No. The ADU Standard Plan program includes pre-approved designs that are both meant to be built in place as well as designs that are prefabricated off-site.

No. The pre-approved standard plans are not free. These plans remain the intellectual property of the architects, engineers, designers or builders (design owner) who created them. Homeowners wishing to use these plans must contact the design owner to obtain access to and discuss any associated costs.

No. Each pre-approved plan is available for a fee determined by the architect or designer in consultation with the homeowner/client. Please see the link, ‘For further information on this standard plan click here.’ listed under each plan.

No. The participating architects and designers retain ownership of the designs.

The City of Los Angeles is making pre-approved standard plans available as an additional resource to help property owners rebuild more quickly following the January 2025 Wildfires.

These plans are not open-source; they remain the intellectual property of the architects, engineers, designers or builders who developed them.

The City’s role is to provide a streamlined permitting pathway by pre-reviewing these plans for building code compliance, thereby reducing plan check times.

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Below is a general list of items needed for the ADU Standard Plan review and approval:

• Floor plan – Show proposed work and room layout, door and window sizes and location.

• Building Elevations/Cross Sections – Exterior elevations for new construction, detailing all exterior walls, projections and cross sections in each direction.

• Foundation Plan – Show foundation size (width and depth), along with slab on grade thickness. For raised floor construction, show size and direction of floor joists.

• Roof Framing – Show roof rafters and ceiling joists’ size and direction.

• Energy Conservation – Energy calculations and Certificate of Compliance (CF1R). See energy.ca.gov/title24 for more information. Compliance documents shall be provided for all design orientations/directions.

• Green Code – material specifications, notes and details.

   

More detailed information can be found in our Document Submittal Requirement for a New Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standard Plan.

Yes

No, the LAMC does not permit deviations from development standards provided in LAMC 12.22 A.33 (Exceptions) because these provisions are already exceptions from the Code; however, an ADU may request the appropriate entitlement(s) to deviate from development standards provided in other sections of the Code that are not specifically defined in LAMC 12.22 A.33.

The ADU can be added on the second floor as long as the overall resulting building height is within 110% of the existing building height.

A homeowner can obtain a permit and do the construction, alteration or repair on his/her house and accessory buildings or facilities thereto, if the owner resides or will reside in the dwelling.

Read more on our "About the Construction Process" page.

Yes, the plans may be purchased directly from the plan owner.

Homeowners wishing to use a standard plan must coordinate directly with the plan author for access and to understand any associated costs. The City’s role is to provide a streamlined permitting pathway by pre-reviewing these plans for building code compliance, thereby reducing plan check times.

Members of the public may address the BBSC during the appropriate time scheduled on the agenda (usually at the end of the hearing); however, the BBSC will not take any action on an item that is not on the current agenda.

For General Approval – City of Los Angeles only:

Testing must be witnessed by an independent third party Testing Agency approved by the Los Angeles City, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). The Approved Testing Agency shall issue the test report. The Approved Testing Agency shall approve the testing facility where the testing occurs to meet the requirements as specified in Information Bulletin P/GI 2014-028, Rules and Regulations for Recognition of Testing Agencies.

For Research Reports based on an Evaluation Report from a nationally recognized model code agency:

Test reports shall come from a qualified testing agency approved by the Model Code Agency issuing the Evaluation Report. The approved testing agency shall take necessary steps to ensure that the integrity and condition of the test specimens are maintained and are not altered during periods when a laboratory representative is not present. Also, the manufacturer’s testing facility shall show to the satisfaction of the approved testing agency that it meets the requirements for an approved testing agency.

No. These pre-approved ADU Standard Plans are only for new, detached structures.

Please contact the individual jurisdiction to inquire whether they will accept a City of Los Angeles Pre-Approved Standard Plan.

No, these pre-approved ADU Standard Plans are only for new, detached structures.

Yes, the Lot may contain any other residential use(s), in addition to the non-residential uses and accessory residential uses mentioned in 12.22 A.33(c)(6)

For the purpose of this provision, in conjunction means when a building permit application to remove covered parking and a building permit application for the construction of an ADU on the  same Lot are submitted at the same time, or where one building permit application is submitted while the other building permit application or building permit is still open and valid.

The defined passageway and space between buildings regulation does not apply to the ADU or  any residential building on the same Lot during the approval or construction of an ADU, whether through a zoning review, building permit plan check or inspection.  In the event that new (non-ADU) structures or additions to structures are constructed on the site subsequent to the creation of the ADU, any applicable regulations pertaining to passageways or  space between buildings would apply to the new structure or addition, consistent with the Zoning Code standards in place at the time that the plan check fee for the structure or addition is paid in  accordance with LAMC 13B.10.1.B.2.

No, this provision applies if either additional dwelling units or guest rooms are added to a lot after the creation of the ADU or JADU.

A JADU shall be identified as a JADU on Building Permits, Certificate of Occupancy and other pertinent City records. The addition of a JADU changes the designation of the One-Family  Dwelling to a One-Family Dwelling and JADU. For purposes of any fire or life protection ordinance or regulation, a JADU shall not be considered a separate or new dwelling unit per GC 65852.22(d).  However, JADUs may be counted as housing units in reports to the Department of Finance as well as for the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and other housing unit reporting.

Yes

Los Angeles County Tax Assessor’s records may be used to establish the square footage of the single-family dwelling for the purpose of calculating the required impact fee for the ADU.