Your Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU)—also known as a granny flat or backyard home—is a secondary residential unit on a property with a proposed or existing home. Recent revisions to California State law have made ADUs easier and more affordable to build.
For questions about how to build an ADU or apply for an ADU permit, please visit the ADU page on the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety website.
Types of ADUS
A converted former garage.
A converted area of the primary home, with its own kitchen and bathroom.
A new independent structure, separated from the primary home and often placed in the backyard.
A new unit that shares at least one wall with the garage. Units can be built above the garage.
A unit that shares at least one wall with the primary home.
An ADU of no more than 500 square feet that can be built within a proposed or existing single-family home or accessory structure.