How do ADU permits work in Los Angeles?

Yes. Every ADU in the City of Los Angeles needs a building permit from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). The city regulates ADUs under Municipal Code Section 12.22 A.33, adopted as Ordinance 186,481 and in effect since December 19, 2019, alongside California's state ADU law.

State law requires the city to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days. If the city does not act in that time, the application is deemed approved. In practice, our own submissions to LADBS are approved in about 6 weeks, because we design to the code from day one.

It is a catalog of ADU designs that LADBS has pre-approved against the building, residential and green codes. When a project uses a standard plan, reviewers only check what is specific to the property, such as zoning and foundations. Plan check is shorter and permits are issued more quickly.

Yes. Under the city ordinance, lots located in both a Hillside Area and a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone must meet additional conditions, such as fire sprinklers, an on-site parking space and a street at least 20 feet wide. We check the zoning that applies to your lot during the site assessment.

Often, yes. State law limits a city's ability to deny a permit for an unpermitted ADU built before January 1, 2020, and LADBS publishes a streamlined process for these units. Corrections needed for health and safety can still be required, so each unit has to be inspected first.

We do. Siboni Development & Design manages the entire city permit process as part of every project. It is one of the five steps covered by a single contract, with one point of contact from the first site visit to the final inspection.