In short
- 581 ADU permits since 2018.
- 99 in 2025, down 20% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 145 days from application to permit (median of 292 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 | 16 | — | — |
| 2019 | 25 | — | — |
| 2020 | 24 | — | — |
| 2021 | 52 | — | — |
| 2022 | 90 | — | — |
| 2023 | 151 | — | — |
| 2024 | 123 | — | — |
| 2025 | 99 | — | — |
| 2026 so far | 1 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 85 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Lakewood
State law check: HCD sent a technical-assistance letter (May 11, 2026) saying the 2023 ordinance on file may be outdated; the city amended its rules in November 2025. HCD's earlier findings (March 29, 2023) drew a city response.
| Rule | Lakewood's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 1,200 sq ft; attached or converted from the house 50% of the house, at least 800 sq ft. Conversions of other existing structures can exceed 1,200. 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 | New construction: 35 ft, 2½ stories. In the front yard: 25 ft attached, 18 ft detached. | 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; 20 ft front, though up to 800 sq ft may project into it; 4 ft between eaves. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space unless exempt (garage conversions, inside the house, transit, car share and others). | 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 | The code requires the owner to live on the property, which state law no longer allows for ADUs. Junior ADU: the owner lives in it or 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 | Up to two ADUs and one junior ADU; four units in all on a single-family lot. | 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 | 31 days or more; no short-term home-sharing. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Planning screens plans for the city's objective design standards before the building permit.
- An ADU must be within 450 ft of a fire hydrant.
- The city runs a pre-approved ADU plan program.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Lakewood Municipal Code § 9302.21a (Ord. 2025-3, Nov 11, 2025) · HCD letter (May 11, 2026) · HCD findings (Mar 29, 2023); 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 | 145 | 90 – 222 | 292 |
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 317 ADU permits Lakewood reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 288 (91%) 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 Lakewood? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Lakewood
How many ADUs have been permitted in Lakewood?
Public records show 581 ADU permits in Lakewood from 2018 through 2025. 99 in 2025, down 20% 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 Lakewood?
Among the 292 ADU permits in Lakewood with both dates recorded, half were issued within 145 days of the application; the middle half took 90 to 222 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Lakewood?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood?
Apply with the City of Lakewood's Community Development Department: Planning screening through the city's Planning Portal, then a Building and Safety plan check; the city has a pre-approved ADU program. 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.