Lancaster, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Municipal Code Sec. E states that except as specified in its two carve-outs, at least one person with legal or equitable title to the property on which an ADU or JADU sits must reside there as that person's legal domicile and permanent residence, and that owner may live in the ADU, the JADU, or the primary dwelling. The first exception removes the owner-occupancy requirement for any ADU permitted after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2025, unless the property carries both an ADU and a JADU, in which case the requirement snaps back into force.

The second exception applies where the property is entirely owned by a governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization; JADUs on such properties are not subject to any owner-occupancy requirement. The requirement is enforced through the deed restriction Lancaster requires before it issues an ADU or JADU building permit under Sec. F: the restriction runs with the land, binds future owners, and is recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder. 5, may pursue legal action, injunctive relief, or abatement of an illegal unit for noncompliance.

A property owner seeking to remove the deed restriction must show the ADU or JADU has actually been eliminated, such as by removing kitchen facilities, and can appeal an adverse director determination under the code's standard appeal provisions.