In short
- 3,486 ADU permits on record, nearly all since 2019.
- 582 in 2025, down 17% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 165 days from application to permit (median of 2,381 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 | 59 | — | — |
| 2019 | 223 | — | — |
| 2020 | 281 | — | — |
| 2021 | 444 | — | — |
| 2022 | 506 | — | — |
| 2023 | 691 | — | — |
| 2024 | 699 | — | — |
| 2025 | 582 | — | — |
| 2026 so far | 1 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 174 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Long Beach
State law check: No HCD review letter on file (that isn't a finding either way). The city has no ADU ordinance in effect and applies state law; a new ordinance was drafted in September 2025 and awaits hearings.
| Rule | Long Beach's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | No local ordinance in effect; the city applies state law. Detached 800 sq ft; attached 50% of the house or 800 sq ft, whichever is more; conversions no cap. 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 | Detached: 16 ft (18 ft near transit, plus 2 ft to match a sloped roof). Attached: 25 ft, 2 stories, or the zone limit if lower. | 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 (or the zone's, if less) and rear; the zone's front setback unless that would block an 800 sq ft ADU. Conversions keep existing setbacks. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | None within ½ mile of transit, in a historic district, for conversions, near car share or in the city's Parking Exempt Area, among other exemptions; none for junior ADUs. | 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 converted ADU and one new detached ADU, plus 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 addressed in the city's ADU bulletin; ask the city before renting short term. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Coastal Zone: an administrative local coastal development permit, with no hearing, filed with the building permit.
- Historic districts and landmarks need a Certificate of Appropriateness (no hearing).
- Pre-approved ADU plans (800 and 415 sq ft) can be permitted over the counter, often the same day.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Long Beach Planning Information Bulletin IB-PZ-001 (ADUs, applying state law) · City of Long Beach, ADU and SB 9 Development · Long Beach Pre-Approved ADU Program; 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 | 165 | 97 – 262 | 2,381 |
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 1,841 ADU permits Long Beach reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 1,537 (83%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 10 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 Long Beach? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Long Beach
How many ADUs have been permitted in Long Beach?
Public records show 3,486 ADU permits in Long Beach through 2025, nearly all since 2019. 582 in 2025, down 17% 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 Long Beach?
Among the 2,381 ADU permits in Long Beach with both dates recorded, half were issued within 165 days of the application; the middle half took 97 to 262 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Long Beach?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Long Beach, 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 Long Beach?
Apply with the City of Long Beach's Community Development Department (Planning and Building & Safety), which offers pre-approved ADU plans that can be permitted over the counter. 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.