Los Angeles County

Unincorporated Los Angeles County ADU rules

Research summary of local ADU rules on file for Unincorporated Los Angeles County in Los Angeles County. Not a determination for a specific lot.

Last checked October 20, 2026.

Showing California state rules because Los Angeles County's local rules may conflict with state law or are being challenged

The size, setback, height, and parking figures are California state rules. The Los Angeles County section lists the local details we have on file, like plans, forms, and contacts.

Where a Los Angeles County rule may conflict with state law or is being challenged, we show the California state rule instead. This covers the County's ADU ordinance (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), which the state housing department (HCD) said in a December 1, 2025 letter does not match state ADU law on six points, including the limit on detached ADUs on multifamily lots.

A local rule change is pending. The County is drafting an ADU ordinance update. It has not been adopted yet. We'll add the new local rules after they take effect and we've reviewed them.

City or county ADU page

Unincorporated Los Angeles County ADU page

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Unincorporated Los Angeles County 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.

Local code
County ADU rules are in Title 22, Section 22.140.640, last amended by Ordinance 2025-0029 (2025). It cites the current Government Code chapter for ADUs (Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7) and says that where it conflicts with state ADU law, state law controls.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.A and L; history note, accessed 2026-10-19.

Coastal Zone
In the Coastal Zone, ADUs and JADUs follow the applicable Local Coastal Program instead of these rules.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.B, accessed 2026-10-19.

Use limits
An ADU or JADU cannot be sold separately from the main home except as provided in Government Code 66341.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.F, accessed 2026-10-19.

Existing nonconforming conditions
An ADU or JADU cannot be conditioned on fixing existing nonconforming zoning conditions, as long as the lot is in a zone that allows homes.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.K, accessed 2026-10-19.

Old owner-occupancy covenants
The County releases its interest in any recorded covenant that required owner-occupancy of the home or ADU in perpetuity.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.I, accessed 2026-10-19.

How to apply
Submit a “DRP – Base Application – Permits and Reviews” online through EPIC-LA. The County decides within 60 days of a complete application (including fees), unless extended by agreement or filed with a new home. Any required discretionary permit, such as an Oak Tree Permit, comes first. The County advises consulting Southern California Edison first if overhead power lines or access easements are near the property.
Source: LA County Planning ADU and JADU ordinance summary (revised April 29, 2026), How do I apply; What else do I need to know, accessed 2026-10-19.

Unpermitted ADUs built before 2020
Unpermitted ADUs and JADUs built before January 1, 2020 can be legalized under AB 2533. They do not count toward the number of ADUs allowed, and there is no limit on how many qualifying units can be legalized. Public Works has published manuals for this process.
Source: LA County Planning ADU and JADU ordinance summary (revised April 29, 2026), ADU amnesty program, accessed 2026-10-19.

County Catalog of standard plans
LA County offers free standard ADU plans that County Planning and Public Works Building & Safety have reviewed: Plan A (1,200 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath), Plan B (1,200 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath) and Plan C (800 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 1 bath). You still need a site plan for your lot and an EPIC-LA application that names the plan.
Source: LA County Planning Standard ADU Plans Program - County Catalog, accessed 2026-10-19.

HCD review of the County's ordinance
In a December 1, 2025 letter, HCD found Ordinance 2025-0029 out of compliance on six points, including not listing ADUs allowed under Government Code 66314, the cap of two detached ADUs on existing multifamily lots (state law allows up to eight), the missing 25 ft attached ADU height allowance in districts and specific plans, front setback siting language, and the subjective “character-defining features” standard. The County's response was due December 31, 2025. In 2023 HCD also told the County it had not shown support for the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone access rule.
Source: HCD review of Los Angeles County ADU Ordinance 2025-0029, December 1, 2025, accessed 2026-10-19.

Rental term
Not confirmed: Ordinance 2025-0029's use-restrictions subsection states the separate-sale limit and then an ellipsis, and it does not state a 30-day rental minimum. Check with LA County Planning before relying on a rental-term limit.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.F, accessed 2026-10-19.

JADU owner-occupancy
Not confirmed how the County applies this today: Title 22 requires a recorded covenant and owner-occupancy for every JADU and bars JADUs on lots owned by a corporate entity. Since January 1, 2026, Government Code 66333(b) (as amended by AB 1154) requires owner-occupancy only when the JADU shares sanitation facilities with the home. Title 22 says state law controls where they conflict. Check with LA County Planning.
Source: Los Angeles County Ordinance 2025-0029 (Title 22, Section 22.140.640), 22.140.640.H.2.e-f and L, accessed 2026-10-19.

Pending County ADU amendment
A 2026 ADU Ordinance Amendment is in a draft evaluation phase (updated July 2026). No public hearings have been scheduled and the drafts do not carry the force of law, so the rules above remain in effect for now.
Source: LA County Planning 2026 ADU Ordinance Amendment page, 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 Unincorporated Los Angeles County?

State law sets a baseline for ADUs in Unincorporated Los Angeles County, 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 Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning (LA County Planning), or run a free address summary.

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