Short Answer
Yes, ministerialEvery new ADU or junior ADU in Los Angeles needs a building permit from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Under LAMC 12.22 A.33 and state law, an ADU that meets the objective standards is approved ministerially, without a discretionary planning hearing, and the City must act on a complete application within 60 days when there is already a house or apartment building on the lot.
Source: LADBS: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) (linked under Sources below)
Los Angeles ADU Permits at a Glance
- ADU permits, last 12 months
- 6,946
- Median application to issue
- 114 days
- Slowest quarter took at least
- 236 days
- New detached ADUs
- 1,894
Of the 7 cities we track for ADUs, Los Angeles ranks 3 of 7 by median wait. The median declared job value on these permits was $65,000.
Who Can Apply and Do the Work
Owners can apply, but most ADU permits are filed through ePlanLA by an architect, designer or contractor. LADBS reviews ADUs against the ADU ordinance (LAMC 12.22 A.33), the state ADU law and the building, residential and green codes. City Planning's ZA Memo 143 explains which combination of ordinance and state ADU types fits a lot, for example one detached ADU plus one attached ADU and a JADU on a single-family lot.
What You Need Before the Permit Is Issued
- Pick the ADU type: a conversion of existing space, an attached addition, a new detached unit, or a junior ADU of up to 500 square feet inside the house.
- Check the lot: zoning, Hillside Area or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone status, Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, methane zone and utility capacity can each add review.
- Setbacks: no more than 4 feet from side and rear lot lines, and none for a unit created inside an existing structure or rebuilt in the same footprint.
- Size: the City cannot apply rules that would block an ADU of at least 800 square feet, at least 16 feet tall, with 4-foot side and rear setbacks.
- Parking: the City's free YOU-ADU plan notes one space is required unless the lot is within half a mile walking distance of a bus or rail stop, one block from a car share location or in a historic district, and replacement parking is not needed when a garage or carport is demolished for the ADU.
- Choose between custom plans and a pre-approved standard plan.
What Else to Know in Los Angeles
LADBS runs an ADU Standard Plan Program: plans by private architects and engineers are pre-approved for building, residential and green code compliance, so plan check only looks at the site, mainly zoning and foundations. The City's own plan, YOU-ADU, is a 445 square foot one-bedroom, all-electric unit that owners can use free of charge. If the ADU is filed together with a new house, the City may hold the ADU permit until it acts on the house.
Los Angeles ADU Permit Costs
Los Angeles does not publish a flat ADU permit fee; plan check and permit fees are calculated from the project valuation when you apply, so we don't quote one. For scale, the median declared value of ADU work on recent permits was $65,000.
What Los Angeles's ADU Permit Data Shows
| Type of ADU | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion of a garage, basement or other existing space | 2,979 | 43% |
| New detached ADU | 1,894 | 27% |
| Attached ADU | 740 | 11% |
| Junior ADU | 737 | 11% |
| Not specified in the description | 596 | 9% |
ADU Permits Issued per Month
Types are classified from each permit's description. Building permits whose description mentions an ADU, JADU or accessory dwelling unit, including some supplemental and revision permits. Data from LADBS Building Permits Issued 2020–Present, October 30, 2025 to October 30, 2026.
Where ADUs Are Being Permitted
| ZIP code | Permits (12 mo) |
|---|---|
| 90272 | 415 |
| 91335 | 260 |
| 91344 | 220 |
| 91331 | 218 |
| 91342 | 174 |
| 90066 | 170 |
Recent ADU Permits
| Issued | Work as described by the city |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 | CONVERT EXISTING BASEMENT OF A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING INTO AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT CONVERTED PRIOR TO 2020 |
| 2026-10-23 | Eplan. CONVERT (E) DETACHED GARAGE AND ADDITION TO AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PER GC 66323(a)(2) |
| 2026-10-23 | EPLAN: Convert existing detached garge with new addition to ADU per LAMC 12.22 A.33 (b)(1). Work per WFPP |
| 2026-10-23 | eplanCONVERT (E) ATTACHED PATIO COVER (ATTACHED TO 1-STORY SFD) TO BEDROOM, WITH JADU ADDITION AND RESTROOM AD |
| 2026-10-23 | CONVERT (E) ATTACHED CARPORT AND A PORTION OF (E) ATTACHED GARAGE TO A (N) ATTACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT WI |
| 2026-10-23 | Conversion and addition to an existing detached garage to create a second-floor 2 units ADU and convert and re |
How to Get an ADU Permit in Los Angeles
- Confirm what your lot allows. Zoning, existing unit count, hillside, fire and historic status decide which ADU types and how many you can add.
- Choose the program and plans. Decide between custom plans and an LADBS pre-approved standard plan, including the free YOU-ADU plan.
- Complete the prerequisites listed above before you file.
- File the building permit through ePlanLA and respond to plan check corrections.
- Build, pass inspections and get final sign-off before anyone moves in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Los Angeles?
Every new ADU or junior ADU in Los Angeles needs a building permit from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Under LAMC 12.22 A.33 and state law, an ADU that meets the objective standards is approved ministerially, without a discretionary planning hearing, and the City must act on a complete application within 60 days when there is already a house or apartment building on the lot.
How long does an ADU permit take in Los Angeles?
For the 6,936 ADU permits issued between October 30, 2025 and October 30, 2026 with both dates published, the median time from application to issue was 114 days, and a quarter took 236 days or longer, according to the city's open data.
How many ADU permits does Los Angeles issue?
6,946 in the 12 months to October 30, 2026. About 43% converted existing space such as a garage, 27% were new detached units, 11% were attached and 11% were junior ADUs, based on the permit descriptions.
How big can an ADU be in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles cannot apply size, lot coverage or floor area rules that would prevent an ADU of at least 800 square feet and at least 16 feet tall with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. A junior ADU is limited to 500 square feet inside the existing house.
Does Los Angeles have free ADU plans?
Yes. YOU-ADU, a 445 square foot one-bedroom plan owned by the City, can be used free of charge through the LADBS Standard Plan Program, subject to the conditions on your lot.
Related Permit Guides
- Los Angeles Building Permits
- ADU Permit Requirements: What Homeowners Need to Know
- San Francisco ADU Permit Requirements
- San Diego ADU Permit Requirements
- Chicago ADU Permit Requirements
- Austin ADU Permit Requirements
- Seattle ADU Permit Requirements
- New York ADU Permit Requirements
Sources
Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.
- LADBS: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) (dbs.lacity.gov)
- LADBS: ADU Standard Plan Program (dbs.lacity.gov)
- Los Angeles City Planning: ADU Ordinance, LAMC 12.22 A.33 (planning.lacity.gov)
- Los Angeles City Planning: ZA Memo 143 (planning.lacity.gov)
- LADBS Building Permits Issued 2020–Present (data.lacity.org)