Long Beach reports the highest per-capita ADU production in California. The city currently applies state ADU law directly while a local ordinance is in development, and runs a Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU) for new construction.
Substantive numeric limits per current state law and the HCD ADU Handbook as referenced on the ADU hub.
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.
ADU/JADU parking standards per state and HCD handbook. SB 9 projects reference the city's "parking exempt areas" map.
Planning Bureau first, then building permits via the Permit Center — in-person submittal (USB PDF). Appointments at longbeach.gov/permitcenter. Combined Planning + Engineering review typically 4–6 weeks. Some projects OTC-eligible (excludes historic, coastal, and major structural engineering).
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.
Plan-check fees due at intake per Permit Center instructions.
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 Long Beach ADU page (link in hero) for current eligibility and downloads.
Standard ADUs in Long Beach: 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 Long Beach.
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 Long Beach planning desk before submitting plans. ADUMetrics does not provide legal advice.