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 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342, permits through LADBS. Some of the south Valley’s largest flats lots (no RFA district, no HPOZ), with Hillside/VHFHSZ rules south of Ventura Blvd. Premium rental demand at the 405/101 crossroads; two-story friendly on the flats.

City of LA neighborhood — LAMC § 12.22.A.33 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342, permits through LADBS. Two local layers: the Studio City RFA District (base 0.33 FAR on R1/RE flats, Ord. No. 182,048) and Hillside/VHFHSZ rules south of Ventura Blvd. High land values, premium rental demand from the studios, two-story friendly on the flats.

City of LA neighborhood — LAMC § 12.22.A.33 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342, permits through LADBS. The corridor’s rare combination: estate-scale lots on largely flat ground (Amestoy Estates, Royal Oaks) with a decades-old guest-house tradition; no RFA district, no HPOZ; Hillside/VHFHSZ rules toward Mulholland.

City of LA neighborhood — LAMC § 12.22.A.33 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342, permits through LADBS. Deep ranch-era parcels south of Ventura Blvd take a full-size detached ADU without losing usable yard; no RFA district, no HPOZ; Hillside/VHFHSZ rules in the canyons. Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana anchors rental demand.

City of LA neighborhood — LAMC § 12.22.A.33 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342, permits through LADBS. The Valley’s biggest backyards: quarter-acre ranch lots, no RFA district, no HPOZ, with Hillside/VHFHSZ rules in the canyons south of Ventura Blvd. Completed CALI ADU project in the neighborhood; Warner Center rental demand.

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 ordinance (GMC § 30.34.080) on top of Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342. Dense single-family neighborhoods, hillside and Verdugo-foothill rules, and strong rental demand near the Brand corridor and the Americana.

Independent San Gabriel Valley city with its own ADU ordinance (AMC § 23.22) plus Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342. Dense, established single-family “City of Homes” with strong SFR values under the San Gabriel Mountains.

Independent city whose current ADU ordinance (WMC § 18.10.020) already mirrors the Gov. Code § 66323 unit stack. Established single-family neighborhoods plus four historic districts where a Certificate of Appropriateness runs alongside the ministerial ADU permit.

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).

Independent South Bay coastal city governed by RBMC § 10-2.1506 (Ord. 3264-23) on top of Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342. Larger lots than the other Beach Cities make for a strong family-ADU market; California Coastal Zone permits apply to waterfront and South Redondo properties. Detached ADUs capped at 16 ft — a single-story Signature Home market.

Large independent South Bay city with its own ADU ordinance on top of Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342. Diverse housing stock — Old Torrance bungalows and mid-century tracts — with family-friendly ADU economics.

Rising market beside SoFi Stadium, the Intuit Dome, and the Metro K Line (IMC § 12-149 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342). Many lots sit within ½ mile of transit, unlocking the 18-ft height bonus and parking exemptions; where the 2023 ordinance lags, state law controls.

Premium coastal-hillside city on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (RPVMC Chapter 17.10 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342). Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone areas where fire-code access and sprinkler rules survive ADU-statute preemption; ocean-view lots and strong values.

Gateway Cities market with flat, regular single-family lots and accessible price points (Downey Municipal Code + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342). Strong family-ADU and rental economics in the I-5 / I-605 corridor.

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

Post-war planned community next to Long Beach (LMC § 9302.21a + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342). A rare 35-ft / two-story ADU height allowance makes detached two-story Signature Homes buildable where neighboring Gateway Cities cap at 16 ft.

Transit-rich South Bay aerospace hub by the Metro K Line and SpaceX (HMC § 17.21 + Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342). HCD flagged the city’s 2020 ordinance as outdated in Dec. 2025, so state law controls where the local text lags; many lots sit within ½ mile of transit, unlocking the 18-ft height bonus and a parking exemption. One-story detached market with a city-run pre-approved ADU plans program.