What are the city of Lawndale ADU requirements?
Ike Mbelu, Principal Partner · Last checked
On this page: The short answer · What Lawndale's code sets · What state law guarantees
The short answer
-
§17.48.056
18 feet, four-foot setbacks, one space
Lawndale, in LA County, approves ADUs ministerially. A new ADU sits four feet off the side and rear lines and can rise 18 feet, two more than the state floor. It needs one parking space unless it is within half a mile's walk of transit. A junior ADU tops out at 500 square feet. Lawndale Municipal Code §17.48.056, §17.48.057.
Have a lot in LA County? Send us the address and we'll tell you what it holds.
What Lawndale's code sets
-
01
Height
Any ADU may reach 18 feet; one attached to a two-story house, 25 feet or the zone limit if lower. §17.48.056(C)(12), (D)(2)(c).
-
02
Size and setbacks
A new ADU needs four feet at the side and rear. A detached ADU with more than one bedroom is capped at 1,000 square feet. A junior ADU stays inside the house walls, up to 500 square feet, owner in residence. §17.48.056(C)(5), (C)(8); §17.48.057(A), (E).
-
03
Parking
One space per ADU. None within half a mile's walk of public transit, and a converted or demolished garage needn't be replaced. §17.48.056(C)(13)-(14).
-
04
Apartment lots
On a lot with an existing multifamily building, up to eight detached ADUs, plus conversions of unused space for up to 25 percent of the unit count. A lot with a proposed multifamily building gets two detached ADUs. §17.48.056(D)(3)-(4).
-
05
Design, placement, sale
The ADU must match the house in roof pitch, materials and paint. A front-yard ADU is a last resort. No rentals under 30 days, no separate sale. §17.48.056(C)(11), (C)(16), (C)(19).
What state law guarantees
-
01
A height floor
State law guarantees a detached ADU 16 feet, 18 near major transit. Lawndale allows 18 citywide. Gov. Code §66321(b)(4). More in two-story ADUs in LA County.
-
02
A size window
No city can cap a two-bedroom ADU below 1,000 square feet, and state law tops detached ADUs at 1,200. §66321(b)(2), §66314(d)(5).
-
03
Parking
Parking can't exceed one space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less. §66314(d)(10)(A). See the LA County ADU rules, the Lawndale Housing Opportunity Overlay and building in Lawndale.
This is a summary of the Lawndale Municipal Code and state law, not legal advice. Confirm the current code for your site.
Buy the site knowing what goes on it.
Office
14623 Hawthorne Bl #306
Lawndale, CA 90260
Region
South Bay and
greater Los Angeles