This Bulletin is developed to clarify the standards applicable to City review and approval of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs). The City of Long Beach does not currently have an adopted local ADU ordinance as of the date of this Bulletin. Therefore, all ADU and JADU projects are reviewed strictly in accordance with State ADU law¹.

This Bulletin summarizes the requirements of State ADU law for the convenience of ADU builders. Upon adoption of a local ADU ordinance by the City Council, this Bulletin shall become ineffective. This Bulletin is subject to periodic updates, as ADU law changes, or California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) policies change. Dates of updates will be noted next to the effective date in the title above.

1. Lot Types
   Lot type is the first factor in determining which ADU(s) can be allowed. A single-family dwelling lot has one or more detached single-family dwellings and no multi-family dwellings. A multi-family dwelling has two or more principal dwelling units in one building, or as attached buildings. “Attached” is defined in Section 21.15.250. Both existing and proposed principal (non-ADU) units are considered in determining if a lot is single- or multi-family.
   
2. Number, Type, and Size of ADUs Permitted
   Table 1 describes the different scenarios of number, type and size of ADUs permitted.
3. Building Height Limits
   Table 2 describes the height limits for different ADU project types.
4. Setbacks
   Table 3 describes the building setbacks applicable to ADUs.
5. Minimum Unit Size
   Any ADU or JADU must be at least 150 sq. ft. in size to comply with the definition of “efficiency unit” per Cal. Health and Safety Code §17958.1.
6. Lot Coverage, Open Space, Floor Area Ratio, and Other Standards
   No standards for lot coverage, open space, or floor area ratio apply to the project types listed in this Information Bulletin. This also excludes open space standards for the primary dwelling, landscaping, street trees, and permeability standards.
7. JADU Access and Owner Occupancy Requirements
   Owner occupancy of the single-family dwelling or the JADU only is required if the JADU shares a bathroom with the primary dwelling. A JADU with a shared bathroom and access to the primary dwelling is not required to have its own separate exterior entrance. A JADU always must have its own kitchen.
8. Unit Type Combinations
   

   At a single-family lot, one conversion ADU and one detached new construction ADU can be permitted, in addition to one JADU.

   At a multi-family lot, detached ADU(s), and ADU(s) created through conversion of existing attached non-habitable space, can be permitted. The detached ADU(s) may consist of new construction, conversion of accessory building(s), or addition to and conversion of accessory building(s). No addition is permitted for conversion of attached non-habitable space. No JADU is permitted on any lot with a multi-family dwelling.

   For a lot with a single-family dwelling and a multi-family dwelling, each type of SFD ADU is permitted for the SFD, and each type of MFD ADU is permitted for the MFD, as applicable to the circumstances. However, an SFD ADU cannot be applied to the MFD or vice versa. No JADU is permitted on any lot with a multi-family dwelling, regardless of the presence of a single-family dwelling.

9. Parking
   No parking is required for any of the following circumstances:
   1. For an ADU located within one-half mile walking distance of any transit stop (see ADU Parking Exemption Map).
   2. For an ADU in a historic district.
   3. For an ADU converted from a portion of the primary dwelling or an accessory building.
   4. For an ADU when on-street parking permits are required on the adjacent street but are not offered to the ADU occupant (burden of proof is on applicant).
   5. For an ADU within one-half mile of a car share vehicle (burden of proof is on applicant).
   6. When an ADU application is submitted in conjunction with an application for a new SFD or MFD, if any of the above apply.
   7. For a JADU.
   8. For an ADU located within the Parking Exempt Area established by Section 21.41.175.
10. Floor Area Measurement
    The floor area of an ADU is measured only to the interior walls as required by state law. This measurement method shall apply only to calculating the allowable living area of an ADU. All other development standards shall be calculated using Gross Floor Area (GFA) as defined in Section 21.15.1070 of the Zoning Regulations and measured to the outside surfaces of exterior walls.
11. Application Requirements
    An ADU project applicant is required to submit all the plans and information required for a building permit. The applicant must provide any additional plans and information requested, and must make all required corrections, before the application will be considered complete.
12. Coastal Zone Procedures
    Any ADU or JADU project in the Coastal Zone is required to obtain an Administrative Local Coastal Development Permit (LCDP). No public hearing is required. The LCDP must be filed concurrently with the building permit application.
13. Historic Procedures
    Any ADU or JADU project in a historic district, or at a designated historic landmark property, must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). No public hearing is required. The COA must be filed concurrently with the building permit application.
14. Refuse (Trash, Recycling, and Organics)
    As required by the Long Beach Municipal Code for all dwelling units, the following refuse requirements apply to an ADU or JADU project:
1. One to Three Units on site. For a lot with one to three dwelling units (of any type), adequate refuse receptacles shall be provided for each unit, as required by Chapter 8.60, LBMC.
2. Four or More Units. For a lot with four or more dwelling units (of any type), common refuse area(s) shall be provided with receptacles in sufficient quantity to accommodate all refuse generated, as required by Chapter 8.60, LBMC. Trash enclosures shall be provided per Section 21.45.167.

¹CHAPTER 13. Accessory Dwelling Units [§§66310 - 66342], Cal. Gov’t Code.

Single-Family Lot

Project Type	Description	Maximum Number of Units Permitted	Maximum Unit Size
Conversion ADU	Conversion of portion of existing primary dwelling(a)	1 ADU	No limit(b)
	Conversion of existing attached or detached accessory building(a)		No limit, but no addition is permitted(c)
Attached new construction ADU Attached new construction ADU	Addition to existing primary dwelling(d)		50% of the size of primary dwelling or 800 sq. ft., whichever is more(e)
	In conjunction with a proposed single-family dwelling		No limit
Detached new construction ADU	New construction only, no conversion/rebuild	1 ADU	800 sq. ft.(f)
Junior ADU(g)	Conversion only of portion of existing primary dwelling or attached garage(h)	1 JADU	500 sq. ft.(h)

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Multi-Family Lots

Project Type	Description	Maximum Number of Units Permitted	Maximum Unit Size
Conversion of detached accessory building, or Construction of new detached ADU(s)	Proposed multi-family dwelling	2 ADUs	No limit, additions permitted to detached accessory buildings
	Existing multi-family dwelling	8 ADUs, or equal to the number of existing permitted units, whichever is less.	No limit, additions permitted to detached accessory buildings
Attached conversion ADU(s)	Conversion of existing attached non-habitable space of an existing multi-family dwelling	1 ADU, or 25% of the existing permitted number of units, whichever is more.	No limit, but no addition is permitted(i)

Notes

1. Conversion includes rebuild. Rebuild is limited to the same location and same dimensions as the rebuilt building or portion thereof. Any addition, if permitted, is considered new construction.
2. No limit to the size of a portion of existing primary dwelling converted to ADU (Cal. Gov’t Code §66323(a)(1).
3. An addition to an existing accessory building is permitted only for ingress and egress, and is limited to 150 sq. ft. The HCD example of this is for a stairway. No other addition is permitted for the conversion of an accessory building.
4. This addition may be combined with a conversion of a portion of the single-family dwelling to an ADU.
5. This limit applies only to the addition and not to the converted area of the single-family dwelling.
6. Cal. Gov’t Code §66323(a)(2)(A).
7. No JADU is permitted on any lot with a multi-family dwelling regardless of the presence of a single-family dwelling.
8. No addition is permitted for a JADU. Any proposed addition for a future JADU must comply with all development standards applicable to the SFD or attached garage with no exceptions, and must receive Certificate of Occupancy prior to application for conversion to JADU. Addition plans cannot indicate use as future JADU.
9. No addition is permitted for conversion of attached non-habitable space at a multi-family dwelling.

Project Type	Location/condition	Height Limit(a)
Conversion of portion of primary dwelling	Single-family dwelling lot only	Maintain existing building height
Conversion of attached or detached accessory building	All	Maintain existing building height(b)
New construction or addition, attached to primary dwelling	Single-family dwelling lot only	25 feet/2 stories, or zoning height limit, whichever is less
New construction of detached ADU, single- or multi-family lot	Transit proximity(c)	18 feet
	Transit proximity(c) with sloped roof on primary dwelling	18 feet, plus up to 2 feet to match existing sloped roof of primary dwelling
	No transit proximity, but existing multi-story, multi-family dwelling on site	18 feet
	All others	16 feet

Notes

1. Definitions apply: “Height of building” per Section 21.15.1330 and “Height to midpoint of sloped roof” per Section 21.15.1335.
2. The permitted 150-sq. ft. addition to an accessory building shall comply with height limits for new construction.
3. Transit proximity: located within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit or a high-quality transit corridor. Refer to "SB 9 Parking Exemption and ADU Height Exception Map."

Project Type	Setback Location	Required Setback
New construction	Front	Per zoning district(a)
	Side	4 feet or per zoning district, whichever is less
	Rear	4 feet(b)
Conversion(c)	Any	Maintain existing building setback(d)(e)

Notes:

1. If there is no other way to accommodate an ADU up to 800 sq. ft. on the lot, an ADU may encroach into the required front yard setback, subject to Building and Fire code restrictions.
2. The rear setback shall be measured to centerline of adjacent alley where such exists.
3. Assumes conversion of a permitted building. An unpermitted building is subject to legalization. If an unpermitted building can be permitted, it can be considered a conversion (including rebuild). If not, the building shall be revised to comply with the setbacks for new ADU construction above.
4. Must be sufficient for fire and life safety as determined by the Building Official and Fire Code Official.
5. Conversion includes rebuild. Rebuild is limited to the same location and same dimensions as the rebuilt building or portion thereof. Any addition, if permitted, is considered new construction.