Five stages, no surprises.
Every Golden State ADU project moves through the same five stages. The work changes; the discipline does not. Here is exactly what happens — and what LADBS expects — at each step.
- 012–4 weeks
Pre-Application
Feasibility & Scope
We confirm zoning, easements, and utility capacity before a single line is drawn. The cleanest projects begin with the most boring week.
Read stage 01 → - 026–10 weeks
Design & Plans
Schematic to Construction Documents
Three design conversations, two revisions, and a stamped set ready for plan check. We design for the permit reviewer first and the Instagram photo second.
Read stage 02 → - 038–16 weeks
Permits
Plan Check & Approvals
We submit, we respond, we don't disappear. LADBS plan check is a conversation — and we're the ones holding the phone.
Read stage 03 → - 044–7 months
Construction
Site Work to Final Inspection
A dedicated superintendent. A live schedule you can read. Inspections passed on the first call. The job site is also your backyard — we treat it that way.
Read stage 04 → - 052–3 weeks
Closeout
Walkthrough, Warranty & Handover
Punch list to zero, manuals in your hands, and a 12-month workmanship warranty in writing. The project ends when you say it does.
Read stage 05 →
Ready to begin?
Stage 01 is on us. We assess your parcel against LADBS code before any fee is requested.
Begin a project →Permitting FAQ
Permitting questions LA homeowners actually ask
Pulled from the LADBS, HCD, and CSLB rulebooks — answers match the JSON-LD on this page so Google can surface them as voice and rich results.
How long does an LADBS ADU permit actually take in 2025?
Ministerial ADU applications under California Government Code §65852.2 must be approved or denied within 60 days of a complete submittal. In practice LADBS clears most clean ADU plan checks in 6–10 weeks; corrections add 2–4 weeks per cycle. Hillside, coastal, or fire-zone overlays push timelines to 12–20 weeks.Do hillside ADUs in LA need a soils report?
Yes. Any ADU on a lot mapped under the LADBS Hillside Ordinance — which covers most of the Santa Monica Mountains, Mt. Washington, and parts of Echo Park — requires a geotechnical soils report stamped by a licensed engineer, plus a grading permit if cut/fill exceeds 50 cubic yards. CGS landslide-zone overlays trigger an additional slope stability analysis.How do LADWP and SoCalGas connections work for a new ADU?
LADWP issues a separate water meter on request (recommended for tenant sub-billing) and a dedicated electrical service drop sized for the ADU's load calc — usually 100–200 amps. SoCalGas requires a service inquiry early because gas line easements can drive the ADU's siting. Plan utility scheduling alongside framing inspection; lead times run 6–14 weeks.Can the city deny my ADU because of my HOA's CC&Rs?
No. California Civil Code §4751 voids HOA covenants that effectively prohibit ADUs or JADUs on single-family lots, and HCD's standards apply ministerially regardless of HOA architectural review. HOAs can still impose reasonable aesthetic standards as long as those rules don't materially increase cost or block the project.What setbacks apply to a detached ADU in Los Angeles?
Statewide ADU rules cap setbacks at 4 ft from the side and rear property lines for new detached ADUs up to 16 ft tall (or 18 ft when within ½ mile of transit). Garage conversions and ADUs built on an existing legal footprint don't have to add new setbacks at all.Does a new ADU need its own address from the city?
Yes — LA Bureau of Engineering issues a unit-specific address (usually the primary house number plus ½, A, or a suffix) once the building permit is finalized. The address is required for utility service, mail delivery, and recording the certificate of occupancy.