Should You ADU?

The government did WHAT? Relax, this is a good surprise (for a change). LA homeowners just got handed a rare gift: the ability to legally build THREE living spaces on a single-family lot. And the approval process? 60 days, not 6-12 months of bureaucratic hell.

WTF is an ADU?

ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit—aka that back house where you crash if you've had too much to drink at your fancy friend's house.

ADUs have always been great in theory. Extra income! Multigenerational living! A place for your weird cousin who "just needs a few months to get back on his feet!" But in LA, most ADUs have been questionably permitted, an abysmal time suck with approval processes, or simply a glorified storage unit because you've given up dealing with the City.

Well, friends, that just changed.

The New ADU Law: A Rare Government Win 

Thanks to California Government Code § 65852.2(d)(4), LA homeowners can now build:

1. One ADU (detached or attached unit, up to 1,200 sq ft)

2. One JADU (Junior ADU—a small unit, max 500 sq ft, that can share a bathroom)

3. PLUS an addition to your main house

That's right. You can now legally add three living spaces on your single-family lot. Your property just became a mini apartment complex, and your mortgage just got a whole lot easier to stomach.

But Wait, There's More: The Permitting Changed Too 

Here's the really good news.

The new law says ADU approval must be ministerial—which in government-speak means: No discretion. No bureaucratic runaround. No subjective BS.

Translation: To bring a current unpermitted ADU up to code, you no longer have to fear having to tear the whole thing down if you call an inspector out. As long as it meets the basic requirements (setbacks, size limits, etc.), the city has to approve it.

And if the City tries to drag its feet or add extra hoops? The Ccity's rules are null and void, and state law takes over—which is even more permissive.

The approval timeline? 60 days for a new ADU, 30 days if you're converting existing space (like a garage). Compare that to the 6 -12 month nightmare it used to be.

Why This Matters for Your Wallet

 Let's do some quick math:

• Rent out your ADU for $2,000/month = $24,000/year

• Rent out your JADU for $1,200/month = $14,400/year

• Total: $38,400/year in rental income

That's your property tax, insurance, and a chunk of your mortgage covered. Or it's passive income while you live in the main house. Or it's your aging parents living rent-free in the back while you keep your privacy (and your sanity).

The Bottom Line 

The housing market in LA can be rough.

"Crisis" is a term thrown around. But now, for the first time in a long time, the law is actually helping homeowners and finally doing something to promote affordable living. Purchasing a single-family home with a bit of land, can not only turn into a lucrative investment opportunity but also an opportunity to provide more housing in the City we all love.

And if you already own? Congratulations, your property just became significantly more valuable.

I'm always here if you want to talk about how ADUs could work for your situation—or if you just want to geek out about building codes over coffee.

xx, Carolyn