Accessory Structures in Los Angeles, CA

If you live in Los Angeles or are thinking about moving there, accessory structures are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Los Angeles has 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of accessory structures, and some of them might surprise you.

ADU Rental Restrictions

ADUs and JADUs in Los Angeles may be rented to tenants but cannot be sold separately from the main dwelling unit. ADUs permitted after January 1, 2017 cannot be listed on short-term rental platforms unless the ADU is the owner's primary residence.

Key details: Can ADU be sold separately?: No: shall not be sold separate from the existing or proposed dwelling unit. Can ADU be rented long-term?: Yes. Can post-2017 ADU be used as STR?: Only if it is the owner's primary residence. Exception for Movable Tiny Houses: Can be sold individually when removed from the lot.

Attempting to sell an ADU separately from the primary dwelling would violate recorded conditions of approval. Violating the STR restriction by listing a qualifying ADU as a short-term rental triggers the same citation and fine structure: $500/day or 2x nightly rate for advertising violations.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Los Angeles gives residents more flexibility on adu rental restrictions.

ADU Impact Fees

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs are explicitly exempt from the City of Los Angeles park fee, the primary residential impact fee assessed on new dwelling units, under LAMC § 12.33.

Key details: Fee exemption: ADUs and JADUs are fully exempt from the park fee under LAMC § 12.33 C.3.(e). Standard fee basis (non-ADU): Quimby fee for subdivisions >50 units; park mitigation fee for all others. Affordable housing exemption: Units affordable to households ≤50% AMI also exempt. Effective date of ADU exemption: Amended by Ord. No. 186,481, Eff. 12/19/19.

No fee is owed; an applicant who incorrectly pays a park fee for an ADU/JADU is entitled to a refund under § 12.33 J. (refund provisions apply if funds are not committed within three years).

The rules around adu impact fees in Los Angeles lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

ADU Rules

ADU applications in Los Angeles require no discretionary approval; the City must issue a ministerial decision based solely on objective standards within 60 days of receiving a complete application when a dwelling already exists on the lot.

Key details: Approval type: Ministerial (no discretionary review permitted). Decision deadline: 60 days from receipt of complete application (existing dwelling on lot). Review scope: Limited to objective development standards only.

Requiring a conditional use permit, variance, or other discretionary approval for a code-complying ADU; failing to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days when an existing dwelling is present on the lot.

Los Angeles is more permissive than most cities when it comes to adu rules. That said, there are still limits.

Shed & Carport Rules

Los Angeles has no size exemption for backyard storage sheds. LAMC § 91.106.1.1 requires a building permit before anyone erects, constructs or alters any structure, and the only shed-specific carve-out in § 91.106.2 covers temporary construction-site sheds, not the tool or storage shed homeowners put in a yard.

Key details: Governing sections: LAMC §§ 91.106.1.1, 91.106.2. Shed size exemption: None: no square-footage carve-out. Only exempt shed type: Temporary construction-site sheds. Permitting agency: LA Dept. of Building and Safety. Fee basis: Construction valuation, Table No. 1-A.

Building a shed without the required permit exposes the owner to LADBS stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit fees assessed at a penalty rate, and potential Building Code violation citations under § 91.103.2 for knowingly working without a permit. An unpermitted shed can also complicate a home sale, since it won't appear on record with the Department of Building and Safety.

Garage Conversions

When a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is demolished or converted to create an ADU in Los Angeles, no replacement parking may be required for the lost spaces.

Key details: Replacement parking rule: None required when garage/carport is demolished or converted to an ADU. ADU parking waiver: transit: No parking required if ADU is within 0.5 miles of public transit. Tandem parking: Allowed; ADU parking may be provided in any yard area or passageway.

Conditioning an ADU permit on the provision of replacement parking spaces to offset a garage, carport, or covered parking structure that is demolished or converted for the ADU.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Los Angeles gives residents more flexibility on garage conversions.

Tiny Homes

Los Angeles allows one Movable Tiny House per lot as an ADU, with wheels hidden from view, connections to water/sewer/electric, compliance with ANSI A119.5 or NFPA 1192 safety standards, a 2-story height limit, and prohibition from placement in the front yard.

Key details: Maximum per lot: 1 MTH (no more than 1 approved per lot per 12 months). Safety standards: ANSI A119.5 or NFPA 1192. Utility connection required: Water, sewer, and electric.

Placing more than one MTH on a lot; failing to hide the undercarriage; operating without utility connections; not complying with ANSI A119.5 or NFPA 1192; placing the MTH in the front yard; exceeding 2 stories.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Los Angeles gives residents more flexibility on tiny homes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Los Angeles gives residents more room on accessory structures. 5 of the 6 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Los Angeles's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.