Long Beach · ADU permits
ADU permits in Long Beach
How to build a ADU in Long Beach: permit pathway through Long Beach Development Services Department, drawings required, local watch-outs, and a free address-level wizard for your Long Beach lot.
Long Beach context
Long Beach's ADU ordinance lives in Long Beach Municipal Code Title 21. The city aligns with the California state baseline plus several local streamlining provisions. Coastal Development Permit (CDP) requirements only apply to the harbor + shore-adjacent parcels (Belmont Shore, Naples Island, downtown harbor). Most of the city is Coastal-Zone-free. The Long Beach Airport (LGB) Airport-Influence Area covers a significant central + east-side swath.
- Permit agency
- Long Beach Development Services Department
- Median lot size
- 4,800 sqft
- ADU permits issued (2025)
- 558Source: Cal HCD Annual Progress Report 2025 (Table A2, BP_ISSUE_DT1 set)
Long Beach ADU ordinance
Verified against Long Beach Development Services Department's published ordinance on 2026-05-12. State law (CA Government Code §65852.2) overrides any locally-stricter rule.
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)
Coastal Development Permit (CDP)
Required only for harbor + shore-adjacent parcels
Belmont Shore, Naples Island, downtown harbor + Bluff Park area. Most of the city is exempt.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) Airport-Influence Area construction
Sound-attenuation rules in the central + east-side swath under the LGB flight path
Affects substantial portions of the city.
Oil-derrick + petroleum-zone proximity review
Required for parcels adjacent to active oil operations
Affects pockets in north Long Beach + Signal Hill-adjacent areas. Rare for residential ADU sites but flagged on submittal.
Local processing time
45-60 days for standard ADUs
Pre-approved standard plans
Long Beach maintains a Pre-Approved Plan Library (PAPL) with several free city-vetted ADU designs
Similar to LADBS YOU-ADU model — fastest path to a permit.
Drawings you'll need to submit
Type your address. See if you can build an ADU, what kind, and exactly how to permit it.
- Site plan (parcel layout + setbacks)
- Proposed floor plan
- Elevations (each side)
- Title 24 CF1R energy compliance
PermitPathLA generates the site plan free from your Long Beach address. The other drawings come from your architect or plan firm — we list pre-approved options in the wizard.
Long Beach watch-outs for ADU
Overlays that hit a meaningful share of Long Beach lots
California Coastal Zone (harbor + Belmont Shore + Naples)~10% of parcels
CDP required. Affects 8-12% of city parcels.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) Airport-Influence Area~45% of parcels
Central + east-side parcels under LGB flight paths require sound-attenuation construction.
Tsunami Inundation Zone (Peninsula + Naples Island)~4% of parcels
Foundation + utility-placement implications for low-lying ocean-adjacent parcels.
Local quirks
Use the city's Pre-Approved Plan Library if you can
Long Beach maintains a free Pre-Approved Plan Library (PAPL) with several city-vetted ADU designs. Same-day or near-same-day permit issuance on these — significantly faster than custom plans. Worth checking before commissioning a custom designer.
Belmont Shore + Naples lots are tight and Coastal Zone
Long Beach's shore-adjacent parcels are smaller than the inland blocks and require a Coastal Development Permit (CDP). Plan timelines + budget accordingly.
LBUSD school fees apply over 500 sqft
Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) — one of California's largest districts — charges school facility fees on ADUs over 500 sqft.
Most of Long Beach is great Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) territory
Inland Long Beach has reasonable lot sizes, fast plan check, free pre-approved plans, no Coastal Zone hassle, and rental demand from the port + downtown employment base. The dollar-for-dollar Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) economics are some of the strongest in LA County.
Run your Long Beach address through the wizard
We pull your parcel polygon from county GIS, apply Long Beach ordinance + state baseline rules, generate the site plan, and walk you through the Long Beach Development Services Department submittal. Free, no signup.