engineering sewer and driveway items, LADWP service and LAUSD school fees; 6) permit issued, inspections, then a certificate of occupancy, which cannot issue before the main house has one (12.22 A.33(h)(5)). Unpermitted ADUs built before January 1, 2020 can be legalized under AB 2533 per LADBS bulletin P/BC 2026-161 |
| Review Timeline | The city must tell you within 15 business days whether the application is complete and must approve or deny it within 60 days of a complete application, or it is deemed approved (Gov. Code 66317(a) as amended by SB 543, in force January 1, 2026; LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(2); ZA Memo 143 Q.24). If the ADU is filed with a new house, the ADU permit may wait for the house permit. LADBS publishes no average ADU plan-check turnaround; the Standard Plan Program is described only as shortening plan check |
| Permit Fees | No flat ADU fee. The LADBS building permit fee is set by construction valuation under LAMC 91.107 Table 1-A: for a valuation between $100,000 and $500,000 the codified base is $395 plus $3.50 per $1,000 (about $1,445 on $300,000, or about $2,384 as a combined building-mechanical permit at 165% of that figure), plus plan check at 90% of the permit fee (91.107.3.1.1), a 2% plan-maintenance fee (91.107.4.3), a fire-hydrant fee of 0.22% of valuation on jobs of $50,000 or more (91.107.4.4), state seismic and green-code surcharges, and the City Planning General Plan Maintenance Surcharge, raised from 7% to 10% on June 9, 2026 (CF 09-0969-S4). Table 1-A amounts are indexed to CPI every July 1 (91.107.1.1), so run the LADBS Permit Fee Calculator for the current total. LAUSD developer fees of $5.38 per sq ft apply to an ADU larger than 500 sq ft from August 11, 2026 (about $4,300 on 800 sq ft) |
| Impact Fees | None for an ADU with 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less or a JADU of 500 sq ft or less; a larger ADU pays in proportion to the main house's floor area (Gov. Code 66311.5(c)(1), as renumbered by SB 543). In Los Angeles this covers the Dwelling Unit Construction Tax (LAMC 21.10.3) and Residential Development Fee (21.13.3); ADUs and JADUs are exempt from park fees (LAMC 12.33, Ordinance 186,481 Sec. 4-6) and the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee (19.18) at any size (ZA Memo 143 Sec. III.D). Sewer and water capacity charges are not impact fees: a conversion unit inside the house or garage pays no new connection or capacity charge, and any other ADU pays one proportional to its burden (66311.5(b), (d)-(e)); confirm the Sewerage Facilities Charge with the Bureau of Engineering |
| Plan Check | Electronic plan check through LADBS ePlanLA or in person at a Development Services Center; LADBS reviews building, residential and green code and zoning compliance in one ministerial review, and only conditions affected by the ADU that threaten health or safety must be corrected (Gov. Code 66322(b); ZA Memo 143 Q.25-Q.26). Fire sprinklers are not required unless the main house needs them (12.22 A.33(c)(10)); a new detached ADU must have solar panels under the state energy code (LADBS ADU page); the Fire Department requires a separate address for every unit including a JADU; a JADU needs an efficiency kitchen and, if it shares a bathroom, an interior door to the house |
| Pre-Approved Plans | Yes. LADBS's ADU Standard Plan Program listed 83 plans in its April 2026 list, 79 approved and 4 pending, from a 200 sq ft studio to 1,200 sq ft three-bedroom units, 8 of them two-story; one 455 sq ft one-bedroom plan is owned by the City and free to use, the rest are licensed from their designers. LADBS still reviews site-specific items (zoning, foundation) for each lot, and roof-deck plans may need extra setbacks in some zones |
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Construction Costs [16][17][18][19][20][21]
Building an ADU in Los Angeles typically costs $220,000-$400,000 ($300-$500 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $100,000-$200,000.
See what this means for your lot — ask Los Angeles ADU builders for a quote →
| Average Build Cost | $220,000-$400,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $300-$500 |
| Garage Conversion | $100,000-$200,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $120,000-$350,000 |
Finance Your ADU Project
Most ADU projects are funded through HELOCs, construction loans, or cash-out refinancing. Compare rates from top lenders.
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Rental Income Potential [22][23][24][25]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Los Angeles rents for around $2,600-$3,350/mo, an estimated 6-10% gross rental yield on a $220,000-$400,000 detached build at $2,050-$3,350/mo (before taxes, vacancy and financing); a $100,000-$200,000 garage conversion renting at 1-bedroom rates yields more.
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $2,050-$2,550/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $2,600-$3,350/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | Effectively no. |
| Est. Annual ROI | 6-10% gross rental yield on a $220,000-$400,000 detached build at $2,050-$3,350/mo (before taxes, vacancy and financing); a $100,000-$200,000 garage conversion renting at 1-bedroom rates yields more |
Explore Prefab ADU Options
Prefab ADUs can save 20-40% vs. traditional construction and cut build time in half.
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- Missing Middle LA draft ADU ordinance (CPC-2025-4421-CA; second draft dated September 3, 2026; staff hearing October 1, 2026, comments to October 16, 2026; City Planning Commission November 12, 2026; Council date not set) would rewrite LAMC 12.22 A.33: an ADU Bonus Program with 3 ft of extra height (23 ft cap), an extra 'Opportunity ADU' on lots of 7,500 sq ft or more in Higher Opportunity Areas, an Affordable ADU Bonus of up to 6 ADUs/JADUs per lot (1 per 1,500 sq ft) in Transit Priority Areas when one unit is deed-restricted affordable, a parking waiver for studios and ADUs under 500 sq ft, and AB 2533 legalization of pre-2020 unpermitted units. Not adopted; the 2019 ordinance still governs
- LADBS reissued its ADU bulletins on July 28, 2026: Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-150 (ADU and JADU standards, replacing P/BC 2023-150) and P/BC 2026-161 (streamlined permitting of unpermitted ADUs and JADUs under AB 2533, Gov. Code 66311.7)
- LAUSD Level 1 developer fee rose to $5.38 per sq ft for residential construction on August 11, 2026 (State Allocation Board index adjustment of January 28, 2026); it applies to ADUs larger than 500 sq ft
- General Plan Maintenance Surcharge on permit, plan-check and planning fees raised from 7% to 10% effective June 9, 2026 (CF 09-0969-S4); City Planning's own fee schedule was updated by Ordinance 188,796 effective February 23, 2026
- SB 543 (Ch. 520, Stats. 2025; in force January 1, 2026): 15-business-day completeness check, applications deemed approved if not decided in 60 days, ADU sizes measured as interior living space, and the impact-fee section renumbered to Gov. Code 66311.5; AB 1154 (Ch. 507): JADU owner-occupancy may be required only when the JADU shares a bathroom with the house
- ZA Memo 143 Revision 1 (August 1, 2025) is the city's operating rulebook: it applies SB 1211 (up to 8 detached ADUs on existing multifamily lots), AB 2533, AB 976 (no ADU owner-occupancy) and HCD's November 19, 2024 findings, and states that the VHFHSZ/Hillside bar, sprinkler and parking conditions cannot be enforced on state-law units
- HCD's November 19, 2024 review found 17 points where Ordinance 186,481 and the ZA memos fall short of state law (statutory numbering, front setbacks, the two-story cap, the hillside fire-zone bar, ADU combinations, park fees); the Missing Middle LA amendment is the city's response
Tips for Building an ADU in Los Angeles
- Decide first whether your unit is a state-law ADU (Gov. Code 66323: 800 sq ft detached, any conversion, JADU) or a city-ordinance ADU (up to 1,200 sq ft detached): state-law units skip the hillside fire-zone bar, parking, front setbacks and floor-area caps; ordinance units get more size but must meet the zone's rules
- Most of the city is within a half-mile walk of a bus stop, which waives the ordinance ADU parking space; print the ZIMAS transit sheet and a walking-distance map with your application (ZA Memo 143 Q.12, Q.34)
- A garage conversion needs no setbacks, no replacement parking and no size cap, and pays no sewer connection or capacity charge; you may expand it 150 sq ft for a code-compliant entrance
- Stay at 750 sq ft or under to owe no impact fees, and at 500 sq ft or under to owe no LAUSD school fee ($5.38 per sq ft above that from August 11, 2026)
- Stack units: a house lot may hold a conversion ADU, a detached ADU and a JADU; on a multifamily lot the count rises to 25% of units as interior conversions plus up to 8 detached ADUs
- Do not plan on Airbnb income: ADUs permitted since 2017 cannot be home-shared unless the ADU is your own primary residence, and JADUs must rent for over 30 days
- If your lot is in both a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and a Hillside Area, file as a state-law 800 sq ft or conversion ADU; the city's sprinkler, parking and 20-ft street conditions apply only to ordinance ADUs there
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): avg build cost $220,000-$400,000 for a new detached ADU per Los Angeles guides dated Feb-Jul 2026 ($219,000-$389,000 single-story; $240,000-$330,000 typical, $400,000+ hillside; $150,000-$400,000; $250,000-$400,000+) | cost per sqft $300-$500 all-in ($300-$450; $280-$400; $300-$550 new construction; $350-$600), hillside or HPOZ lots $500-$700 | garage conversion $100,000-$200,000 ($120,000-$150,000; $100,000-$187,500; $140,000-$200,000+; $120,000-$220,000; $100,000-$175,000) | prefab ADU $120,000-$350,000 installed ($120,000-$250,000 typical, $300,000 with full site work; studio from about $184,000, 1-bedroom $200,000-$350,000). Industry guides put LADBS plan check and permit at $5,000-$20,000 depending on valuation; the code formula is in the fees field
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: Effectively no. An ADU whose permit application was filed on or after January 1, 2017 may not be used for home-sharing unless it is the host's own primary residence (LAMC 12.22 A.32(d)(4)), and even then the Home-Sharing Ordinance caps rentals at 120 nights a year without extended registration. A JADU must be rented for more than 30 days (Gov. Code 66333(g)). Units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance cannot be home-shared at all, and adding an ADU to a pre-October 1978 house can bring the house under the RSO (LAHD ADU page)
ADU Builders in Los Angeles
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- LAMC Sec. 12.22 A.33 Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (Ord. 186,481) | American Legal Publishing Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Ordinance No. 186,481 (Council File 16-1468), passed December 11, 2019, effective December 19, 2019 | Los Angeles City Clerk Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ZA Memorandum No. 143 Revision 1 (August 1, 2025): Implementation of the 2019 ADU Ordinance and State ADU Law | Los Angeles City Planning Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | LADBS Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Review of Los Angeles's ADU Ordinance under State ADU Law, findings letter of November 19, 2024 | California HCD Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Draft ADU Amendment, September 3, 2026 (Missing Middle LA, CPC-2025-4421-CA) | Los Angeles City Planning Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Code Amendments: Missing Middle LA status, hearing and Commission dates | Los Angeles City Planning Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- LAMC Sec. 12.22 A.32 Home-Sharing (Ord. 185,931), paragraph (d)(4) on ADUs | American Legal Publishing Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Standard Plan Program: approved standard plans list | LADBS Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- News and Announcements: IB P/BC 2026-150, IB P/BC 2026-161 (July 28, 2026) and LAUSD fee notice (July 23, 2026) | LADBS Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- LAMC Sec. 91.107 Fees (building permit, plan check, plan maintenance, fire hydrant fee) | American Legal Publishing Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- LAMC Sec. 91.113 Permit Fees, Table 1-A and Table 1-A.1 | American Legal Publishing Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Fee Estimator: GPMS 7% to 10% effective June 9, 2026 (CF 09-0969-S4); Ord. 188,796 fee schedule | Los Angeles City Planning Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- CAO report, Council File 09-0969-S4, Department of City Planning Comprehensive Fee Update (November 5, 2025) | Los Angeles City Clerk Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- State Allocation Board, January 28, 2026: Index Adjustment on the Assessment for Development (Level 1 residential $5.38 per sq ft) | California DGS/OPSC Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Cost in Los Angeles (2026), updated July 28, 2026 | GreatBuildz industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- How Much Does an ADU Cost in Los Angeles? 2026 Price Guide (March 28, 2026) | CCS Construction Consulting Services industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Cost Los Angeles 2026: Prices by Size and Type (April 8, 2026) | CALI ADU industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Garage Conversion vs ADU Cost in Los Angeles (February 17, 2026) | Silver Hammer Builders industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Cost in Los Angeles 2026 (June 2026) | ADUscale industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- How Much Does a Prefab ADU Cost in Los Angeles? (January 12, 2026) | LADU industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale HUD Metro FMR Area (FY26_FMRs.xlsx) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Los Angeles, CA Rent Research (data as of September 19, 2026) | Zumper Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Average Rent in Los Angeles, CA (last updated August 31, 2026) | RentCafe Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Accessory Dwelling Unit: RSO, JCO and home-sharing FAQs (September 4, 2025) | Los Angeles Housing Department Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- CA SB 543 (Ch. 520, Stats. 2025), chaptered October 10, 2025: Gov. Code 66311.5, 66317, 66321, 66323, 66333 | California Legislative Information Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- CA AB 1154 (Ch. 507, Stats. 2025), chaptered October 10, 2025: JADU owner-occupancy, Gov. Code 66333(b) | California Legislative Information Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- About ADUs | City of LA ADU Accelerator Program portal Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU in Los Angeles?
Yes. ADUs are allowed in Every zone where a single-family or multifamily dwelling is a permitted use, on any lot with an existing or proposed dwelling (LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(3) and (c)(6); ZA Memo 143 Q.2, Q.29): all R, RD, RW, RE, RS, RA and A zones plus commercial zones that list residential uses, but not where housing is allowed only as a caretaker unit (M zones). One exception: a city-ordinance ADU on a lot that is in BOTH a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and a Hillside Area is barred unless it is in the Northeast LA or Silver Lake-Echo Park-Elysian Valley plan area or fronts a 20-ft-wide improved street (12.22 A.33(c)(4)); state-law units under Gov. Code 66323 (800 sq ft detached, conversions, JADUs) are exempt from that bar (ZA Memo 143 Q.42). In the Coastal Zone a Coastal Development Permit is still required and adds a separate City Planning filing (12.22 A.33(k); ZA Memo 143 Q.23). Check ZIMAS for zone, Hillside, VHFHSZ, HPOZ and Coastal flags in Los Angeles. The maximum size for a detached ADU is 1,200 sq ft under the city ordinance (12.22 A.33(d)(1)), subject to the lot's floor-area (RFA/FAR) and lot-coverage limits; the state-law option (Gov. Code 66323(a)(2)) is 800 sq ft, and no floor-area, lot-coverage, open-space, front-setback or lot-size rule may block an 800 sq ft unit with 4-ft side and rear setbacks (12.22 A.33(c)(1)(iii); Gov. Code 66321(b)(3)). Square footage is measured as Building Code gross floor area inside the exterior walls (ZA Memo 143 Q.3). Conversions of an existing garage or accessory building have no size cap and may add up to 150 sq ft for entry and exit (66323(a)(1)). Owner-occupancy is not required, so you can rent out the ADU.
How much does an ADU cost in Los Angeles?
ADU construction in Los Angeles typically costs $220,000-$400,000. Garage conversions run $100,000-$200,000, and prefab ADUs cost $120,000-$350,000.
How much can I rent an ADU for in Los Angeles?
Average ADU rents in Los Angeles are $2,050-$2,550/mo for a 1-bedroom and $2,600-$3,350/mo for a 2-bedroom unit.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Los Angeles?
One space per city-ordinance ADU, waived when the lot is within a half-mile walk of any bus or rail stop, within a block of a car-share pick-up point, in a National or California Register district or an HPOZ, or when the ADU is inside the existing house or an accessory structure (12.22 A.33(c)(12)(i)); state law adds waivers where street parking permits are not offered to the ADU occupant or the ADU is permitted with a new house (Gov. Code 66322; ZA Memo 143 Table 1 note 9). State-law units under Gov. Code 66323 (800 sq ft detached, conversions, multifamily units) and JADUs need no parking at all. Required parking may be tandem or in a yard on an existing driveway, and no replacement parking is required when a garage or carport is converted or demolished for an ADU (c)(12)(iii). Check with Los Angeles planning department for the latest California ADU parking rules, as many states have relaxed requirements in recent years.
How long does it take to get an ADU permit in Los Angeles?
The permit review timeline in Los Angeles is The city must tell you within 15 business days whether the application is complete and must approve or deny it within 60 days of a complete application, or it is deemed approved (Gov. Code 66317(a) as amended by SB 543, in force January 1, 2026; LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(2); ZA Memo 143 Q.24). If the ADU is filed with a new house, the ADU permit may wait for the house permit. LADBS publishes no average ADU plan-check turnaround; the Standard Plan Program is described only as shortening plan check. Permit fees: No flat ADU fee. The LADBS building permit fee is set by construction valuation under LAMC 91.107 Table 1-A: for a valuation between $100,000 and $500,000 the codified base is $395 plus $3.50 per $1,000 (about $1,445 on $300,000, or about $2,384 as a combined building-mechanical permit at 165% of that figure), plus plan check at 90% of the permit fee (91.107.3.1.1), a 2% plan-maintenance fee (91.107.4.3), a fire-hydrant fee of 0.22% of valuation on jobs of $50,000 or more (91.107.4.4), state seismic and green-code surcharges, and the City Planning General Plan Maintenance Surcharge, raised from 7% to 10% on June 9, 2026 (CF 09-0969-S4). Table 1-A amounts are indexed to CPI every July 1 (91.107.1.1), so run the LADBS Permit Fee Calculator for the current total. LAUSD developer fees of $5.38 per sq ft apply to an ADU larger than 500 sq ft from August 11, 2026 (about $4,300 on 800 sq ft).
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