The City's ADU memo counts one junior ADU alongside permitted ADUs on a single-family Los Angeles lot. State law limits a junior ADU to 500 sq ft within the home, including an attached garage, and requires owner occupancy only when sanitation is shared.
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).
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City Planning's August 2025 ZA Memo 143 lists owner occupancy for a junior ADU. Government Code section 66333(b), amended effective January 2026, requires it when sanitation is shared and removes it when the junior ADU has separate sanitation facilities. Confirm how LADBS applies the current state text.
ZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.B; Gov. Code 66333(b)ZA Memo 143 says junior ADUs are exempt from the City's Park Fee and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. The state-law impact-fee fact above addresses the 500 sq ft junior ADU limit separately.
ZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.D| Type | Est. all-in cost | Est. rent |
|---|---|---|
| Junior ADU (inside the house) | $60,000-$110,000 | $1,500-$1,900/mo |
Estimates for a first conversation, not bids or appraisals. Source: LotUpside price book la-2026-10.
Ask the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) before you rely on these.
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Government Code section 66333(b) requires owner occupancy when the junior ADU shares sanitation with the home, but not when it has separate sanitation. The City's August 2025 ZA Memo 143 predates that 2026 state amendment, so confirm the City's current application with LADBS.
Government Code sections 66313(d) and 66333(d) place a junior ADU within the single-family residence and count an enclosed attached garage as part of it. Section 66333(e)-(f) also requires a separate entrance and an efficiency kitchen.
Government Code section 66333(c) requires a deed restriction barring a separate sale. Section 66333(g) requires any junior ADU rental to last longer than 30 days; LAMC 12.22 A.33(h)(3) also bars separate sale.
No. City Planning's ZA Memo 143, Section III.D, exempts junior ADUs from the City's Park Fee and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. Government Code section 66311.5(c)(1) separately protects a junior ADU of 500 sq ft or less from impact fees.
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.