Where we build.
Every neighborhood in LA has its own rules. We know them.

Independent city with its own ADU ordinance. Completed 1-story and 2-story projects.

Independent city with SMMC § 9.31.025 ordinance. Coastal Zone CDP required west of Lincoln. Zero city development fees for ADUs.

Independent city with BHMC Article 50 ordinance (last amended Dec 2024). Three geographic zones with different size and height caps. Unique Incentive ADU program allows a third unit on lots ≥ 13,000 sqft.

Coastal Zone + tight lots — a premier two-story ADU market.

Standard LA city rules. Large lots east of the 405.

Strong ADU demand, mostly single-family lots in the 5,000–7,500 sqft range.

Dense, walkable, and short-commute — high rental demand.

Coastal Zone rules and some Airport Influence Area considerations.

Large single-family lots south of Wilshire.

Large lots, family-oriented. Strong property-value ADU case.

City of LA ADU rules overview — LAMC § 12.22.A.33, LADBS ministerial review, hillside and VHFHSZ overlays, HPOZ design-review zones. The head-term page covering every City of LA neighborhood below.

City of LA neighborhood — LAMC § 12.22.A.33 applies; Historic Preservation Overlay Zones on some streets trigger design review.

City of LA neighborhood — hillside lots are common; check for HPOZ and hillside regulations.

Large lots and strong rental market.

Mixed zoning and strong transit proximity. ADU parking exemptions often apply.

Completed project on file. Historic district overlays on certain blocks.

Completed garage conversion on file. Excellent ADU fundamentals.

Completed shed-roof ADU on file. Deep lots, strong community demand.

HPOZ applies in much of the neighborhood — design review required.

Standard LA city rules. Good rental demand near Metro stations.

Primarily multifamily — converted-unit ADU rules in play.

City of LA neighborhood — LAMC § 12.22.A.33 applies. Large SFV lots, strong rental market.

City of LA neighborhood — high land values with strong comps for fully permitted ADUs.

Large hillside and flat lots. Strong family-ADU market.

Deep lots that accommodate detached ADUs without losing usable yard.

Completed pool-house ADU on file. Large lots, premium finishes.

Completed modern guest-house project on file.

Completed 1,200-sqft craftsman ADU on file.

Standard LA city rules. Strong multifamily ADU opportunity.

Transit proximity (Metro B Line) unlocks parking waivers.

Premium SFV neighborhood with large lots.

Independent city governing Valencia, Saugus, Newhall, and Canyon Country under SCMC § 17.57.040 plus Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342. 1-story detached ADU market by default (16-ft cap), with a 25-ft / 2-story envelope available for attached ADUs. Two SCV-specific layers: High Fire Hazard Severity Zone fire-apparatus access rule (must front a highway or have two non-overlapping access ways) and the heritage oak ordinance (Urban Forestry clearance for parcels with mature oaks).

Master-planned community within Santa Clarita — large lots (6,000–9,000+ sqft), Mediterranean Revival and California Ranch architecture, strong rental demand from Princess Cruises HQ and Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

Established Santa Clarita neighborhood with mature streets and deeper lots — clean fit for the Lincoln (1,000 sqft, 3 BR) at the city cap.

Older SCV neighborhood centered on Old Town Newhall historic district — Bungalow and Spanish Revival housing stock, generally smaller lots than Valencia and Saugus.

Eastern Santa Clarita with foothill and canyon parcels — High Fire Hazard Severity Zone overlay common, fire-apparatus access requirement applies.

Unincorporated LA County adjacent to Santa Clarita — falls under LA County (not the City) ADU rules. Premium master-planned homes with strong rental fundamentals.

Independent city with its own ADU ordinance (PMC § 17.50.275, Ord. No. 7420) backstopped by the Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 state-law floor. Landmark and Historic Districts require visibility-from-street review. City also runs a $225K rent-voucher ADU construction loan program.

Independent city with SPMC § 36.350.200 ordinance. Strong historic-property limits (1-story, 16 ft on landmarks) and a High Risk Fire Area south of Monterey Road. ADU Amnesty Program available for legalizing existing unpermitted units.

Independent city with its own ADU rules. High demand near Brand corridor.

Independent city with its own ADU ordinance (BMC § 10-1-620, Ord. No. 23-4,002) on top of Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342. 1-story detached ADU market by default (17-ft height cap), with an above-garage path to two-story for deep lots. Strong long-term rental demand from Disney, Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, and Providence Saint Joseph.

Homeowner testimonial on file. City of LA rules.

Standard LA city rules; HPOZ applies in parts of the neighborhood.

Standard LA city rules. Compact lots, two-story ADU friendly.

City administers ADUs directly under California state law (Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342) — no local ordinance restrictions on top of the state floor. Coastal Zone CDP required south of 7th Street; historic-district Certificate of Appropriateness required for properties in landmark districts. AB 1033 separate-sale opt-in status pending.

Premium coastal market governed by MBMC Chapter 10.74 (codified through Ord. 25-0004, May 2025) layered with California Coastal Zone rules. Most of the city (Sand Section, Hill Section, El Porto, most of Tree Section) is in the Coastal Zone, where state ADU law applies directly under a Coastal Development Permit. Detached ADUs capped at 16 ft — single-story Signature Home market with attached-ADU options at 25 ft.

Compact coastal market governed by HBMC Chapter 17.21 (codified through Ord. 26-1498, April 2026). One of the most current ADU ordinances in the South Bay — AB 1154 already codified, clean Class 1 vs Class 2 split. Detached ADUs capped at 16 ft with no above-garage exception. Strict architectural conformance for Class 2 ADUs. Most of city is in Coastal Zone (CDP required).

Larger lots than the other Beach Cities — strong family-ADU market with diverse architectural styles.

Large city with diverse housing stock — older bungalow neighborhoods, mid-century tracts, and family-friendly ADU economics.

Small premium market with mature single-family blocks — proximity to LAX and the tech corridor drives strong rental demand.

Adjacent to Long Beach with similar post-war single-family stock — accessible price points and family-oriented neighborhoods.