Los Angeles County

Cudahy ADU rules

Research summary of what we found for City of Cudahy in Los Angeles County. Not a determination for a specific lot.

Last checked November 3, 2026.

City or county ADU page

How big can an ADU be in Cudahy?

Maximum size
A new or expanded ADU may be up to 850 sq ft as a studio or one bedroom, 1,000 sq ft with two bedrooms, or 1,200 sq ft with three or more bedrooms. An attached ADU is also limited to 50% of the floor area of the dwelling it is attached to. Garage area does not count toward the maximum. There is no minimum lot size or lot width.
Source: Cudahy Municipal Code Ch. 20.52 Part 20 Accessory Dwelling Units (municipal.codes), § 20.52.760(A), Table 20.52-3 and notes 2-3, accessed 2026-11-03.

ADU setbacks in Cudahy

Setbacks
A new ADU under 18 ft tall needs 4 ft side and rear setbacks; a taller one needs the zone's side and rear setbacks. The zone's front setback applies unless the owner shows there is no other spot on the lot for one 800 sq ft, 16 ft tall ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks (two such ADUs on a lot with attached units). Buildings must be at least 5 ft apart. Converting an existing structure needs no new setbacks, as long as side and rear setbacks are enough for fire safety.
Source: Cudahy Municipal Code Ch. 20.52 Part 20 Accessory Dwelling Units (municipal.codes), §§ 20.52.760(A), Table 20.52-3 and note 1; 20.52.770, accessed 2026-11-03.

What we found for Cudahy

What we have for this place. Where a local figure is stricter than the California state baseline, both are shown.

Local ADU rules
Cudahy's ADU rules are in Municipal Code Chapter 20.52, Part 20 (§§ 20.52.710-20.52.790), added by Ordinance 744 (June 4, 2024). Ordinance 760 (2025) last amended the design and development standards in § 20.52.760. ADUs are allowed by right in any zone that allows single-family or multifamily homes. A zoning clearance, building permit or demolition permit for an ADU or JADU is acted on within 60 days of a complete application, without a hearing.
Source: Cudahy Municipal Code Ch. 20.52 Part 20 Accessory Dwelling Units (municipal.codes), §§ 20.52.715, 20.52.730, 20.52.760, 20.52.790 (Ord. 744 § 6, 2024; Ord. 760 § 6, 2025), accessed 2026-11-03.

Height
A detached ADU may be 18 ft. An attached ADU may be 25 ft. An ADU on top of an attached or detached garage may be 28 ft, but no more than two stories.
Source: Cudahy Municipal Code Ch. 20.52 Part 20 Accessory Dwelling Units (municipal.codes), § 20.52.760(A), Table 20.52-3, accessed 2026-11-03.

Parking
One off-street space per ADU, in addition to the main home's parking. It may be tandem on an existing driveway or in setback areas. No space is needed within a half mile of a public transit stop, in a historic district, where on-street permits are required but not offered to the ADU occupant, within one block of a car share area, or when the ADU is filed with a new home. State law also removes parking for an ADU inside the home or an existing accessory structure. Garage, carport or covered spaces removed for an ADU do not have to be replaced.
Source: Cudahy Municipal Code Ch. 20.52 Part 20 Accessory Dwelling Units (municipal.codes), § 20.52.780, accessed 2026-11-03.

Junior ADUs
A single-family lot may have one JADU under state JADU law, along with an ADU. The City's handout says a JADU may be up to 500 sq ft inside the existing home, with no added floor area, and an attached garage may be converted. It may share a bathroom with the home.
Source: City of Cudahy Planning Division, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standards handout (last updated July 2024), Junior ADU (JADU) section, accessed 2026-11-03.

Utilities, sprinklers and rental term
Each ADU needs its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen. Separate utility hookups are allowed but not required. Fire sprinklers are needed only if the main home needs them. ADUs may be rented only for terms longer than 30 days. A demolition permit for a detached garage replaced by an ADU is issued with the ADU application.
Source: Cudahy Municipal Code Ch. 20.52 Part 20 Accessory Dwelling Units (municipal.codes), §§ 20.52.750, 20.52.760(F), accessed 2026-11-03.

California state rules

The statewide baseline recorded from state law and the HCD ADU Handbook.

Detached size cap described in state law
1,200 sq ft. From Government Code section 66314.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Side and rear setback cap for a new ADU
4 ft. From Government Code section 66314, which describes a cap on side and rear setbacks for a new ADU.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Setback for a conversion of an existing structure
No additional setback, from Government Code section 66314 for a conversion of an existing structure.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Minimum lot size
A city may not impose a minimum lot size for an ADU, from Government Code section 66314.
Source: California Government Code section 66314, 66314, accessed 2026-10-16.

Minimum unit the handbook says cities must allow
At least an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks. The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) describes this under section 66321(b)(3).
Source: HCD ADU Handbook, 66321(b)(3); handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-16.

Detached height described in the handbook
16 ft, or 18 ft or 20 ft in some cases. The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) describes this under section 66321(b)(4).
Source: HCD ADU Handbook, 66321(b)(4); handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-16.

Permit decision deadline
60 days. From Government Code section 66317(a)(3): the permitting agency must decide on (approve or deny) a completed ADU application within 60 days when an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling is on the lot. Section 66317(a)(1) says the application is considered ministerially, without discretionary review or a hearing.
Source: California Government Code section 66317, 66317(a)(1), (a)(3), accessed 2026-10-17.

Owner-occupancy requirement
None. From Government Code section 66315: a local agency may not impose an owner-occupancy requirement on an ADU. It may require that the property be used for rentals of terms 30 days or longer. The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) describes the same rule.
Source: California Government Code section 66315, 66315; HCD ADU Handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-17.

Parking near public transit
No parking standards within one-half mile walking distance of public transit. From Government Code section 66322(a)(1). Section 66322(a) lists several other cases where parking standards may not be imposed.
Source: California Government Code section 66322, 66322(a), accessed 2026-10-17.

Ministerial categories
The HCD ADU Handbook (updated March 2026) states that Government Code section 66323 sets four ministerial categories. What we have does not restate those four categories.
Source: HCD ADU Handbook, 66323; handbook updated March 2026, accessed 2026-10-16.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones
If your lot is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal says in Information Bulletin 25-004 (issued March 3, 2025): “Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) should not restrict the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). However, additional building standards may be necessary, including but not limited to California Fire Code Chapter 49 and California Building Code Chapter 7A.” State ADU law does not itself bar an ADU there. A city or county may still apply its building code, including wildfire-resistant construction (Gov. Code 66314(d)(8)); require side and rear setbacks “sufficient for fire and safety” for a unit converted under 66323(a)(1); and decline parking in setbacks on specific fire and life safety findings (66314(d)(10)(B)). It may also consider public safety when it designates where ADUs may be permitted (66314(a)). Sprinklers can't be required in an ADU or JADU if the primary residence doesn't need them (66314(d)(12), 66323(d)). Some cities and counties still apply their own fire-zone limits. Where this summary has one, it is listed with the local rules. This summary does not look up your lot. Check the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone map viewer linked from the State Fire Marshal's Fire Hazard Severity Zones page: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5065c998b4b0462f9ec3c6c226c610a9
Source: CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal Information Bulletin 25-004, page 4, issued March 3, 2025; Gov. Code 66314, 66323, accessed 2026-10-20.

Starting January 1, 2027: two detached ADUs
Starting January 1, 2027, AB 956 (Chapter 791, Statutes of 2026) raises from one to two the number of new detached ADUs a city or county must allow, without discretionary review, on a lot with a proposed or existing single-family home (Gov. Code 66323(a)). Each may be held to 800 sq ft, 4 ft side and rear setbacks and the state height limits. The city or county does not have to also allow a JADU on a lot where two new detached ADUs have been built. AB 956 also makes HOA and deed rules that effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict an ADU or JADU void on any lot zoned to allow a single-family home, not only lots zoned for single-family use (Civil Code 4751 and 714.3).
Source: AB 956 (2025-2026), Chapter 791, Statutes of 2026, Gov. Code 66323; Civil Code 714.3, 4751; signed September 29, 2026, accessed 2026-11-03.

Starting January 1, 2027: impact fees above 750 sq ft
No impact fee may be charged on an ADU of 750 sq ft or less, or a JADU of 500 sq ft or less (Gov. Code 66311.5(c)). Starting January 1, 2027, SB 1117 (Chapter 809, Statutes of 2026) changes how fees are figured for larger ADUs: for up to two ADUs on a lot, the proportional impact fee is charged only on the interior livable space above 750 sq ft. On a lot with more than two ADUs, the fee stays proportional to the whole ADU. Utility connection fees and capacity charges are not changed.
Source: SB 1117 (2025-2026), Chapter 809, Statutes of 2026, Gov. Code 66311.5(c); signed September 29, 2026, accessed 2026-11-03.

State baseline on the directory → · State ADU rules on the homepage →

ADU rules near Cudahy

South Gate · about 1 mile
Bell Gardens · about 2 miles
Maywood · about 2 miles
Huntington Park · about 2 miles
Downey · about 3 miles

Can I build an ADU in Cudahy?

State law sets a baseline for ADUs in Cudahy, and what we found locally is listed on this page. Whether a specific lot can add an ADU depends on zoning, utilities, and other site facts this page does not measure. Confirm with the City of Cudahy Community Development Department (Planning Division), or run a free address summary.

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