Catalina Island · LA County
ADU permits in Avalon
Zip codes:90704
Avalon is a small independent city of about 3,500 people on Santa Catalina Island — the only incorporated city on the island. It runs its own building and planning departments. About 88% of Catalina Island is owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy as preserve; most Avalon land is held as leasehold (not freehold) from the Santa Catalina Island Company, which fundamentally changes how Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) economics work here.
Independent city — not LADBS
Avalon runs its own building department. Permits go through Avalon Building + Planning Department ↗, not the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Our address checker pulls real zoning + overlay data for any Los Angeles County address. The Avalon ordinance breakdown below covers the city-specific permit path.
Avalon by the numbers
Rounded figures from the 2020 US Census, LA County Assessor parcel data, and the city's own published reports. Estimates only — your specific lot can vary widely.
Population
3,500
2020 Census
Single-family homes
~1,100
LA County Assessor
Median lot size
2,500 sqft
Approximate
Median home value
$0.9M
Zillow / Redfin
What makes Avalon different
Avalon is permitted through the City of Avalon's small civic office. The unique island geography + the leasehold-land structure (most residents hold 99-year leases from the Santa Catalina Island Company, not fee-simple title) means Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) applicability is unusual. Tiny lot sizes, limited construction logistics (everything ferries over from the mainland), and tourism-dominant economy further constrain the typical Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) calculation.
Avalon ADU ordinance — the rules that apply
Last verified: 2026-05-12
The current ADU rules in Avalon, sourced from the city's published ordinance and verified against CA Government Code §65852.2 (which preempts local rules stricter than state baselines). When you see "state default," that means the city can't reduce below this number under state law.
| Max detached ADU size | 1,200 sqft (state default) |
| Max ADU height | 16 ft / 18 ft with second-story setbacks |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side / 4 ft rear (state minimum) |
| Leasehold land tenure | Most Avalon parcels are leasehold (99-year leases), not freehold Major implication — verify your tenure before any ADU planning. |
| Construction logistics | All materials + crews must ferry to/from the mainland Materially affects build cost + timeline. |
| Local processing time | 60-90 days for standard ADUs |
| Pre-approved standard plans | None city-specific |
Active overlays + extra rules in Avalon
City overlays + state-level designations that hit a meaningful share of Avalon parcels. Each affects what you can build, how long it takes, or how much it costs.
Leasehold land tenure (most parcels)
~85% of parcelsMost Avalon residents hold 99-year leases from the Santa Catalina Island Company, not fee-simple title. Materially changes the math on ADU investment.
California Coastal Zone
~100% of parcelsEntire island. Coastal Development Permit required.
Watch-outs specific to Avalon
Patterns we see across AvalonADU permits. None are dealbreakers — they're just the things people get wrong most often.
- 01
Verify leasehold vs freehold before any planning
Most Avalon parcels are leasehold from the Santa Catalina Island Company. A 99-year lease changes the economics of investing in an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) substantially. Title review is non-optional here.
- 02
Construction logistics are island-specific
All construction materials + crews need to ferry from the mainland (Long Beach + Dana Point). Plan for higher cost + longer timeline than mainland builds. Some Avalon contractors specialize in island logistics.
- 03
Long Beach Unified school fees apply
Yes — even though Avalon is on Catalina Island, the schools are part of Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). One of the longer school-district reaches in California.
- 04
Tourism-dominant economy = short-term rental considerations
Avalon's economy is heavily tourism-driven. ADU short-term-rental regulations differ from the mainland — check current city rules carefully if you're modeling vacation-rental income.
Need a person, not a wizard?
Routes that fit Avalon
Based on what we know about Avalon, these are the lead types that usually make sense here. Pick whichever fits your situation. All free, no obligation.
Complex permit context
Request a Avalon permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Avalon usually mean a permit expediter pays for itself in saved months. We work with vetted Los Angeles permit expediters and expeditors (both spellings) who've handled Avalon projects.
Complex permit context
Request a Avalon permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Avalon usually mean a permit expediter pays for itself in saved months. We work with vetted Los Angeles permit expediters and expeditors (both spellings) who've handled Avalon projects.
Amenities + civic services in Avalon
Parks, libraries, and the school district that serve the area. Context that matters for renter appeal, family relocation, and long-term resale.
Parks + sports
Avalon Bay Beach
Avalon Bay waterfront
The main public beach + harbor area.
- Picnic
Pebbly Beach
South Avalon
Quieter public beach south of downtown.
- Picnic
Catalina Island Conservancy lands (adjacent)
88% of Catalina Island
Vast hiking + nature preserve managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy.
Catalina Island Conservancy preserve
- Trails
Libraries
Avalon Branch Library
LA County Library
Catalina Avenue, downtown Avalon
Public schools
School assignments vary by exact address. The district + notable schools below cover most of the area.
District
Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD)
Notable schools in the area
- Avalon Schools (K-12 combined campus, LBUSD)
LBUSD operates a K-12 combined campus on Catalina Island.
Getting around Avalon
Walking + golf carts. No private cars allowed (long wait list for car permits).
Transit + walkability
Walkability
Avalon is one of the most-walkable cities in California by necessity — most residents and all visitors walk or use golf carts.
Nearby airports
Distance + type for each major Los Angeles-area airport reachable from Avalon. Useful for travel, commute, and any flight-path noise concerns on specific parcels.
Catalina Airport ('Airport in the Sky', AVX)
~7 miGeneral aviation
Catalina Island's only airport, on a ridge in the island interior.
Long Beach Daugherty Field (LGB)
~26 miRegional / domestic
Mainland-adjacent regional airport. Catalina Express ferry connects to Long Beach.
Community + landmarks in Avalon
Annual events, landmarks, and the places that anchor the area's identity. Context for renter appeal and long-term resale.
Annual events
Catalina Marathon
Mid-March · since 1978
Annual marathon + half-marathon through Catalina Island's interior.
Source ↗Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival
Two weekends in October · since 1987
Long-running smooth jazz festival at the Catalina Casino ballroom.
Source ↗Catalina Island Conservancy Conservancy Ball
Fall
Annual conservation-focused fundraising gala.
Source ↗
What makes Avalon Avalon
Historic landmark
Catalina Casino
1929 Art Deco casino building (the word 'casino' here means 'gathering place,' not gambling). 12-story round building with a 1,154-seat theater + ballroom. International architectural landmark.
Landmark
Avalon Pier
1909 pier at the heart of Avalon Bay. Tourism + harbor anchor.
Historic + botanical
Wrigley Memorial + Botanic Garden
1934 memorial to William Wrigley Jr. (chewing gum magnate + Catalina developer). Surrounding botanical garden specializing in California-island native plants.
Small village
Two Harbors (further up the island)
Tiny waypoint village on the isthmus connecting the main island to its smaller western lobe.
Nearby areas to Avalon
Other Los Angeles-area pages worth a look. Each one runs different Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) rules depending on jurisdiction — we show you what changes when you cross a city or county line.
Frequently asked questions about Avalon ADUs
›Can I build an ADU in Avalon?
Yes. Avalon allows ADUs under its local ordinance, aligned with California Government Code §65852.2 (the state baseline that preempts overly-strict local rules). Most single-family lots can host one ADU plus one JADU. Permits go through Avalon Building + Planning Department, not LADBS — see the ordinance table above for the specific rules.
›How does Avalon differ from LA City for ADU permits?
Three main differences: the permit agency (Avalon Building + Planning Department vs. LADBS), the local ordinance details (each city has some flexibility above the state baseline), and the timeline (some cities are faster, some slower than LA's 60-day plan check). See the ordinance breakdown above for the specifics on each.
›How much does it cost to build an ADU in Avalon?
Median home value in Avalon is around $0.9M, which usually means lot economics support a quality ADU build of $200K–$400K all-in. Hillside, coastal, or VHFHSZ lots add 7–25% on top. HCD-prefab units (Connect Homes, Cover, Plant Prefab) bypass local plan check entirely and typically run $190K–$350K turnkey.
›Does Avalon have pre-approved standard plans like LA's YOU-ADU?
No. Unlike LADBS, Avalon does not maintain a city-specific pre-approved plan library. The two faster paths are an HCD-approved prefab (factory-certified, skips local plan check) or a custom designer drawing for your lot. The slower path is a fully custom architect-led design.
›Will the PermitPathLA wizard work for my Avalon address?
Yes. The wizard pulls real zoning, overlay, and parcel data for any Los Angeles County address, including Avalon. What you'll see today: feasibility for your specific lot, the overlays that apply, and a routing summary pointing at Avalon Building + Planning Department for the permit submittal. Deeper Avalon-specific permit walkthroughs are next on the roadmap as we expand from LADBS into the independent-city ordinances.
Ready to see what your Avalon lot can do?
Our free address checker pulls real zoning, overlay, and parcel data for any Los Angeles County address — including Avalon. Start there and we'll surface what applies to your specific lot.
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