The City of Los Angeles’s Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) Pre-Approved Plans Program is one of multiple recent initiatives developed to reduce both the cost and hassle of building an ADU within Los Angeles. In recent years, ADUs have gained popularity throughout the U.S. and in Los Angeles, in particular. As states and cities move to meet the growing demand for affordable housing within their borders, ADUs have become a popular solution - allowing individual homeowners to add more residential space to their property and thus increasing the stock of single-family, affordable housing. Legislators and government officials have developed laws and programs that positively affect individuals looking to build ADUs in California - in our guide below, we cover the LADBS Standard Plan Program and what it means for individuals looking to build an ADU in the city of Los Angeles. For individuals looking for project specific guidance, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.

What is the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Standard Plan Program?

The LADBS standard plan program is a project implemented by the city of Los Angeles to provide a simplified permitting process for the construction of certain, pre-approved ADUs. Under the program, private licensed architects and engineers can submit ADU floor plans for pre-approval by LADBS on building, residential, and green code compliance. Individuals interested in building one of the pre-approved ADUs must then only be reviewed for site specific conditions like compliance with zoning code and foundation requirements. Currently (June 2021), there are 26 approved plans, with another 5 pending review.

Unlike some other cities that have implemented a standard ADU plan program, LADBS does not own the plans, the respective architects and companies do. Therefore, to purchase a pre-approved plan, interested buyers must work with the chosen companies to first purchase the plan and then move forward with the ADU building process.

What plans are available under the LADBS standard plan program?

There are currently 26 pre-approved plans in the LADBS standard plan program with another 5 pending approval. The ADUs range in size and style and the plan owners include individual architects, design firms, and even companies that specialize in prefab ADUs.

What are the benefits of Los Angeles’ Standard Plan Program?

Under the LADBS standard plan program, there are two primary advantages - cost savings and time savings. For individuals who choose to build one of the standard plans, they save on the costs of applying for a building permit for their ADU which, while it will vary from project to project, can range from around $4,000 for a smaller, junior ADU, to $7,000+ for a larger, multi-bedroom ADU. The other big advantage is a time savings both due to not needing extra time for a company to develop a custom ADU plan and also due to an expedited permitting process.

What are the drawbacks of Los Angeles’ Standard Plan Program?

While each project is unique and the LADBS standard plan program may be better suited for some projects rather than others, there are a few potential negatives to be aware of.  First, just because some plans are pre-approved does not mean that they will be cheap to build. Some of the architects that have submitted plans specialize in high-end, unique dwellings. And while their pre-approved plans reflect that in style, these ADUs may come at a higher cost than ADUs that are not on the list. A second potential drawback of the standard plan program is that floor plans cannot be modified. Therefore, plans purchased via this program are not well-suited for individuals looking for a customized ADU. Lastly, with the exception of United Dwelling, Connect Homes, and Abodu, the companies that have submitted and received approval for their plans are only architects and engineers. While this is not a negative in and of itself, buyers may have to coordinate with multiple groups - architects, builders, and specialized tradespeople to complete the ADU project rather than with a single company; which for some, may be a disincentive. 

What is the background for Los Angeles’ Standard Plan Program?

Both at the state and local levels, lawmakers have made a legislative effort to encourage ADU building by reducing bureaucratic friction. At the state level for example, California’s AB-68 (2020) is a statewide law that requires local building departments to take a decision on ADU permit applications within 60 days and eliminates a majority of local restrictions that prohibit the construction of ADUs. Other state laws, like SB-13 and AB-670 reduce the associated fees with building an ADU and also eliminate restrictions on who is eligible to build an ADU. Along with this statewide legislative push, the LADBS standard plan program was put in place to simplify and speed-up the ADU building process.

Where can I learn more about building an ADU in Los Angeles?

For individuals looking to learn more about building an ADU in Los Angeles, you may be interested in:

• Guide to Buying an ADU in Los Angeles

• Comparing LA ADU Companies

• Best Prefab ADUs for Sale in Los Angeles