Los Angeles County
Long Beach ADU rules
Research summary of local ADU rules on file for City of Long Beach in Los Angeles County. Not a determination for a specific lot.
City or county ADU page
Check any California address for freeCity of Long Beach rules on file
Local rules recorded in this project for this jurisdiction. Where a city figure on file is stricter than the state baseline on file, both are shown.
No local ADU ordinance
Long Beach has no adopted local ADU ordinance. The city reviews ADUs and JADUs directly under state ADU law until a new local ordinance is adopted, and says Long Beach Municipal Code 21.51.276 no longer applies.
Source: Long Beach Community Development - Accessory Dwelling Units page, Step 1: Planning Bureau, accessed 2026-10-19.
How many ADUs
Single-family lot: one conversion ADU and one detached new construction ADU, plus one JADU. Multifamily lot: two detached ADUs with a proposed multifamily building, or with an existing one up to eight or the number of existing permitted units, whichever is less; plus ADUs converted from existing non-habitable space, one or 25% of the existing permitted units, whichever is more. No JADU is allowed on any lot with a multifamily dwelling.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Unit Type Combinations; Table 1, accessed 2026-10-19.
Size limits listed by the city
Conversion of part of the main home: no size limit. Conversion of an accessory building: no size limit, with an addition allowed only for entry and exit, up to 150 sq ft. Attached addition to the main home: 50% of the main home or 800 sq ft, whichever is more. Detached new construction on a single-family lot: 800 sq ft. JADU: 500 sq ft, conversion only. Every ADU or JADU must be at least 150 sq ft.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Table 1 and notes; Minimum Unit Size, accessed 2026-10-19.
Height
Conversions keep the existing building height. Attached new construction on a single-family lot: 25 ft and 2 stories, or the zoning height limit, whichever is less. Detached new construction: 16 ft, or 18 ft within one-half mile walking distance of major transit or a high-quality transit corridor (plus up to 2 ft to match a sloped main roof), or 18 ft on a lot with an existing multi-story multifamily building.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Table 2, accessed 2026-10-19.
Setbacks
New construction: front setback per the zoning district (an ADU up to 800 sq ft may encroach if there is no other way to fit it), side 4 ft or the zoning setback if less, and rear 4 ft, measured to the centerline of an adjacent alley where there is one. Conversions and same-size rebuilds keep the existing setbacks if sufficient for fire and life safety.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Table 3 and notes, accessed 2026-10-19.
Lot coverage, open space and floor area
No lot coverage, open space or floor area ratio standards apply to the ADU types in the bulletin, including open space for the main home, landscaping, street trees and permeability standards.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Lot Coverage, Open Space, Floor Area Ratio, and Other Standards, accessed 2026-10-19.
How ADU size is measured
ADU living area is measured to the interior walls. All other standards use gross floor area measured to the outside of exterior walls.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Floor Area Measurement, accessed 2026-10-19.
Parking
No parking is required for a JADU, or for an ADU that is within one-half mile walking distance of any transit stop (see the city's ADU Parking Exemption Map), in a historic district, converted from part of the main home or an accessory building, on a street where parking permits are required but not offered to the ADU, within one-half mile of a car share vehicle, in the Parking Exempt Area (LBMC 21.41.175), or filed with a new home where one of these applies.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Parking, accessed 2026-10-19.
JADU
A JADU needs its own kitchen. Owner-occupancy of the home or the JADU is required only if the JADU shares a bathroom with the main home.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), JADU Access and Owner Occupancy Requirements, accessed 2026-10-19.
Coastal Zone and historic properties
In the Coastal Zone, an administrative Local Coastal Development Permit is required. In a historic district or at a designated landmark, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required. Neither needs a public hearing, and both are filed together with the building permit application.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Coastal Zone Procedures; Historic Procedures, accessed 2026-10-19.
Trash and recycling
Lots with one to three units need receptacles for each unit (LBMC Chapter 8.60). Lots with four or more units, counting ADUs, need common refuse areas and trash enclosures (LBMC 21.45.167).
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Refuse, accessed 2026-10-19.
How to apply
Plans are submitted in person at the Permit Center as a PDF on a USB drive, and plan check fees are due the same day; online submittal is not available. A planner and an engineer review concurrently. Some projects can be reviewed over the counter, but not those in a historic district, in the Coastal Zone, or with major structural engineering.
Source: Long Beach Community Development - Accessory Dwelling Units page, Steps 2 and 3, accessed 2026-10-19.
“Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit” (PAADU) plans
The city lists two PAADU designs: an 800 sq ft, 1-story plan with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, and a 415 sq ft, 1-story plan with 1 bedroom and 1 bath. A PAADU application can be reviewed over the counter at the Permit Center, and a permit can be issued the same day. PAADUs must still meet the city's ADU rules, and Planning is the first step.
Source: Long Beach Building & Safety “Pre-Approved ADU” (PAADU) Program page, accessed 2026-10-19.
Detached ADUs larger than 800 sq ft
Not confirmed: the city's bulletin lists 800 sq ft for a detached new construction ADU on a single-family lot. Whether the city also accepts a larger detached ADU under the general state standards (Government Code 66314 and 66321) is not stated. Check with the Planning Bureau.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), Table 1, accessed 2026-10-19.
High bedroom-count projects
Not confirmed: an April 11, 2024 Zoning Administrator memo treated ADU and SB 9 projects with high bedroom counts as presumed “Special Group Residences”, which are not allowed in single-family zones. In July 2025 HCD told the city this policy conflicts with ADU law and SB 9. Whether the city has withdrawn the policy is not stated on its ADU pages.
Source: HCD letter of technical assistance to the City of Long Beach on its Special Group Residence Policy, July 29, 2025, accessed 2026-10-19.
Bulletin date
The online bulletin does not show an effective or revision date, so it is not confirmed which state law changes it reflects.
Source: Long Beach Planning ADU Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (“Accessory Dwelling Units Review and Approval per State ADU Law”), accessed 2026-10-19.
California state rules on file
The statewide baseline recorded from state law and the HCD ADU Handbook.
Detached size cap described in state law
1,200 sq ft. Recorded in this rules file 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. Recorded in this rules file 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, as recorded in this rules file 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, as recorded in this rules file 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. Recorded in this rules file 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. Recorded in this rules file 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. Recorded in this rules file 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. This rules file 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.
State baseline on the directory → · State ADU rules on the homepage →
Can I build an ADU in Long Beach?
State law sets a baseline for ADUs in Long Beach, and the local standards on file are 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 Long Beach Community Development Department (Planning Bureau and Building & Safety Bureau), or run a free address summary.
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