GetYourPermit

ADU permit process in Long Beach, California

Last verified August 28, 2026

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Long Beach's Development Services Department (Building & Safety and Planning Bureaus) reviews ADU permits, applying state ADU law directly since the city has not yet adopted its own local ADU ordinance. Unlike many nearby cities, Long Beach does not currently accept online ADU submittals - all construction documents and applications must be submitted in person at the Permit Center, with plan check fees due the same day. State law still requires the city to act on a complete application within 60 days.

Typical timeline

State law requires city action on a complete ADU application within 60 days; Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) plans may be approved over-the-counter with same-day permit issuance.

Where to apply

Department
Long Beach Development Services, Building & Safety Bureau and Planning Bureau
Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802
Contact
562-570-7648 (Building & Safety); 562-570-6194 (Planning)

Step by step

  1. 1

    Review planning requirements

    Review the Planning Bureau's ADU Information Bulletin; check whether the property is in a Historic District (requires a Certificate of Appropriateness) or the Coastal Zone (requires a Local Coastal Development Permit before the building permit).

  2. 2

    Prepare plans

    Prepare a complete set of construction documents, saved as a digital PDF, either as a custom design or using a Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) plan.

  3. 3

    Submit in person at the Permit Center

    Schedule an appointment or visit the Permit Center during business hours to submit the permit application and plans on a USB drive; plan check fees are due at submission.

  4. 4

    Plan check and corrections

    Planning and Engineering/Building staff review concurrently; resubmit revised plans as requested and monitor progress on the Plan Check Status webpage.

  5. 5

    Pay permit fees and pick up documents

    Once plans are ready-to-issue, you'll receive an email; pay remaining permit fees and obtain approved documents in person.

  6. 6

    Construction and inspections

    Schedule inspections online at each phase of construction.

  7. 7

    Final inspection

    Pass final inspection before occupying or renting the ADU.

What you need to submit

  • Building permit application
  • Complete construction document set (PDF on USB drive)
  • Certificate of Appropriateness (Historic District properties only)
  • Local Coastal Development Permit (Coastal Zone properties only)

Long Beach ADU rules at a glance

JADU
JADU capped at 500 sq ft; requires an efficiency kitchen and bathroom; may connect internally to the primary home; owner-occupancy required only if the JADU shares a bathroom with the main house.
Height
Reported as up to 16 ft in most zones, up to 18 ft (plus 2 ft for roof pitch) within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop. (Secondary source; not independently confirmed on an official page.)
Parking
One parking space generally required per ADU, waived within 1/2 mile of transit, for conversions, and per other state exemptions (e.g., near Metro A Line stops or Long Beach Transit BRT routes).
Max size
Detached ADU generally up to 1,200 sq ft; attached ADU generally up to 50% of existing living area (up to 1,200 sq ft); JADU up to 500 sq ft. (Figures from secondary sources summarizing state/local standards - not confirmed on an official numeric table.)
Setbacks
Reported 4 ft minimum side/rear setback for new-construction ADUs; reduced/no setback often applies to conversions of existing structures. (Secondary source.)

Pre-approved ADU plans

Long Beach publishes pre-approved plan sets, which can shorten plan check.

View pre-approved plans

Practical tips

  • Online submission is not available - bring your application and a PDF plan set on a USB drive to the Permit Center in person.
  • Use a Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) plan for potential same-day over-the-counter permit issuance.
  • Check the SB 9 Parking Exemption Area map before assuming you need to provide a parking space.
  • Confirm Historic District or Coastal Zone status early - both require an extra approval before the building permit can be issued.

Sources for this guide

Additional city reference pages