Frequently Asked Questions

In Los Angeles County, the number of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) you can build
depends on the zoning and property type. Here’s a general breakdown:
Single-Family Properties
One ADU + One Junior ADU (JADU) are allowed per lot.
ADU: Detached or attached, up to 1,200 sq. ft.
JADU: A conversion of existing space (like a garage), up to 500 sq. ft. inside the main home.
Multi-Family Properties
Converted ADUs: You can convert up to 25% of existing units (e.g., if you have a 4-unit
building, you can convert 1 unit into an ADU).
Detached ADUs: You can also add up to two detached ADUs on the lot.
Additional Considerations
ADUs must meet setback, height, and parking requirements (though parking is waived in
some areas).
In unincorporated LA County, local regulations may differ slightly from incorporated cities
like Los Angeles City.
Certain overlay zones and HOA restrictions may limit ADU construction.

Note that a JADU is only possible on a single family lot, as JADUs are not allowed on multifamily lots (which already typically allow two ADUs – check out city ADU regulations pages for rules by municipality).

Also note that, until December of 2023, the City of San Diego did permit a JADU to be attached to an ADU. They closed that option as part of the Housing Action Plan 2.0.

ADU Size & Building Constraints – Los Angeles County
1. Size Limits
• Detached ADUs: Up to 1,200 sq. ft., regardless of lot size.
• Attached ADUs: Limited to 50% of the primary dwelling’s size, max 1,200 sq. ft.
• Junior ADUs (JADUs): Max 500 sq. ft., must be within the existing home.
2. Height Restrictions
• Single-story ADU: Max 16 feet tall.
• Two-story ADU: Allowed up to 18 feet if near transit or located in specific zones.
3. Setbacks
• Front yard: Must comply with zoning requirements.
• Side & rear yards: 4 feet minimum setback required.
• Garage conversions: No setback required if using the existing footprint.
4. Parking Requirements
• No additional parking is required if the property is within ½ mile of public transit.
• Otherwise, 1 parking space per ADU may be required.
5. Lot Coverage & Open Space
• Some cities may have maximum lot coverage limits, especially for small lots.
• Open space requirements apply in multifamily zones.

1. Standard Setbacks (LA Municipal Code § 12.22.A.33)
• Side & Rear Yards: 4 feet minimum
• Front Yard: Must comply with zoning setback requirements for the main dwelling.
2. Garage Conversions
• No additional setbacks required if using the existing footprint (CA Gov. Code §
65852.2(e)(1)(A)).
3. Multifamily Properties (LA Municipal Code § 12.22.A.33(c))
• Detached ADUs: 4-foot side and rear setbacks apply.
• Converted ADUs (inside existing structures): No setback required.

Fire Separation (CRC § R302.1)
• Detached ADUs must be at least 10 feet from other structures unless fire-rated
construction is used.
Zoning Setbacks (LA County ADU Ordinance § 22.140.640)
• Side & Rear Setbacks: 4 feet minimum
• Attached ADUs: No separation required.
• Garage Conversions: No additional setback if within the existing footprint.

General Rule:
• Not allowed unless it meets standard front yard setbacks for the zoning district. (LA
County ADU Ordinance § 22.140.640.B.2)
Exception:
• If adhering to front setbacks prevents an 800 sq. ft. ADU, the setback may be reduced to
allow construction. (CA Gov. Code § 65852.2(c))
Instead of Additonal Requirementss, pelase ADD Have More Questions, Great We’re Happy To
Answer Them.

No, most of everything can be submitted electronically.

The cost would be around $120K for a standard garage conversion project of about 400 sqft. We no longer handle conversion work as we are focused on becoming extremely effective at building standalone ADUs.

We will give you a high-level estimate in our first phone call based on your description of the project and your site. If we determine your project is a fit, we issue a proposal that includes your expected price for each phase of the project, including design, sitework, and construction. If you do move forward with SnapADU, we finalize your ADU build price during our first step of Feasibility & Design so that you know the full cost of you ADU upfront; we absorb the risk of labor & material price fluctuations. Read our blog on ADU pricing to understand how we work hard to refine your budget so we minimize surprises over the entire process.

You can, but we typically don’t find clients can save a lot of money by doing so. We have trade agreements in place with suppliers, which help us provide our clients very competitive pricing on finish items – often at the same or better pricing than could be found elsewhere. Additionally, we have already screened materials to ensure the specifications will work together. However, if you want to provide your own finish materials, that is something we accommodate during the Selection process. You can either provide the items yourself, or work with our vendors to source custom materials.

Yes, we work with you and your lender to ensure you have the required plans, scope of work, and budget required to submit for loan documentation. If you don’t already have a lender, we are happy to put you in touch with some contacts and help you through that process.

• Accountability: Our singular focus on design-build ensures seamless project execution. We are entirely accountable, aligning with the commitments made during the feasibility study.
• Transparent Budgeting: Our approach centers around clear budgeting. We provide an unambiguous view of the complete costs right from the outset.
• Guaranteed Price: With SnapADU, you get a fixed build price. This ensures budget predictability with no surprises.
• Efficiency: Our in-house permitting team ensures that the project moves swiftly and efficiently, eliminating potential delays that can arise from multiple handoffs.
• Quality: A collaborative, unified team means that the end result will be of the highest standard.
• Cost Savings: A significant number of projects encounter cities that may misinterpret ADU regulations, leading to unnecessary costs. Our seasoned team is well-equipped to advocate for you, ensuring you aren’t paying more than you need to.

In a world where versatility is often praised, there’s still immense value in specialization. We have made a deliberate decision to focus solely on detached ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) design and build for several key reasons:

1. Expertise Through Specialization: By dedicating ourselves exclusively to detached ADUs, we’ve refined our skill set to become true experts in this niche area. This enables us to maintain the highest quality standards and keep up with the latest best practices, ensuring our clients receive nothing but the best. From initial planning and design to the final stages of construction, our in-house team collaborates seamlessly, ensuring a cohesive and efficient project flow.

2. External Elements Can Be Managed Post-Completion: While elements like landscaping, patios, or other auxiliary structures can enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of a property, they are not integral to the ADU construction process. These components can be executed after our work is done. We’ve found that many homeowners have preferred vendors for such tasks or may even choose to undertake some projects DIY-style. By allowing homeowners the flexibility to manage these elements separately, they often find opportunities for cost savings and personalized touches.

3. Home Additions and Remodels Present Unique Challenges: Working on additions or remodels is fundamentally different from constructing a detached ADU. Such projects require extensive coordination with existing structures and conditions, which can be unpredictable and may lead to extended timelines and unforeseen expenses. Our commitment to transparency, predictability, and excellence means we avoid venturing into areas that could compromise these values.

While there are countless avenues in the world of construction and design, we’ve found our passion and expertise in ADUs — and we’re committed to being the best in this space.

• 1-year Full-Service Warranty on all workmanship and materials we manage or procure, ensuring adherence to the NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines – Fifth Edition. This warranty covers defects not caused by normal wear and tear or homeowner neglect.
• 2-year Full MEP Warranty on all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, including solar/photovoltaic systems
• 10-year Structural Warranty against structural defects, contingent on our adherence to approved plans and specifications.

A soils report is an optional step in most jurisdictions. Declining a soils report means that no soils compaction testing will be performed by a Geotechnical Engineer, and the ADU will be built to the most stringent UBC design standards & thresholds. In such cases when a soils report is declined, SnapADU will not be responsible for issues stemming from insufficient soil conditions.

Cities must act on an application for an ADU within 60 days of receiving the application in cases where there is an existing single family dwelling on the lot. We are also seeing some cities enact “queues” for review, especially when they are facing staffing crunches like many industries are right now. We keep our clients updated on what to expect in their city.

In short, the answer is no. State laws passed in 2020 made obtaining a new ADU easier with “ministerial approval,” which refers to a streamlined permit process for development approval involving little or no personal judgment by the public official. The official’s “discretion” on whether to approve the permit has been eliminated, as well as factors such as design features and size. Thus, only the municipal code or state laws will be considered in the approval process. A plan must still be formally submitted to the city and reviewed to confirm the plans adhere to the state and local ADU laws, building code, etc.

Yes, when we discuss your project, one of the first steps is to assess the existing conditions of the property. We work with a provider that licenses a large data set that includes lot dimensions, land use, lot square footage, building square footage, zoning and more. This is cross-referenced with plot plan information and several different sources of satellite imagery to ensure accurate lot dimensions. When matched up with ADU regulations for your lot, this enables sufficient accuracy for us to position a chosen ADU floor plan on your site plan for the purposes of a Proposal.

When you decide to move forward, the first part of our project with you will be to verify all of our assumptions by going on-site to measure existing utilities, assess required upgrades, and ensure that the site assumptions we made were accurate. We will also refine your site plan, floor plan, elevations, and electrical plan based on all these inputs. You will review and sign off at this phase to lock in your pricing and authorize us to move on to your full set of construction docments for the city.

Read more about ADU address requirements.

Water service can be metered privately by means of a metering device that is located on the ADU. Upon request, SnapADU will provide the preparation to accept a metering device which can be connected to WiFi and monitored remotely on your smartphone or computer. We recommend this product as a WiFi enabled water meter. Learn more about water, gas, and sewer connections for your ADU.

When you build your new ADU, you may have to address permitting for any “illegal” or unpermitted ADUs on the property. The process is similar to bringing an illegal addition into compliance. It would require drawing a plan for the existing structure (typically $2000-3000), sending it to plan check at the city (planning, building, and fire), potentially conducting an exploratory phase where walls are opened up for inspection with the city (typically no more than $1000-2000 for opening walls and repairing them), addressing anything in the structure that is not within compliance (cost will of course depend on what’s going on with your structure), and paying for any permits (typically $1000). Any tenants in your existing ADU likely will not need to vacate during this process.