Compare · checked Oct 18, 2026

Long Beach vs Los Angeles ADU fees: Long Beach $2,366–$7,746 vs Los Angeles $250–$5,630 in modeled fees for 1,000 sq ft, before building permits in Los Angeles

Modeled from each place’s official fee schedules for a detached ADU next to a 2,000 sq ft main home (example assumption), law in force today. Ranges count fees that always apply (low) and fees that may apply (high). Not like for like: Los Angeles: Totals leave out LADBS building permit and plan check fees.

Modeled fee totals by ADU size

	Long Beach	Los Angeles	Lower
499 sq ft	$0	$0	$0
750 sq ft	$0–$4,035	$0–$4,035	$0
1,000 sq ft	$2,366–$7,746	$250–$5,630	Los Angeles by $2,116
1,200 sq ft	$2,366–$8,822	$300–$6,756	Los Angeles by $2,066

Where the money goes at 1,000 sq ft

	Long Beach	Los Angeles
Impact fees	$2,366	$250
School district fee	$0–$5,380	$0–$5,380
Impact fees under SB 1117 (from 2027)	$592	$62
ADU permits issued, 2025	644	12329

Line-by-line figures with the quoted source text: Long Beach · Los Angeles. Permits: HCD Annual Progress Report data.

Rules side by side

	Long Beach	Los Angeles
Maximum size	State floor: cities must allow at least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms); detached ADUs can be capped at 1,200 sq ft.	State floor: cities must allow at least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms); detached ADUs can be capped at 1,200 sq ft.
Height	State floor: 16 ft detached (18 ft near transit or on a multifamily lot, +2 ft for roof pitch); 25 ft attached.	State floor: 16 ft detached (18 ft near transit or on a multifamily lot, +2 ft for roof pitch); 25 ft attached.
Setbacks	State limit: no more than 4 ft side and rear.	State limit: no more than 4 ft side and rear.
Parking	State limit: at most 1 space per ADU or bedroom, and none within ½ mile of transit and in other cases.	State limit: at most 1 space per ADU or bedroom, and none within ½ mile of transit and in other cases.
Owner occupancy	State law: cities can't require the owner to live on site for an ADU (JADUs: owner on site if sanitation is shared).	State law: cities can't require the owner to live on site for an ADU (JADUs: owner on site if sanitation is shared).
Pre-approved plans	State law: every city must run a program to pre-approve ADU plans (Gov. Code 65852.27).	State law: every city must run a program to pre-approve ADU plans (Gov. Code 65852.27).

Grey text is the state floor where we haven’t captured the local rule yet.

Itemize Long Beach Itemize Los Angeles All places

FAQ

Long Beach vs Los Angeles: questions

Are ADU fees higher in Long Beach or Los Angeles?

For a detached 1,000 sq ft ADU with a 2,000 sq ft main home, our model of the official schedules gives Long Beach $2,366–$7,746 and Los Angeles $250–$5,630. Los Angeles: Totals leave out LADBS building permit and plan check fees.

Which charges more impact fees on an ADU, Long Beach or Los Angeles?

At 1,000 sq ft: Long Beach $2,366, Los Angeles $250 (proportional to a 2,000 sq ft house). Neither can charge impact fees at 750 sq ft or less. From 2027, SB 1117 limits them to the area over 750 sq ft: $592 and $62 in our model.

What does a 750 sq ft ADU cost in fees in each?

Long Beach: $0–$4,035. Los Angeles: $0–$4,035. At 750 sq ft or less, state law bars impact fees in both.

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