Is an ADU building permit required in Los Angeles?

Yes, ADU permits are necessary if you’re planning to remodel or convert your existing property into a livable space in Los Angeles. But, there are several things about the process that you should understand before starting the project.

One of the most important aspects among these is ADU permit cost and regulations regarding their construction. Particularly, when you’re planning to build an ADU in Los Angeles, such requirements become a major subject.

Nonetheless, hiring a licensed professional contractor can help you obtain all the necessary permits in Los Angeles. They’ll allow you to get started on your project sooner than you anticipated. Our general contractors of LUX Construction Group won’t only handle planning and designing, but also go over the cost to permit an ADU and rules revolving around the accessory dwelling unit.

So, let’s go through the Los Angeles ADU permit cost and its related regulations! The following guide will cover every aspect that affects the ADU permit cost. Take a look!

How Long Does it Take to Get an ADU Permit?

If you want to obtain an ADU permit for basement construction, garage conversion, or attached ADU or detached ADU, this process could take a long time to complete.

Since the state directives tell building departments to give priority to ADU applications, our professional contractors, at LUX Construction Group, have started submitting the plans to the building department with state approval. And, once the state law approves the plans, we’ll design, permit, and construct an ADU for you in 4-6 months.

It means the ADU construction permits take two weeks and ADUs usually take two to four months to complete. Whereas, a prefab ADU can often be built faster and ready for family or renters within 6 weeks.

Los Angeles ADU Permit Guidelines

Los Angeles county has different requirements for obtaining an ADU permit. In Los Angeles, the application that you fill out will require you to detail every aspect of the project that you intend to complete. This will include how the ADU project is going to be developed, when it’s going to take place, and where it will take place.

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You’ll also need to submit the plans and designs associated with your ADU unit along with your application. Upon receiving your application, these plans will be evaluated to determine if your ADU project complies with the Los Angeles ordinance.

You can read about the ADU building rules and regulations here.

Average Cost of ADU Permit in Los Angeles

An ADU permit is essential to ensuring that the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) you’re building on your property complies with zoning, building, and construction codes.

Before moving forward with a project that involves requriments for garage conversion ADU, building an addition to your house, or creating a backyard ADU, you should determine what the permit costs will be. Each project has a different cost to permit an ADU. The price of a permit depends on a number of factors, including:

  • The permit type that you require.
  • An estimate of the cost of construction.
  • Additional permits required for your project.
  • Addition of square footage to the property.
  • Inspection fees, and costs.

The total ADU permit cost in California is based upon the combined costs of architectural and structural plan designs, ADU Type, zoning permit fees, building permit fees, impact fees, and other miscellaneous fees and development taxes.

  • Structural and Architectural Design Fee

For an ADU permit, you’ll need to submit professional architectural design plans for your proposed ADU unit. The complete design fee will vary according to your project’s size and complexity.

The size of an ADU may vary from place to place. ADU size limit in Los Angeles can be upto 800 square feet, a 16-foot ceiling height, and a 4-feet setback distance. However, ADUs can be larger in certain places, with certain restrictions.

Here are the following things that a homeowner needs to submit in their design plan:

  • Architectural and Structural plans.
  • Engineering Plans (for wall, roof, and ceiling framing).
  • Title 24 Report (energy efficiency report).
  • Electrical Plan.
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The design fee could range from $5,000 to $20,000.

  • Plan Check & Final Permit Fee

In Los Angeles, if you’re planning to build affordable housing, you also have to pay a plan check fee and a final permit fee to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Both have individual costs. The plan check fee costs between $1,500 o $6,000 while the final permit may range from $1,000 to $15,000.

So, how much does an ADU permit cost?

In simple terms, we can say that the average ADU permit cost range between $6,000 – $20,000 or more, based on the design fee, plan check fee, and permit fee. This cost will vary from project to project, Depending on the amount of construction and the added square footage your project adds to the property, And, once you have your permit, the construction can begin on your space.

To ask in more detail about Los Angeles ADU permit cost, feel free to reach us at (424) 248-5090. Our representative will guide you through and give a proper plan and estimated cost of the ADU permit and construction.

Additional Fees That Affect ADU Permit Cost in Los Angeles

As we discussed above, the complete ADU permit cost in Los Angeles depends upon several factors, including zoning permit fees, building permit fees, and impact fees. Here are the average fees that you need to obtain your ADU permit.

  • Zoning Permit Fees

The zoning permit fee for ADU in Los Angeles usually lies between $30-$500 for a simple approval and up to $4,000 for a complex approval. However, it’s sometimes not necessary to obtain a separate zoning permit, and its costs are added to the building permit fees.

  • Building Permit Fees

If you need electrical, mechanical, and plumbing utilities in addition to designing plans for each, you’ll require a building permit. The cost of a building permit depends greatly on how much square footage is being added. Either this fee can be fixed or included in the zoning permit fee for the proposed dwelling.

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The average cost of a building permit is around $450 to $2,500 for a low-end permit and between $4,500 and $15,000 for a high-end permit.

  • Impact Fees

If you plan on constructing an ADU between 500 and 750 square feet, you will probably have to pay fees to connect to sewer and water systems, as well as impact fees.

Water and sewer fees can cost up to $2,500, while impact fees can range from $3 to $4 per square foot for a finished building. Besides the fees mentioned above, traffic impact fees may also be imposed if your ADU exceeds 750 square feet.

For dwelling units smaller than 500 square feet, the building department may exempt impact and other fees.

Choose a Reputable Construction Company!

It’s difficult to predict the exact permit costs in Los Angeles since every ADU and junior ADU is unique and tailored to the homeowner’s needs and aesthetic tastes. The combination of confusing costs, restricted regulations, and lengthy permitting processes can cause stress and frustration during your ADU project.

That’s why it’s essential to hire an experienced and reliable construction firm, like LUX Construction Group to manage permits, zoning, planning, designing, and construction, including Los Angeles ordinances for you.

Other than this, our adu contractors in Los Angeles offer a diversified set of services that could be customized to your needs and requirements. From Planning to Architecture to Urgent Care, Medical Clinic Remodeling, Dental Office Construction & Soft Story, and Seismic Retrofit Construction in Los Angeles, we’re experts in these.

Have any further questions? Contact us today at (424) 248-5090 and successfully construct your ADU as quickly as possible!