GetYourPermit

ADU permit process in Los Angeles, California

Last verified August 28, 2026

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LADBS is the sole plan-check and permitting authority for ADUs citywide; review is ministerial (no discretionary hearing) per the city's ADU Ordinance (186481). Homeowners can submit plans and pay fees fully online through ePlanLA, use Express Permits/PermitLA for simple cases, or work with a designer; California law requires the city to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days. LADBS also runs an Approved Standard Plans program that pre-checks common ADU designs to speed up plan review.

Typical timeline

Standard Plan Program ADUs: roughly 21-30 days to permit issuance. Custom-plan ADUs: plan check commonly several weeks to a few months; state law requires the city to act within 60 days of a complete application.

Where to apply

Department
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
Permit portal
ePlanLA

Step by step

  1. 1

    Check zoning eligibility

    Confirm the lot allows an ADU and review LAMC Chapter 1 / ZA Memo 143 development standards before designing.

  2. 2

    Choose standard or custom plans

    Select a pre-approved Standard Plan for faster review, or hire a designer/architect to prepare custom construction drawings.

  3. 3

    Create an Angeleno account and submit via ePlanLA

    Register for an Angeleno account, then submit the Building Permit application (ADU category) with plans through ePlanLA, or use Express Permits/PermitLA for eligible simple projects.

  4. 4

    Plan check and corrections

    LADBS plan checkers review for zoning and building code compliance; respond to correction comments electronically until plans are approved.

  5. 5

    Pay permit fees

    Pay plan check and permit issuance fees calculated via the LADBS Permit Fee Calculator before permit issuance.

  6. 6

    Permit issuance

    Once plans are approved and fees paid, the building permit is issued electronically through ePlanLA/LADBS Go.

  7. 7

    Construction and inspections

    Build per approved plans; schedule required inspections (foundation, framing, electrical/plumbing/mechanical) with LADBS as work progresses.

  8. 8

    Final inspection and occupancy

    Pass the final inspection to close out the permit and legally occupy the ADU.

What you need to submit

  • Site/plot plan
  • Floor plans
  • Elevations
  • Title 24 energy compliance documents
  • Structural plans (if custom design)
  • Solar panel plan (required for new detached ADUs)

Los Angeles ADU rules at a glance

JADU
JADUs allowed within existing single-family footprint; owner-occupancy typically required for JADUs
Height
Roughly 16 ft for single-story detached ADUs, up to 25 ft for two-story ADUs within a half-mile of major transit (secondary source)
Parking
No replacement parking required for converted spaces; new ADU parking often waived within half-mile of public transit; when required, limited to 1 space, tandem allowed
Max size
Detached ADUs generally up to 1,200 sq ft (subject to standards); JADUs up to 500 sq ft (secondary/unverified figures from non-official sources)
Setbacks
Typically 4 ft side/rear for detached ADUs; front setback generally follows the main house (secondary source)
Owner occupancy
Not required for ADUs

Pre-approved ADU plans

Los Angeles publishes pre-approved plan sets, which can shorten plan check.

View pre-approved plans

Practical tips

  • Using an LADBS Approved Standard Plan skips most of plan check and can cut issuance time to roughly 3-4 weeks.
  • New detached ADUs built from scratch must include solar panels.
  • Check the half-mile transit proximity rule early -- it can eliminate parking requirements and simplify site planning.
  • Verify zoning and lot-specific standards (setbacks, height) via LAMC Chapter 1 / ZA Memo 143 before finalizing a design.

Sources for this guide

Additional city reference pages