What is the difference between an ADU and a JADU in Los Angeles?
Ike Mbelu, Principal Partner · Last checked
On this page: The short answer · What state law says · What it means in each city
The short answer
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Gov. Code §66313
A second home, or a suite inside the first
An ADU is a full second home, up to 1,200 square feet detached. A JADU is a unit of up to 500 square feet carved from inside the existing house. On a single-family lot in Los Angeles County you may build one of each. Gov. Code §66313(d); §66314(d)(5); §66323(a)(1).
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What state law says
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01
The JADU stays inside the walls
A JADU is no more than 500 square feet of interior livable space, entirely within a single-family house. An attached garage counts as part of the house. §66313(d); §66333(d).
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02
JADUs are single-family only
One JADU per single-family lot. ADUs also go on multifamily lots, up to eight detached on an existing building, capped at its unit count. §66333(a); §66323(a)(4)(A)(ii).
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03
The bathroom decides owner occupancy
A JADU may share the house's bathroom or have its own. If it shares, the owner must live in the house or the JADU. With its own bathroom, no owner occupancy. §66313(d); §66333(b), as amended effective January 1, 2026.
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04
Efficiency kitchen, no added parking
A JADU needs an efficiency kitchen, and the city cannot require additional parking for it. §66333(f); §66334(a).
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05
Rent either, sell neither
Neither unit sells apart from the house; a JADU carries a recorded deed restriction saying so. Rentals run longer than 30 days. §66314(d)(1); §66333(c)(1), (g).
What it means in each city
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Hawthorne
Up to three units beside the house
One attached ADU, one detached ADU and one 500 square foot JADU per single-family lot. HMC 17.24b.040, 17.24b.050. See Hawthorne ADU rules.
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Gardena
Owner rule tied to the bathroom
A recorded restriction caps the JADU at 500 square feet, and owner occupancy applies only when it shares sanitation. GMC 18.13.070.H.2, H.4. See Gardena ADU ordinance.
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Redondo Beach
Both approved without a hearing
ADU and JADU permits are ministerial, and the JADU tops out at 500 square feet of living area. RBMC 10-2.1506(a)(1), (b)(2)(e). See Redondo Beach ADU requirements.
County-wide ADU size and height: ADU requirements in Los Angeles County. Converting a garage? garage conversion ADUs in Los Angeles.
This is a summary of California law and city codes, not legal advice. Confirm the current code for your site.
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