Same zip, different jurisdiction: this page covers LA County Public Works (DPW). The same zip code(s) also cover parts of Calabasas (Calabasas (its own permits)) and Hidden Hills (Hidden Hills (its own permits)). Verify your parcel's jurisdiction before filing, different agencies, different rules.
Santa Monica Mountains · LA County (Unincorporated)
ADU permits in Calabasas Highlands
Zip codes:91302
Calabasas Highlands is a small premium unincorporated community of about 700 people in the Santa Monica Mountains, immediately adjacent to the City of Calabasas. It is not a city. Building permits run through Los Angeles County Public Works (Building & Safety), not Calabasas city's department. Universal Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) coverage and hillside character define the construction context.
Unincorporated LA County, not LADBS
Calabasas Highlands is unincorporated territory. Building permits go through LA County Public Works (Building & Safety) ↗ under LA County Code Title 22, not the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Our address checker pulls real feasibility data for any LA County address; the Calabasas Highlands-specific permit pathway is detailed below.
Calabasas Highlands by the numbers
Rounded figures from the 2020 US Census, LA County Assessor parcel data, and LA County DPW permit records.
Population
700
2020 Census
Single-family homes
~280
LA County Assessor
Median lot size
22,000 sqft
Approximate
ADU permits filed 2025
~7
Source: HCD 2025 total (1,278) distributed proportionally across 2024 per-area shares. 2024: 8.
What makes Calabasas Highlands different
Calabasas Highlands is unincorporated despite tight adjacency to Calabasas city. Permits run through LA County DPW Building & Safety via EPIC-LA. The 2018 Woolsey Fire affected portions of the broader area. Multi-acre hillside lots with mature oaks.
LA County ADU rules for Calabasas Highlands
Last verified: 2026-04-15
Current LA County rules from Title 22 of the County Code, as applied to Calabasas Highlands. State preemption (Gov Code §§ 66310-66342) means the county can't reduce below the state baseline. We note where that applies.
| 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) |
| Permitting agency | LA County Public Works (Building & Safety) |
| Fire-hazard construction | Chapter 7A required (universal VHFHSZ) |
| Local processing time | 60 days from complete submittal (state-mandated) |
Active overlays + extra rules in Calabasas Highlands
LA County overlays + state-level designations that hit a meaningful share of Calabasas Highlands parcels.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ)
~100% of parcelsUniversal. Chapter 7A construction + extensive defensible space.
Hillside Management Area
~95% of parcelsUniversal. Geotech + grading review.
Watch-outs specific to Calabasas Highlands
- 01
Don't file with Calabasas, it's LA County
Calabasas Highlands residents frequently default to Calabasas city for permits, then have to restart with LA County DPW. Verify jurisdiction first.
- 02
Multiple recent wildfires affect insurance
The broader Santa Monica Mountains area has burned multiple times (2018 Woolsey, 2025 Palisades). Insurance pricing + availability has been reshaped significantly.
Need a person, not a wizard?
Routes that fit Calabasas Highlands
Based on what we know about Calabasas Highlands, these are the lead types that usually make sense here. Pick whichever fits your situation. All free, no obligation.
Rebuild context
Rebuilding in Calabasas Highlands?
If your primary residence was lost in a recent fire, you can permit the primary rebuild plus an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) concurrently on an expedited track. We can connect you with contractors who've done post-fire rebuilds in Calabasas Highlands and understand the Los Angeles County Recovery permitting program.
See rebuild-experienced contractors →Complex permit context
Request a Calabasas Highlands permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Calabasas Highlands usually mean a permit expediter pays for itself in saved months. We work with affiliated Los Angeles permit expediters and expeditors (both spellings) who've handled Calabasas Highlands projects.
Complex permit context
Request a Calabasas Highlands permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Calabasas Highlands usually mean a permit expediter pays for itself in saved months. We work with affiliated Los Angeles permit expediters and expeditors (both spellings) who've handled Calabasas Highlands projects.
Talk to our financing broker
Want someone to walk you through your options?
Our in-house broker has 30+ years in LA mortgage and ADU financing. He'll lay out HELOC, construction-to-perm, and ADU-specific products like Renofi against your situation, free, no obligation.
Also ask about the state's CalHFA ADU Grant Program (up to $40,000 for income-qualified homeowners, pre-development costs only). Funding releases in rounds that have historically exhausted within days to weeks, check calhfa.ca.gov/adu for current status before counting on it.
Talk to our financing broker
Want someone to walk you through your options?
Our in-house broker has 30+ years in LA mortgage and ADU financing. He'll lay out HELOC, construction-to-perm, and ADU-specific products like Renofi against your situation, free, no obligation.
Also ask about the state's CalHFA ADU Grant Program (up to $40,000 for income-qualified homeowners, pre-development costs only). Funding releases in rounds that have historically exhausted within days to weeks, check calhfa.ca.gov/adu for current status before counting on it.
Amenities + civic services in Calabasas Highlands
Parks, libraries, and the school district that serve the area. Context that matters for renter appeal, family relocation, and long-term resale.
Public schools
School assignments vary by exact address. Performance levels below are from the official California School Dashboard, California's official accountability system uses colored levels (blue highest, red lowest) rather than 1-10 numeric scores.
District
Las Virgenes Unified School District
Getting around Calabasas Highlands
Car-only mountain community.
Transit + walkability
Walkability
Not walkable, exclusive hillside residential.
Nearby airports
Distance + type for each major Los Angeles-area airport reachable from Calabasas Highlands. Useful for travel, commute, and any flight-path noise concerns on specific parcels.
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
~14 miGeneral aviation
Nearby areas to Calabasas Highlands
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.
LA County unincorporated
Cornell →
Premium Santa Monica Mountains unincorporated community. LA County jurisdiction + universal VHFHSZ + Coastal Zone proximity + post-Woolsey-Fire (2018) and Palisades-Fire (2025) rebuild context shape the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) calculus.
LA County unincorporated
Malibu Lake →
Premium private-lake Santa Monica Mountains community (1922 Malibu Lake Mountain Club). LA County jurisdiction + Mountain Club architectural review + universal VHFHSZ + 2018 Woolsey Fire rebuild context shape the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) calculus.
LA County unincorporated
Topanga →
Multi-acre canyon parcels with strong Westside-adjacent home values support generous Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) footprints. The trade-offs are real: Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) construction citywide, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) on the southern parcels, and septic-system capacity often dictating the build size.
Frequently asked questions about Calabasas Highlands ADUs
›Can I build an ADU in Calabasas Highlands?
Yes. Calabasas Highlands allows ADUs under LA County Code Title 22, aligned with California Gov Code §§ 66310-66342. Most single-family lots can host one ADU plus one JADU. Permits go through LA County Public Works (Building & Safety), not LADBS, since Calabasas Highlands is unincorporated territory rather than a city.
›Why does Calabasas Highlands use LA County rules instead of LA City rules?
Calabasas Highlands is unincorporated. It's never been formally incorporated as its own city, so LA County serves as the local government. Building permits, zoning, sheriff, libraries (in many cases), and most other services run through county departments rather than city ones.
›Where do I submit my Calabasas Highlands ADU permit?
Online via LA County's EPIC-LA portal, or in-person at the LA County Public Works Building & Safety counter in Alhambra (900 S. Fremont Avenue). The EPIC-LA online portal handles most ADU submittals end-to-end, so you rarely need to visit in person.
›How long does the ADU permit process take in Calabasas Highlands?
LA County DPW targets the state-required 60-day plan check for ADUs from a complete submittal. Hillside, VHFHSZ, or environmental-review parcels can extend timelines by 4 to 12 weeks. Calabasas Highlands-specific overlays may add additional time. See the watch-outs above.
›Are LA County's pre-approved ADU plans free?
Yes. LA County maintains three pre-approved standard ADU plans (Plans A, B, and C) usable in any unincorporated area, including Calabasas Highlands. They're free to use, similar to LADBS's YOU-ADU program. The trade-off is reduced design flexibility, but for a fast, low-cost permit path they're the strongest option.
Ready to see what your Calabasas Highlands lot can do?
Our free address checker pulls real zoning, overlay, and parcel data for any Los Angeles County address, including unincorporated Calabasas Highlands. Start there and we'll surface what applies to your specific lot.
Check your address →Reviewed by Yair Harpaz, Founder, PermitPathLA. California DRE-licensed broker with 30+ years of Los Angeles real estate and mortgage industry experience.
Calabasas Highlands ordinance data last reviewed .
See an error or stale rule? corrections@permitpath.la
Primary sources: LA County DPW ADU info · LA County Code Title 22