When you are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your property, like any construction project – permits are required to make sure that it complies with the local zoning, building, and construction codes.
Whether you want to convert existing garage, build an addition to your existing house, or create a new construction ADU ground up, it is important first to make sure you will be eligible to get a permit from Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) for the ADU, click here to determine if a permit for your proposed ADU will be possible. If your property does not allow building an ADU, it will not be recommended to move ahead with the project.
The cost of the ADU permit varies from project to project. There are a number of variables that impact the cost of a permit, including:
- The type of permit you need
- The estimated value of the construction being carried out
- Number of square feet your project added to the property
- Inspection fees
- In some projects, some additional permits will be required
Below you will find a breakdown of the ADU permit costs in Los Angeles:
Use our estimates form to send us the most important details about your ADU project and get for free the estimated costs for your ADU.
How Much Does ADU Permit Cost in Los Angeles?
The average cost to design and permit an ADU in Los Angeles can range from as low as $6,000 to above $20,000.
Homeowners who building an ADU have to pay a 1. plan check fee when the plans submitted to the city and 2. a final permit when the permit approval is being issued. The plan check fee usually costs between $1,300 to $5,000. while the final permit may range from $1,000 to $10,000.
The total cost of an ADU permit is calculated by the cumulative costs of architectural and structural plan designs, zoning permit fees, building permit fees, impact fees, and other miscellaneous fees and development taxes.
How Much Does Garage Conversion Permit Cost?
Depending on your local municipality fee this could range anywhere from $1,000 – $10,000 in costs for one car garage, two car garage and three car garage.
How Much Does It Cost To Design an ADU?
The first step to start the ADU permit process, you will need a complete set of properly drawn plans of your proposed ADU to the LADBS to obtain a permit.
The cost to design ADU plans vary widely, usually between $6,000 and $15,000, depending on their size and complexity.
Designing your ADU is the most critical phase of the process. Without a precise and complete design, the cost of building can drastically increase.
Typically, the homeowners are required to submit;
- Architectural and Structural plans
- Engineering Plans (for wall, roof, and ceiling framing)
- Title 24 Report (energy efficiency report)
- Electrical Plan
How Much Does Zoning Permit Fee Cost?
The zoning permit fee for an ADU in Los Angeles range from as low as $30-$500 for normal and up to $4,000 for a complex approval. A separate zoning permit is sometimes not required, and its cost is added to the building permit fees.
How Much Does Building Permit Fees Cost?
You will need a building permit for each, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing besides the individual costs involved in designing plans for each of them. It’s likely to spend between $450 to $2,500 for a low-end permit and between $4,500 and $15,000 for an average high-end building permit.
Impact Fees
If the size of your proposed ADU is between 500sqft to 750sqft, you will most probably have to pay sewer and water connection fees and school impact fees.
Sewer and Water fees usually cost up to $2,500, while impact fees range from $3-$4 per square foot for a finished dwelling structure. If your ADU exceeds 750sqft, traffic impact fees may also be imposed besides the fees that mentioned above.
If your dwelling unit is less than 500sqft, the building department can waive impact and some other fees.
How Much Does Certificate of Occupancy Cost?
Before being able to occupant the ADU, it is required to obtain COO (Certificate of Occupancy) when city inspector will visit the property to sure that the construction and codes follow the plans that were submitted. Typically, a COO for an ADU costs between $300 to $600.
ADU Amnesty Program
In a bid to combat the statewide shortage of affordable housing in California, the state has announced an amnesty program to get illegal ADUs permitted by obtaining a retroactive building permit.
Your unpermitted ADU may qualify for the amnesty scheme if;
- It was created before December 31, 2019.
- An occupant currently lives in it
- There is no permit other application in progress to legalize it
- Read more about Amnesty Program
Final Words
Since every ADU is unique and designed to the homeowner’s specific needs and aesthetic taste, it is tough to predict the exact permit costs in Los Angeles. Therefore, it is important to have an experienced design-build firm on your side to manage the permits, zoning, and ordinances for you.
Permit Expediting Experts Los Angeles
For years, we at CCS Inc have been assisting homeowners just like you navigate the process of permitting their ADUs.
No matter in which way you want to create an ADU on your property, we can work with you at every step of the way to make the entire process simple and hassle-free for you.
Reach out to us today to know more about ADU permit costs in Los Angeles or schedule a consultation with our permit expediting experts.
