What does California ADU law allow on a Los Angeles County lot?
Ike Mbelu, Principal Partner · Last checked
On this page: The short answer · What the state law locks in · Each city
The short answer
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§66314
A floor no city can go under
California ADU law, Government Code §§66314 to 66342, sets the floor in every Los Angeles County city. A single-family lot can add an ADU, a junior ADU and a new detached ADU. No owner has to live on site, and no local rule may block an 800 square foot ADU with four-foot setbacks. §§66315, 66321, 66323.
Have a lot in LA County? Send us the address and we'll tell you what it holds.
What the state law locks in
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01
Ministerial approval only
A city's ADU ordinance may use only ministerial approval, with no discretionary process. §66316.
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02
A noncompliant ordinance drops away
An ordinance that fails the state article is null and void; the city applies state standards until it adopts one that complies. With no ordinance, approval is still ministerial. §§66316, 66320.
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03
No owner on site
On a single-family lot, no owner-occupancy rule. A city may require rentals of 30 days or longer. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom is different; see ADU vs JADU. §66315.
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04
800 square feet survives
Lot coverage, FAR, open space, front setback and minimum lot size cannot stop an 800 sf ADU with four-foot side and rear setbacks. §66321(b)(3).
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05
Size and height floors
No minimum size that bars an efficiency unit. No maximum under 850 sf, or 1,000 sf with more than one bedroom. Detached height of at least 16 ft. Full numbers: ADU requirements in LA County. §66321(b).
What it means in each city
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01
Carson
Ministerial, no public hearing. No standard may cut an ADU below 800 sf. CMC §9122.1.C.1, E.4.d.
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02
Gardena
One new detached ADU up to 800 sf with four-foot side and rear setbacks on a single-family lot. GMC §18.13.060.A.2.
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03
Hawthorne
An ADU of at least 800 sf may exceed lot coverage when it meets the other standards. HMC §17.24b.050.
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04
Redondo Beach
The streamlined detached ADU: four feet from side and rear lines, up to 800 sf of living area. RBMC §10-2.1506(b)(3)(e).
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05
Torrance
State law governs any conflict. One detached ADU up to 800 sf per lot. TMC §92.2.10(A), (G)(1)(B).
This is a summary of state law, not legal advice. Check the current statute and your city's or the County's ADU ordinance for your site.
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