ADU fees in Los Angeles

Short answer

Current state law exempts a Los Angeles ADU of 750 sq ft or less from impact fees and limits any impact fee on a larger unit to a proportional amount. City Planning's memo exempts ADUs and junior ADUs from Park and Affordable Housing Linkage fees. LAUSD lists a published school rate for ADUs over 500 sq ft.

Last verified 2026-10-18. Rules change; the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) has the final word (311 or (213) 473-3231).

Check your lot · free

What the Los Angeles rules allow on your lot: setbacks, the biggest unit that fits, fees.

Free. No credit card required. The City of Sacramento, the City of San Jose, unincorporated Sacramento County, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Citrus Heights, the City of Elk Grove, the City of Folsom, the City of Rancho Cordova, the City of San Diego and the City of El Monte for now; other areas get a partial check.

Design your ADU · free

Shape it in live 3D: size, rooms, roof and finishes, with an estimate priced for Los Angeles.

Start designing

The rules

City impact feesState law
None at 750 sq ft or lessGov. Code 66311.5(c)(1)
School fees (LAUSD)Local rule
Due on ADUs over 500 sq ftZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.D
LAUSD school fee rate, from Aug. 11, 2026Local rule
$5.38 per sq ftPublished rate, not a quote for your project: an estimate until the agency confirms it.LAUSD Impact Fee Program, rates effective Aug. 11, 2026
State impact-fee threshold for an ADUState law
No impact fee at 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less; a larger ADU is charged proportionately to the main homeGov. Code 66311.5(c)(1)
State school-fee area thresholdState law
An ADU or junior ADU under 500 sq ft is treated as not adding 500 sq ft of assessable space under Education Code 17620Gov. Code 66311.5(c)(3); Education Code 17620
State impact fee for a junior ADUState law
No impact fee at 500 sq ft of interior livable space or lessGov. Code 66311.5(c)(1)
City Park Fee and Affordable Housing Linkage FeeLocal rule
Neither applies to ADUs or junior ADUsZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.D (LAMC 12.33 and 19.18)
City impact fees named in the ADU memoLocal rule
Residential Development Fee and Dwelling Unit Construction TaxZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.D (LAMC 21.13.3 and 21.10.3)

What to know in City of Los Angeles

The City names specific waived and size-based fees

City Planning's ZA Memo 143 exempts ADUs and junior ADUs from Park Fees and the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. It names the Residential Development Fee and Dwelling Unit Construction Tax among impact fees affected by ADU size. Its older under-750 wording predates the current state-law threshold shown above.

ZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.D

LAUSD's rate is a district rate

LAUSD's Impact Fee Program lists the residential rate shown above, effective August 11, 2026. The City's memo says LAUSD school fees apply to ADUs larger than 500 sq ft. Confirm the lot's district before using that published rate for a fee estimate.

LAUSD Impact Fee Program, Current Impact Fee Rates

What we couldn't confirm

  • We could not confirm LADBS permit and plan-check dollar totals or whether every Los Angeles City lot is in LAUSD.

Ask the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) before you rely on these.

Check your lot free

Our free check reads your lot against the Los Angeles rules above from public records: a screening, not a permit or professional advice.

Free. No credit card required. The City of Sacramento, the City of San Jose, unincorporated Sacramento County, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Citrus Heights, the City of Elk Grove, the City of Folsom, the City of Rancho Cordova, the City of San Diego and the City of El Monte for now; other areas get a partial check.

Or design your Los Angeles ADU in 3D, free.

Floor plans to start from

Measured ADU layouts you can edit and download as CAD files, then check against the Los Angeles rules above.

Ready to build in Los Angeles?

We'll match you with a licensed designer and builder in your area and coordinate the project. Free consult, no obligation.

Want to build it?

We'll match you with a licensed designer and builder in your area and coordinate the project. Free consult, no obligation.

Licensed partner designers and builders do the design and construction, and the builder holds the construction contract. Partners are signed in some areas so far; elsewhere we'll tell you plainly what we can do.

City of Los Angeles ADU fee questions

Does an ADU of exactly 750 sq ft owe a Los Angeles impact fee?

Government Code section 66311.5(c)(1) exempts an ADU with 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less. City Planning's ZA Memo 143 uses older under-750 wording, so use the current state threshold and confirm the City's bill.

Which Los Angeles City fees are waived for ADUs?

City Planning's ZA Memo 143, Section III.D, exempts ADUs and junior ADUs from Park Fees and the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. It names the Residential Development Fee and Dwelling Unit Construction Tax as separate impact fees affected by size.

What LAUSD school fee might apply to my ADU?

City Planning's ZA Memo 143 says LAUSD school fees apply to ADUs larger than 500 sq ft. The LAUSD Impact Fee Program publishes the residential rate shown above; use it for a fee estimate only after confirming the school district serving the address.

Is this a permit, or a plan I can build from?

Neither. It is a screening from public records, not professional advice, and not a survey, soils report, appraisal, loan offer or permit; every number is an estimate. A licensed designer confirms the final plan, and your city or county gives final approval.

More about ADUs in Los Angeles

Fees in other areas

Send us feedback

Something confusing, broken or missing? Tell us.