Westside · Los Angeles
ADU permits in Century City
Zip codes:90067
Century City is a high-rise commercial + dense-residential Westside Los Angeles district of about 6,500 people, between Beverly Hills and Westwood. Built on the former 20th Century Fox backlot, the area is overwhelmingly office high-rise and condo high-rise. Traditional Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) opportunities are limited to a small single-family residential pocket on the south side.
Century City by the numbers
Rounded figures from the 2020 US Census, LA County Assessor parcel data, and LADBS PermitLA filings. Estimates only — your specific lot can vary widely.
Population
6,500
2020 Census
Single-family homes
~280
LA County Assessor
Median lot size
8,000 sqft
Approximate
ADU permits filed 2024
~5
Estimated from LADBS PermitLA filings. Century City is overwhelmingly commercial high-rise — very few single-family ADU candidates.
Permit overlays active in Century City
These are LA City zoning / regulatory overlays that hit a meaningful share of Century City parcels. Each one affects what you can build, how long it takes, or how much it costs. Run your specific address through the feasibility check on the homepage to see which apply to your lot.
Commercial high-rise dominant
~95% of parcelsAlmost all of Century City is commercial high-rise + dense residential condo. Single-family detached homes are a tiny minority of parcels.
Watch-outs specific to Century City lots
Patterns we see across Century City permits and corrections. None of these are dealbreakers — they're just the things people get wrong most often when they don't know the neighborhood.
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Most of Century City isn't single-family — verify zoning
Century City is overwhelmingly commercial high-rise. Single-family detached homes exist only in the small Pickfair-adjacent residential pocket on the south side. ADU rules apply to a small subset.
Need a person, not a wizard?
Routes that fit Century City
Based on what we know about Century City, these are the lead types that usually make sense here. Pick whichever fits your situation. All free, no obligation.
Complex permit context
Request a Century City permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Century City 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 Century City projects.
Complex permit context
Request a Century City permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Century City 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 Century City projects.
What you can build in Century City
Century City is inside the City of Los Angeles, so LADBS permits apply. Typical zoning in Century City: C2-2, R5-1. For these single-family zones, current LA City rules allow:
- Detached ADU. Up to 1,200 sqft, 16 ft tall (or 18 ft with second-story setbacks). 4 ft side/rear setbacks. One per lot.
- Attached ADU. Up to 50% of the primary house's living area, max 1,200 sqft. Must share a wall with the existing house.
- JADU (Junior ADU). Up to 500 sqft, inside the existing house footprint. Must have its own entrance. One per lot, in addition to a regular ADU.
- Two units per single-family lot. One full ADU + one JADU on the same SFR lot — allowed under LA's current rules. The combination is the highest density unlock without going SB 9.
- Parking exemption near transit. No replacement parking required if your lot is within ½ mile of a major transit corridor. Most lots within walking distance of Ventura Blvd, Sherman Way, or the Metro Orange Line qualify.
Recent CA + LA laws that affect Century City ADUs
California has steadily loosened ADU rules since 2017. LA implements these through local ordinance. Here's what currently applies in Century City:
AB 68
20201,200 sqft ADUs by right
Allowed detached ADUs up to 1,200 sqft on any single-family lot, removed owner-occupancy requirements through 2025, and capped permit processing time at 60 days. This is the foundation of the current LA ADU rules.
AB 671
2020Permit fee waivers for moderate-income ADUs
If you rent your ADU below market for the first 5 years, LA waives most permit and impact fees. Practical use is limited but it's the path that exists.
AB 332
2023School impact fees waived under 750 sqft
LAUSD's school impact fee — historically $2–4/sqft — is waived entirely for ADUs under 750 sqft. The YOU-ADU plan (455 sqft) qualifies, as do most JADUs.
SB 9
2022Lot splits + duplex conversions on R1
Separate from ADUs, but worth knowing: you can split certain R1 lots into two and build a duplex on each half. It's narrower than the headlines suggested and most LA homeowners still pursue the ADU path, not the SB 9 path, but check if you have a large flat lot.
AB 1033
2024Sell your ADU as a condo (LA opt-in pending)
Lets cities allow ADUs to be sold separately as condos. LA hasn't opted in yet (as of early 2026). Watch for it — would let homeowners build an ADU and sell it as a standalone unit.
LA Ordinance 187,712
2024Streamlined permits for pre-approved plans
LADBS now offers same-day permit issuance for ADUs built from a pre-approved standard plan (YOU-ADU or any LADBS-licensed designer plan). This is the fastest legal path from contract to building permit.
What's changing in LA permit policy
Recent LADBS bulletins, City Council motions, and ordinances that affect what you can build (and how easily) in Century City. Updated quarterly — sourced from public LA city records.
Streamlined permits for pre-approved standard plans
activeOrdinance No. 187,712 · Mar 2024
LADBS now offers same-day permit issuance for ADUs built from a pre-approved standard plan — the City's free YOU-ADU plan or any LADBS-licensed designer plan (ADU1–ADU96). This is the fastest legal path from contract to building permit in LA. Custom-designed ADUs still go through standard plan check.
Read the official text ↗AB 1033 opt-in study — should LA allow ADU condo sales?
pendingCouncil File 23-0843 · Nov 2024
LA City Council motion directing Planning + LADBS to study opting into AB 1033, which would let homeowners sell their ADU as a separate condo unit. Currently pending committee review. If LA opts in, ADUs become tradable real estate — major change for the homeowner economics conversation.
Read the official text ↗Updated ADU Construction Memorandum
activeLADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2024-160 · Apr 2024
Consolidates LADBS's ADU permit requirements into a single bulletin reflecting recent state law changes (AB 332 school fee waiver, AB 976 permanent owner-occupancy waiver). Worth bookmarking — this is the LADBS staff reference for ADU plan check.
Read the official text ↗School impact fee waiver for ADUs under 750 sqft
activeCalifornia AB 332 · Oct 2023
Permanently waives LAUSD's school impact fee (~$5/sqft) for any ADU 750 sqft or smaller. Saves $3,750 on a 750-sqft ADU; $0 vs. ~$5,000 on an 800-sqft ADU. The threshold is the single biggest fee-savings lever in LA ADU economics.
Owner-occupancy waiver made permanent
activeCalifornia AB 976 · Oct 2023
Permanently removed the owner-occupancy requirement that previously limited ADU rental flexibility. You can build an ADU on your property and rent it out without living on-site yourself. The original AB 68 (2020) waiver was set to sunset in 2025; AB 976 made it permanent.
Cities may opt-in to allow ADU condo sales (LA: not yet opted in)
passedCalifornia AB 1033 · Oct 2023
Allows California cities to opt into a program letting ADUs be sold as condos separately from the primary house. LA hasn't opted in yet (Council File 23-0843 is the pending study). When/if LA opts in, ADUs become standalone sellable units — major change for the build-as-investment conversation.
Streamlined permit timelines + unpermitted ADU amnesty path
activeCalifornia AB 2533 · Sep 2024
Caps local permit processing time at 60 days for non-discretionary ADU permits and creates a path for existing unpermitted ADUs to be legalized without retroactive penalties (if they meet current building code). LADBS implementation of the amnesty portion is rolling out through 2025.
Public schools serving Century City
School zone assignments vary by exact address. For your specific lot, use LAUSD's Resident Schools Lookup ↗. The default assignments below cover most of the neighborhood.
District
Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD)
Elementary
Beverly Vista Elementary (BHUSD-adjacent)
What makes Century City Century City
The places that anchor the neighborhood's identity — useful context if you're marketing a future ADU to renters or thinking about long-term resale value.
Mall
Westfield Century City
Major regional shopping center anchored by the Westfield mall.
Former museum
Annenberg Space for Photography (formerly)
Closed 2020. The space remains an architectural landmark.
Pre-approved plans that fit Century City lots
Picking a pre-approved standard plan is the fastest legal path to a permit. These are the options most homeowners in Century City consider:
Browse all 40 pre-approved plan firms →Frequently asked questions about Century City ADUs
›Can I build an ADU in Century City?
Yes — Century City is inside the City of Los Angeles, so the same LADBS rules apply as the rest of LA. Most single-family lots in Century City (zoned C2-2, R5-1) can host one ADU plus one JADU under current law. Run your specific address through the feasibility check on the homepage to confirm your zone and overlays.
›How much does it cost to build an ADU in Century City?
Typical all-in cost for a permitted detached ADU in Century City runs $150,000–$400,000+ depending on size, finish level, and whether you're on a flat lot or hillside. The free 455 sqft YOU-ADU plan keeps total cost low; HCD-prefab units (Connect Homes, Cover) are turnkey at $190K–$350K. Use the cost calculator linked above for a per-lot estimate.
›How long does the ADU permit process take in Century City?
LADBS aims for 60-day plan check on ADU permits — and same-day issuance if you use a pre-approved standard plan (YOU-ADU or a licensed designer plan). In practice, custom plans average 4–7 months from submittal to building permit. Flat-lot Century City permits are usually on the faster end of that range.
›Do I need a contractor with a specific license for an ADU in Century City?
Yes — California requires a B (General Building) license for any structure with two or more trades, which describes essentially every ADU. You can owner-build, but most homeowners hire a licensed contractor.
›Does Century City have an HPOZ (historic overlay) I need to worry about?
No — Century City doesn't have an active HPOZ, so you skip the historic preservation review entirely. That's a meaningful time and cost savings compared to neighborhoods like Highland Park or Whitley Heights.
›What about the new CA ADU laws — do they apply in Century City?
Yes. CA's recent ADU bills (AB 68 from 2020, AB 332 from 2023, AB 1033 from 2024, plus several others) all apply statewide and override stricter local ordinances. LA implemented them via Ordinance 187,712 in 2024, which streamlined permit issuance for pre-approved standard plans. Century City sees the full benefit since LADBS is the permitting agency.
›Can I rent out the ADU on Airbnb in Century City?
Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are restricted in LA City — you can only Airbnb your primary residence, not an ADU you don't live in, and there's a 120-night cap per year. Century City is no exception. Long-term rentals (30+ day leases) are unrestricted and are the more common ADU monetization path.
›Do I need an architect or can I use a draftsperson?
For a pre-approved standard plan (YOU-ADU or a LADBS-licensed designer plan), neither — the plan is already drawn and stamped. For a custom ADU, a licensed architect or civil engineer must stamp the structural drawings. Draftsperson alone is not enough for the structural set.
Nearby areas to Century City
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.
Independent city
Beverly Hills →
Premium home values support strong Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) economics, but Beverly Hills' design review, conservation overlays, and detailed local ordinance make this one of the more procedurally complex Westside cities.
LA City
Westwood →
UCLA-adjacent premium Westside neighborhood. Single-family ADU pockets in Westwood Hills + south-Holmby command premium rental economics from the UCLA + Westside hospital + tech employment base.
LA City
Beverlywood →
Premium family-oriented Westside neighborhood with strong HOA architectural review. ADU rental + in-law-suite economics are both strong.
LA City
Century City →
Westside high-rise commercial district. Single-family ADU applicability is limited to a small residential pocket on the south side; most of Century City is commercial or condo tower.
Ready to see what your Century City lot can do?
Free address-level feasibility check. Pulls your zone, GPLU, overlays, permit history, and tells you exactly what you can build — usually in under 15 seconds.
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