Everything homeowners need to know about building an accessory dwelling unit in Long Beach - size limits, setbacks, permits, and why the city currently runs ADU approvals straight off California's statewide standards.
Last verified: August 2026
8/10 · ADU-friendly
1,000 sq ft*
Max ADU size
16 ft*
Max height
Not required
Owner-occupancy
By-right
Permit type
This page summarizes how Long Beach administers California's statewide ADU law (Gov. Code §§ 66310-66342) together with the city's Pre-Approved ADU Program for general reference - it is not legal advice. Regulations change; always confirm current requirements with the Long Beach Development Services Department before designing or applying for permits. See sources below.
Zoning & size requirements
What you're allowed to build
ADU type
Max size
Max height
Notes
Detached (new build or garage conversion)
800 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom unit; 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms; up to 1,200 sq ft for single-story units built under the city's Pre-Approved ADU Program
16 ft (18 ft within a half mile of major transit, plus up to 2 ft more to match a sloped roof on the primary home)
4 ft minimum side and rear setbacks
Attached (addition to the primary home)
50% of the primary dwelling's living area or 800 sq ft, whichever is greater
25 ft or the underlying zoning district height limit, whichever is lower
No separate size cap beyond the existing footprint
Maintains the existing structure's height
No added setback for the conversion itself
Junior ADU (JADU)
500 sq ft maximum
Within the walls of the primary dwelling
Owner-occupancy required only if the JADU shares a bathroom with the main house (effective Jan. 1, 2026)
Allowed zoning districts
Any residentially zoned lot with an existing or proposed dwelling, citywide. Long Beach's own local ADU ordinance (LBMC 21.51.276) is currently inactive, so the city administers California's statewide default ADU standards directly rather than a customized local code - a standalone replacement ordinance was released for public comment in late 2025. Confirm your parcel's zoning and current ordinance status with the Development Services Department.
Additional standards
Setbacks, parking & other rules
Setbacks
4 ft minimum from side and rear property lines for new detached construction; conversions of existing structures generally need no added setback
Parking
Not required in most cases - broad state-law exemptions cover lots near transit, historic districts, conversions, JADUs, and properties inside the city's mapped Parking Exempt Area
Units per lot
1 ADU plus 1 JADU on a single-family lot; multifamily properties can add ADUs within 25% of existing units, or up to 8 detached ADUs under state law (SB 1211, 2024)
Owner-occupancy
Not required for the ADU. California law (AB 976, effective Jan. 1, 2024) permanently bars cities from imposing an owner-occupancy mandate on standard ADUs
Building code
Must meet current California Residential Code and Title 24 energy standards
Rental license
ADUs and JADUs cannot be rented for fewer than 31 days (no short-term rentals). Long-term rentals may fall under the city's Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program - confirm current requirements with Housing & Neighborhood Services
Ordinance history
How Long Beach's ADU rules got here
2017Statewide by-right approval begins. California's Gov. Code §65852.2, strengthened that year by AB 2299 and SB 1069, forced cities including Long Beach to approve qualifying ADUs ministerially, without discretionary review.
2020State law tightens further. AB 68, AB 881, AB 587, AB 2299, and AB 671 expanded size allowances, cut parking requirements, and sped up review timelines statewide.
2022Pre-Approved ADU Program approved. The City Council voted 9-0 in January to develop the Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) Program, offering city-approved design plans for single-story detached ADUs.
2024PAADU goes live; owner-occupancy banned statewide. Pre-approved plans became available for over-the-counter, same-day permit issuance. Separately, AB 976 permanently eliminated owner-occupancy mandates statewide and SB 1211 allowed up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots.
2025Coastal review streamlined; new local ordinance drafted. AB 462 (effective Oct. 10, 2025) made Coastal Zone ADU review ministerial with no Coastal Commission appeal. The city released a draft standalone local ADU ordinance for public comment that November - check its adoption status with the city before relying on it.
Worth knowing: Long Beach permitted roughly 671 ADUs citywide in 2023 alone, part of what local coverage described as a significant boom - even without a finished local ordinance, the combination of mandatory state approval and the PAADU program has kept the pipeline moving.
Permit process
How Long Beach ADU permitting works
1
Pre-application check
Confirm your lot's zoning and whether the Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU) plans fit your site before you design or hire an architect.
2
Prepare your plan set
You'll need a site plan, floor plans, elevations, and Title 24 energy compliance documentation. Coastal Zone parcels also need a concurrent Coastal Development Permit application.
3
Submit in person at the Permit Center
Long Beach currently requires all ADU construction documents and permit applications to be submitted in person at the Permit Center, 411 W. Ocean Blvd., with plan check fees due the same day.
4
Completeness & plan review
Completeness review runs 15 business days; full plan review runs up to 60 days, both deemed satisfied automatically if the city misses the statutory deadline. PAADU-plan projects can be approved over the counter instead.
5
Building permit & inspections
Once approved, pay permit fees, pull your building permit, and schedule the standard framing, plumbing, electrical, and final inspections.
6
Address assignment & occupancy
The city assigns the ADU its own address before final sign-off; budget roughly 6-12 months from design to permit issuance, then 4-8 months for construction.
Because Long Beach is currently applying state law directly rather than a finished local ordinance, some details can shift as the city's new standalone ordinance moves through adoption - confirm current fees and timelines with Development Services before you submit.
Budgeting
What it costs to build an ADU in Long Beach
Garage conversion
Roughly $70,000-$180,000, the least expensive path since the shell already exists
Basement conversion
Roughly $100,000-$220,000, less common in Long Beach's housing stock than garage or detached builds
New detached ADU
Roughly $150,000-$350,000+ for a code-compliant freestanding unit, with California labor and land costs pushing toward the higher end
Building permit & plan check
Valuation-based, approximately 2% of construction cost
City impact fees
Parks, police, fire, and transportation impact fees (roughly $2,500-$3,000 combined at typical sizes) are barred by state law on any ADU with 750 sq ft or less of interior space; a school district fee of about $5.38/sq ft applies above 500 sq ft
These are general ranges from local contractor estimates and regional reporting, not quotes - actual cost depends heavily on lot conditions, finishes, and whether utilities need to be extended. Sticking to 750 sq ft or less avoids most of the city's per-unit impact fees.
Before you apply
Tips for a smooth approval
Look into the Pre-Approved ADU Program first. If a single-story detached unit under 1,200 sq ft fits your lot, PAADU plans can mean same-day permit issuance instead of months of custom plan review.
Plan for an in-person submission. Long Beach doesn't currently accept ADU plan sets online - block out time to submit construction documents at the Permit Center in person.
Keep it at 750 sq ft or under if fees are a concern. State law bars most city impact fees on ADUs at or below that size, which can save several thousand dollars.
Check Coastal Zone status early. Parcels in the Coastal Zone need a concurrent Coastal Development Permit application - it's ministerial and runs alongside your ADU review, but it's an extra step to plan for.
Watch for the city's new local ordinance. Long Beach has been operating on state default standards while a standalone local ordinance moves through adoption - double check which rules are current before finalizing your design.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need to live on the property to build an ADU in Long Beach?
No. California law (AB 976, effective January 1, 2024) permanently bars cities from requiring owner-occupancy for a standard ADU. A JADU only requires owner-occupancy if it shares a bathroom with the main house.
Why does everyone say Long Beach has "no ADU ordinance"?
Long Beach's prior local ADU code, LBMC 21.51.276, no longer applies because it conflicted with updated state law, so the city currently reviews every ADU application directly against California's statewide default standards (Gov. Code §§ 66310-66342) rather than a custom local ordinance. A standalone replacement ordinance was released for public comment in late 2025 - confirm its current status with the city.
How many ADUs can I build on one lot?
One ADU plus one JADU on a standard single-family lot. Multifamily properties can add ADUs within 25% of existing units, or up to 8 detached ADUs under state law (SB 1211, 2024).
Do I need extra parking for an ADU?
Usually not. Broad state-law exemptions cover lots near transit, historic districts, conversions, JADUs, and properties in the city's mapped Parking Exempt Area, which covers much of Long Beach.
What's the maximum size for a detached ADU?
800 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom unit, 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms under state default standards, and up to 1,200 sq ft for single-story units built under the city's Pre-Approved ADU Program.
What is the Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU)?
A city program offering ready-made, pre-approved building plans for single-story detached ADUs under 1,200 sq ft. Qualifying projects can be approved over the counter with same-day permit issuance instead of going through full custom plan review.
How much does an ADU cost to build in Long Beach?
Garage conversions tend to run roughly $70,000-$180,000, basement conversions $100,000-$220,000, and new detached units $150,000-$350,000 or more, based on local contractor estimates and regional reporting - California's labor and land costs tend to push these toward the higher end nationally.
How many ADUs has Long Beach actually permitted?
Local news coverage put the 2023 total at roughly 671 ADUs permitted citywide in a single year, part of what was described as a significant ADU construction boom driven largely by state law's by-right approval mandate.
Can I rent my ADU out on Airbnb or a short-term rental platform?
No. Long Beach ADUs and JADUs cannot be rented for fewer than 31 days at a time, so short-term platforms like Airbnb are off the table for these units.
