Same zip, different jurisdiction: this page covers LA County Public Works (DPW). The same zip code(s) also cover parts of La Puente (La Puente (its own permits)) and Industry (City of Industry) (Industry (City of Industry) (its own permits)). Verify your parcel's jurisdiction before filing — different agencies, different rules.
San Gabriel Valley · LA County (Unincorporated)
ADU permits in Hacienda Heights
Zip codes:91745
Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated community of about 54,000 people in the eastern San Gabriel Valley (SGV), between the City of Industry and Whittier. It is not a city. Building permits run through Los Angeles County Public Works (Building & Safety) under LA County Code Title 22, not through a city building department. Hacienda Heights is one of the largest unincorporated communities in California and has a strong Asian-American (particularly Taiwanese-American) cultural anchor centered on the 1988 Hsi Lai Temple — the largest Buddhist temple in the Western Hemisphere.
Unincorporated LA County, not LADBS
Hacienda Heights 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 Hacienda Heights-specific permit pathway is detailed below.
Hacienda Heights by the numbers
Rounded figures from the 2020 US Census, LA County Assessor parcel data, and LA County DPW permit records.
Population
54,000
2020 Census
Single-family homes
~14,500
LA County Assessor
Median lot size
7,800 sqft
Approximate
ADU permits filed 2025
~95
Source: HCD 2025 total (1,278) distributed proportionally across 2024 per-area shares. 2024: 110.
What makes Hacienda Heights different
Hacienda Heights sits in unincorporated LA County despite being surrounded by the cities of Industry, La Puente, and Whittier. Permits run through LA County DPW Building & Safety at the Alhambra office via the EPIC-LA online portal — not through any city department. ADU rules follow the state baseline (Gov Code §65852.2) implemented through LA County Code Title 22.140. Northern hillside parcels (the Puente Hills foothills) face hillside grading + geotech review on top of standard ADU rules.
LA County ADU rules for Hacienda Heights
Last verified: 2026-04-15
Current LA County rules from Title 22 of the County Code, as applied to Hacienda Heights. State preemption (Gov Code §65852.2) 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), Alhambra office Not LADBS. EPIC-LA portal for online submission. |
| Local processing time | 60 days from complete submittal (state-mandated) |
Active overlays + extra rules in Hacienda Heights
LA County overlays + state-level designations that hit a meaningful share of Hacienda Heights parcels.
Hillside Management Area (Puente Hills foothills)
~25% of parcelsNorthern + southern hillside parcels trigger geotech + grading-permit review.
Watch-outs specific to Hacienda Heights
- 01
Not a city — LA County DPW handles permits, not LADBS
Hacienda Heights residents sometimes confuse jurisdiction with neighboring Industry or Whittier. All Hacienda Heights permits run through LA County Public Works Building & Safety at the Alhambra office.
- 02
Hillside grading review on Puente Hills foothills
Lots along the Puente Hills foothills slope significantly and trigger LA County hillside grading review. Geotech reports typically required.
Need a person, not a wizard?
Routes that fit Hacienda Heights
Based on what we know about Hacienda Heights, these are the lead types that usually make sense here. Pick whichever fits your situation. All free, no obligation.
Complex permit context
Request a Hacienda Heights permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Hacienda Heights 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 Hacienda Heights projects.
Complex permit context
Request a Hacienda Heights permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Hacienda Heights 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 Hacienda Heights projects.
Plans that fit Hacienda Heights lots
For unincorporated Los Angeles County, the LA County A / B / C pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans are free and usable here. California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)-approved prefab also bypasses local plan check entirely.
Amenities + civic services in Hacienda Heights
Parks, libraries, and the school district that serve the area. Context that matters for renter appeal, family relocation, and long-term resale.
Parks + sports
Hacienda Heights Community Center
Newton Avenue, central Hacienda Heights
Main community park + recreation center.
- Baseball
- Playground
- Community Center
- Picnic
Schabarum Regional Park
Colima Road, southwest Hacienda Heights
LA County Regional Park with trails into the Puente Hills + equestrian center.
- Trails
- Picnic
- Playground
Libraries
Hacienda Heights Library
LA County Library
Hacienda Boulevard
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
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Notable schools in the area
- Glen A. Wilson High School (high-performing)
Getting around Hacienda Heights
Car-dependent suburban with bus service along major arterials.
Transit + walkability
Bus lines
- Foothill Transit 274
- Foothill Transit 480
Walkability
Hacienda Boulevard commercial corridor is moderately walkable; residential is car-dependent.
Nearby airports
Distance + type for each major Los Angeles-area airport reachable from Hacienda Heights. Useful for travel, commute, and any flight-path noise concerns on specific parcels.
Los Angeles International (LAX)
~25 miInternational
Long Beach Daugherty Field (LGB)
~18 miRegional / domestic
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
~22 miRegional / domestic
Community + landmarks in Hacienda Heights
Annual events, landmarks, and the places that anchor the area's identity. Context for renter appeal and long-term resale.
What makes Hacienda Heights Hacienda Heights
Religious + cultural landmark
Hsi Lai Temple
1988 Buddhist temple — largest Buddhist temple in the Western Hemisphere. International pilgrimage destination + cultural anchor of the Taiwanese-American SGV community.
Nearby areas to Hacienda Heights
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
Rowland Heights →
Dense Chinese-American + Taiwanese-American unincorporated SGV community. Strong long-term Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) rental demand from multigenerational-household culture + premium-Asian-retail commercial anchor.
LA County unincorporated
South Whittier →
Largest unincorporated community in LA County by population. LA County (not Whittier city) jurisdiction shapes the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permitting path.
LA County unincorporated
Valinda →
Eastern SGV unincorporated community surrounded by West Covina + La Puente + Industry. LA County jurisdiction shapes the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permitting path.
Other permits in Hacienda Heights
LA County Public Works (Building & Safety) handles ADU, solar, and garage-conversion permits for Hacienda Heightsand the rest of unincorporated LA County. We've broken each out as its own pathway page.
Frequently asked questions about Hacienda Heights ADUs
›Can I build an ADU in Hacienda Heights?
Yes. Hacienda Heights allows ADUs under LA County Code Title 22, aligned with California Gov Code §65852.2. Most single-family lots can host one ADU plus one JADU. Permits go through LA County Public Works (Building & Safety), not LADBS, since Hacienda Heights is unincorporated territory rather than a city.
›Why does Hacienda Heights use LA County rules instead of LA City rules?
Hacienda Heights 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 Hacienda Heights 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 Hacienda Heights?
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. Hacienda Heights-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 Hacienda Heights. 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 Hacienda Heights lot can do?
Our free address checker pulls real zoning, overlay, and parcel data for any Los Angeles County address, including unincorporated Hacienda Heights. 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.
Hacienda Heights 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