Culver City's PRADU (Pre-Approved ADU) program combines three architectural styles with three floor plans (~468 sq ft studio to ~806 sq ft 2BR), and accepts AB 1332 third-party plan submissions for citywide reuse.
Full ADU definition in zoning code. JADUs ≤500 sq ft within single-family envelope may share sanitation. PRADU catalog: ~468 sq ft studio, ~637 sq ft 1BR, ~806 sq ft 2BR.
State guarantee: California requires every city to allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU exempt from local lot coverage, FAR, and front-setback rules.
Height baseline: 16 ft for detached, rising to 18 ft within ½ mile of major transit. Attached ADUs follow the primary home, capped at 25 ft.
Follow current zoning and state standards. Confirm with Planning (310-253-5710).
PRADU program allows third parties to submit plans for pre-approval (AB 1332). Building Safety permit via Culver City Permit Portal. PRADU applies to new construction.
State backstop: A complete ADU permit must receive a decision in 60 business days. If the city stalls past 30 business days, AB 253 lets you hire a certified private plan checker to force a 10-business-day decision.
City PRADU materials note that standard plan-check and development impact fees still apply even with pre-approved designs.
SB 543: No impact fees on ADUs ≤750 sq ft. Above 750 sq ft, fees scale to the ratio of ADU size vs the main home.
Visit the official Culver City ADU page (link in hero) for current eligibility and downloads.
Standard ADUs in Culver City: no owner-occupancy required (made permanent in 2023).
JADUs: limited to 500 sq ft of interior livable space within an existing single-family home. Owner occupancy is required only when sanitation facilities are shared with the main house. JADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals (AB 1154 / SB 543).
Sketch a floorplan, walk through it in 3D, and have our planners review it for size, height, and setback compliance before you submit to Culver City.
Heads up: Local rules change frequently. This page summarizes publicly available state law (California Government Code §§ 66310–66342) and current local guidance for general planning purposes. Always confirm specifics with the Culver City planning desk before submitting plans. ADUMetrics does not provide legal advice.