In short
- 764 ADU permits since 2018.
- 92 in 2025, down 12% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 147 days from application to permit (median of 357 permits with both dates recorded).
About this data
- Source: California HCD Housing Element Annual Progress Reports. The state data does not say whether an ADU is detached, attached, a garage conversion or a JADU, so most records show as 'unknown'. Permit valuations are not published in this source. Timelines use the application date the city reported to the state, matched to the permit where possible; some cities report their planning application date, so timelines can include planning review. Each project is counted once, in its building-permit year (or completion year when no permit date was reported).
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 54 | — | — |
| 2019 | 79 | — | — |
| 2020 | 70 | — | — |
| 2021 | 108 | — | — |
| 2022 | 134 | — | — |
| 2023 | 121 | — | — |
| 2024 | 105 | — | — |
| 2025 | 92 | — | — |
| 2026 so far | 1 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 1 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Culver City
State law check: HCD found the 2023 ordinance noncompliant (October 18, 2024), including the unit combinations, front setbacks and fees; the city amended it in 2025 and 2026. We haven't seen HCD's response.
| Rule | Culver City's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | Attached: 850 sq ft (1 bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms), or 50% of the house, whichever is less. Detached: 850 or 1,200 sq ft. No cap inside the house. State-law detached ADU 800 sq ft. Junior ADU 500 sq ft. | At least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms) must be allowed; an 800 sq ft detached ADU always is. Conversions of existing space have no size cap. Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft. |
| Height | R1 and R2 zones: the zone's height limit for houses; other zones 30 ft. Always at least 18 ft detached (plus 2 ft for roof pitch near transit) and 25 ft attached. | Detached: at least 16 ft (18 ft within ½ mile of transit, plus 2 ft for a matching roof). Attached: 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower. |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side and rear next to residential lots, 2 ft next to a street, alley or non-residential zone; the zone's front setback unless state law allows less. None for conversions. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | None, and no replacement parking. | At most 1 space; none within ½ mile of transit and in several other cases. No replacement parking when a garage is converted. |
| Owner living on site | None for ADUs. Junior ADU: only when it shares a bathroom with the house. | None for ADUs. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house requires the owner to live in one of them. |
| How many on a single-family lot | One ADU converted from existing space, one detached ADU and one junior ADU. | One ADU converted from existing space, one junior ADU and one new detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft). From January 1, 2027: two new detached ADUs (a city then needn't allow a junior ADU on that lot). |
| Short-term rentals | Not for 30 days or less. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Pre-Reviewed ADU Program (PRADU): nine plan sets (studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms, 468 to 806 sq ft) in three styles.
- ADUs can be sold separately as condominiums (§ 17.400.096, 2026).
- ADUs of 750 sq ft or more pay the Mobility Improvement Fee and park in-lieu fee, scaled to the house's size.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Culver City Municipal Code § 17.400.095 (Ord. 2025-006; Ord. 2026-004) · HCD findings (Oct 18, 2024); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Sep 30, 2026. Rules change and every lot is different: confirm with the city before you design.
How long permits take
| Type | Median days, application to permit | Middle half | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unclassified | 147 | 81 – 266 | 357 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: How long ADU permits take in Los Angeles (and other cities) · How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 304 ADU permits Culver City reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 111 (37%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 8 months.
The state reports don't record expired or cancelled permits, and a completion the city hasn't reported looks the same as an unfinished project, so the share is a floor. Years with incomplete reports are left out.
What neighbors declared as cost
Cost data (declared permit valuations) is not published for this area in these sources.
Read more: How to choose an ADU builder
An ADU builder serving Culver City? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Culver City
How many ADUs have been permitted in Culver City?
Public records show 764 ADU permits in Culver City from 2018 through 2025. 92 in 2025, down 12% from 2024. These counts come from the city's reports to the state, which place a project in its completion year when no permit date was reported.
How long does an ADU permit take in Culver City?
Among the 357 ADU permits in Culver City with both dates recorded, half were issued within 147 days of the application; the middle half took 81 to 266 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Culver City?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Culver City, but what you can build depends on your lot, local rules and utilities. This site shows permits, not eligibility. See California ADU rules.
Where do I apply for an ADU permit in Culver City?
Apply with the City of Culver City's Building Safety Division; the city's Pre-Reviewed ADU (PRADU) program offers nine ready plan sets. Official ADU page.
How current is this?
- State annual progress reports: through 2025 (published once a year)
How our data works · Download the data · Free to reuse with credit to SoCal ADU Tracker (socaladutracker.com), under CC BY 4.0.