Yes. Every ADU in California, including a garage conversion or a junior ADU inside your home, needs a building permit from your city or county. As of October 2026, state law requires a qualifying ADU to be approved ministerially, with no public hearing, and puts deadlines on how long the city can take to review it.
Can the city say no to my ADU?
Only for objective reasons. As of October 2026, ADUs and JADUs that meet the rules must be approved or denied ministerially, without discretionary review or a hearing. The city checks your plans against state ADU law, its own objective standards and the building code. Neighbors do not get a vote.
How long does the city have to review an ADU permit?
As of October 2026, state law sets these limits:
- 15 business days to tell you whether the application is complete. If the city misses that deadline, the application is deemed complete.
- 60 days from a complete application to approve or deny it, when a home already exists on the lot.
- A denial must come with a full list of defects and how to fix them.
- Delays you request pause the 60-day clock, and a resubmittal restarts it.
In practice, permitting often takes longer than 60 days from first submittal, because plans go through rounds of corrections. See how long it takes to build an ADU.
Who issues ADU permits in the Los Angeles area?
- City of Los Angeles: the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), with zoning from Los Angeles City Planning.
- Pasadena: Planning & Community Development, through the Permit Center. Details.
- Glendale: Planning clearance, then a building permit, on the GlendalePermits portal. Details.
- Burbank: the Building and Planning Divisions of Community Development. Details.
- Culver City: the Planning Division and Building Safety Division. Details.
- Unincorporated areas: Los Angeles County.
What do I need to apply for an ADU permit?
Requirements vary by city, but a typical ADU submittal includes a site plan, floor plan, elevations, roof plan and sections, structural calculations, and California Energy Code (Title 24) documents. Some cities ask for a photo survey of the site, and hillside lots can need a soils report. Utility clearances may also be required. We prepare and file all of it.
Does a pre-approved ADU plan still need a permit?
Yes. Pre-approved or standard plans, like those offered by LADBS, Pasadena, Burbank and Culver City, have already been checked for building code compliance. You still apply for a permit, and the city still reviews site-specific items such as zoning, setbacks, utilities and the foundation.
What if I already have an unpermitted ADU?
You may be able to legalize it. As of October 2026, for an unpermitted ADU built before January 1, 2020, state law says a city cannot deny a permit just because the unit violates building standards or ADU rules. The exceptions are when fixing the violation is needed to protect health and safety, or when the building is substandard under state housing law. It depends on the unit's condition, so it starts with an inspection.
What happens after the permit is issued?
Construction is inspected in stages by the city, from foundation to final. At the end, the ADU needs final sign-off before anyone can live in it. Read our step-by-step process.
Sources, as of October 2026:
- California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook (ministerial review, 15-business-day and 60-day limits, unpermitted ADUs).
- LADBS ADU Standard Plan Program; City of Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and Culver City ADU pages.