Los Angeles region / California
Los Angeles ADU rules
& permit guide.
Los Angeles city and unincorporated Los Angeles County have different permit offices and plan catalogs. In the city, LADBS offers a free YOU-ADU plan alongside its commercial standard-plan directory.
Editorial review 2026-09-07 · View sources
The local detail to check first
Before you choose a design
Check the status of the exact plan. The current LADBS directory marks many older commercial entries Expired. An older article or provider claim does not establish current approval.
YOU-ADU source retrieved and reviewed September 7, 2026. The commercial directory returned 403 to the crawler; indexed directory entries show expired plans, so confirm commercial-plan status directly.
Local requirements at a glance
Min/max ADU size
The city’s YOU-ADU is a 455 sq ft, one-bedroom design. That plan size is not the maximum size for other ADU projects.
Process
YOU-ADU applicants may submit themselves or work with their chosen architect or contractor. LADBS still reviews site-specific zoning and foundation requirements.
Your next three steps
- Confirm that LADBS, rather than LA County or another city, reviews your property.
- Compare the free YOU-ADU with custom designs and currently approved commercial plans.
- Prepare zoning, foundation and other site-specific information for LADBS review.
2026 state-law context
ADUs and JADUs have different occupancy rules
California generally prohibits local owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs. A narrow exception applies to certain separately sold affordable ADUs. For JADUs, owner occupancy generally applies when the bathroom is shared with the main home; separate-bathroom JADUs are treated differently under 2026 law. Check the HCD handbook and your project's permit conditions.
Older local summaries may not reflect the latest state changes. Read HCD’s March 2026 handbook, pages 32–33.
A starting point for your design
Local plan resources
YOU-ADU: free city plan ↗
455 sq ft, one story, one bedroom with configuration options. The city source lists it as Approved; site review remains required.
Questions for your first planning conversation
- Which approval path applies to my building and ADU type?
- Do easements, trees, slope, access or fire conditions affect placement?
- Which utility upgrades and agency reviews should be included in my budget?
- Are preapproved plans available, and what site work still needs review?