Building an ADU in Culver City

What you can build in Culver City

ADUs are allowed in areas zoned for single-family or multifamily homes. Culver City's rules are in Municipal Code section 17.400.095. The code says state ADU law (Government Code sections 66310 to 66342) overrides any part of the city ordinance that conflicts with it.

On a single-family lot you can have:

• One ADU inside the existing or proposed house, or inside an existing accessory building such as a garage.
• One new detached ADU.
• One junior ADU (JADU) inside the house.

"Statewide exemption" ADUs. The code lists the ADUs state law says every city must approve: an ADU inside the house or an existing accessory building (with up to 150 sq ft added for entry and exit) plus a JADU inside the house, a new detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and ADUs on multifamily lots. These don't have to meet lot coverage, front setback or design standards; only building and health and safety codes apply. Larger ADUs follow the rest of section 17.400.095 and the zone's standards.

On multifamily lots (two or more attached units count) you can convert non-living space such as storage rooms, attics, basements or attached garages into ADUs, up to 25% of the existing units and at least one. You can also build up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with existing apartments (no more than the number of existing units), or two on a lot with a proposed building.

ADUs and JADUs do not have to meet the city's Objective Design Standards. For a plain-English overview of ADU types, see what is an ADU and our California page. [1]

How the code answers the state's review

In October 2024, California's housing department (HCD) told Culver City that its ADU Ordinance No. 2023-005 did not comply with state ADU law. HCD said the city must update its references to the renumbered state law, allow 2 more feet of height for roof pitch near major transit, allow a converted ADU, a new detached ADU and a JADU on the same lot, not let front setbacks block an 800 sq ft ADU, require (not just allow) an interior connection when a JADU shares a bathroom, and charge impact fees on ADUs of 750 sq ft or more in proportion to the house's size.

The current code, amended by ordinances in 2024, 2025 and 2026, now does each of these. One older line remains: the code still says ADUs must be independent from the main home "without internal access." HCD said that rule can't block an ADU that state law protects, and the code exempts those ADUs from local standards other than building and safety codes. If an interior door matters to your design, confirm with the Planning Division. [1][3]

Size, height and setbacks

Size. Every ADU must be at least 150 sq ft, with a kitchen and at least a three-quarter bathroom. Size counts living area from exterior wall to exterior wall.

• New detached ADU: up to 850 sq ft with one bedroom, or 1,200 sq ft with two or more bedrooms.
• Attached ADU: up to 850 sq ft with one bedroom or 1,200 sq ft with two or more, or 50% of the house's gross floor area if that is less. HCD says a percentage limit can't hold an ADU below 850 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft with more than one bedroom.
• ADU entirely inside the existing or proposed house: no size limit.
• JADU: up to 500 sq ft.

Height. In the R1 and R2 zones, an ADU may be as tall as the zone allows for homes; in other zones, 30 feet. The code also says local standards can't stop a detached ADU of up to 18 feet or an attached ADU of up to 25 feet. Within a half-mile walk of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, a detached ADU gets 2 more feet to match the house's roof pitch. A detached ADU on a lot with a multistory apartment building can be 30 feet.

Setbacks. A new ADU needs at least 4 feet from side and rear lot lines next to a residential zone, and 2 feet from lines next to a street, alley, mixed-use or special-purpose zone. The same applies to an ADU built over a garage. ADUs over 800 sq ft must meet the zone's front setback; state-protected ADUs don't have to. On a through lot, you can build within 2 feet of one front lot line. An ADU built inside existing space needs only setbacks the Culver City Fire Department finds enough for fire safety. [1][4]

Parking

Culver City requires no parking for an ADU or a JADU. If you convert or tear down a garage or carport to build one, you don't have to replace the lost parking either. [1]

Fees

You pay plan check fees when your application is accepted, and permit fees, development impact fees and sewer fees before the permit is issued. Pre-approved plans still pay plan check and impact fees.

Impact fees. The code charges impact fees, including the Mobility Improvement Fee and in-lieu parkland fees, only on ADUs of 750 sq ft or more, in proportion to the square footage of the main home. State law bars impact fees on ADUs of 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less and on JADUs of 500 sq ft or less, so the two differ for an ADU of exactly 750 sq ft; confirm with the city. HCD gives an example: a 1,000 sq ft ADU next to a 2,000 sq ft house could pay 50% of the fee for a new house.

School fees. The school district may charge fees on ADUs over 500 sq ft of interior livable space; smaller ADUs and JADUs are exempt under state law.

Address. Before the permit is issued, you file an Address Assignment Request and pay its fee with Current Planning (optional for a JADU).

For typical construction costs see our ADU cost guide, and for how an ADU affects your tax bill, our ADU property tax guide. [1][2][4][5]

How long it takes

ADU and JADU permits in Culver City are ministerial: no hearing or discretionary review. You submit a complete plan set to the Building Safety Division, which approves or denies it within the state deadlines. Under state law, the city must tell you within 15 business days whether your application is complete, and approve or deny a complete application within 60 days when there is already a home on the lot, or it is deemed approved. If the city denies it, you get a full list of what to fix.

Building Safety says it responds to a new submittal within 2 to 3 business days, and each plan check round takes about 20 business days (10 for qualified expedited reviews); more than one round is typical. Once the permit is issued, construction must start within one year. After final inspection, you email Building.Safety@culvercity.org to request the Certificate of Occupancy. If you apply for a new house and an ADU together, the ADU permit waits until the house permit is decided. See our ADU permit process guide. [1][4][5]

Garage conversions, junior ADUs and unpermitted units

Garage conversions. You can turn an existing garage or other accessory building into an ADU with no size limit, adding up to 150 sq ft only for entry and exit. The ADU needs its own exterior access, setbacks only need to satisfy the Fire Department, and you don't replace the parking. See our garage conversion guide.

Junior ADUs. A JADU is up to 500 sq ft inside the existing or proposed house; it can be in an attached garage but not a detached building. It needs its own exterior entrance and an efficiency kitchen (cooking appliances, a prep counter and storage cabinets). If it shares a bathroom with the house, it must have an interior connection, and the owner must live in the house, the JADU or another unit on the lot, recorded in a deed restriction or covenant. A JADU can't be sold separately or rented for 30 days or less. See our junior ADU guide.

Unpermitted units. ADUs and JADUs built without permits before January 1, 2020 can apply to be legalized and are held only to the state's substandard-housing standards. The city suggests a confidential inspection by a licensed contractor first, and offers a Safe ADU & JADU checklist. Questions go to Building Safety at (310) 253-5800. [1][2]

Renting, selling and lot splits

ADUs and JADUs can't be rented for 30 days or less, so short-term rentals are out. You don't have to live on the property to have an ADU.

Selling an ADU separately. State law lets cities allow ADUs to be sold as condominiums, and Culver City adopted rules for this in 2026 (Ordinance No. 2026-004). You need a parcel map (four or fewer condo parcels) or a tentative and final map (five or more), a safety inspection, written consent from every lienholder, and approval from any existing homeowners association. The city must warn buyers that lenders may refuse consent or require a payoff or refinance. JADUs can never be sold separately.

Lot splits and duplexes. Culver City processes SB 9 two-unit projects and urban lot splits in R1 zones ministerially, and has updated its subdivision ordinance, including small lot subdivision rules. See the city's SB 9 and other subdivisions page and our SB 9 lot split guide. [1][4][6]

Pre-approved ADU plans

Culver City's free Pre-Approved ADU (PRADU) plans come in three floor plans, each in Post-War Bungalow, Spanish Revival or Contemporary style:

• 468 sq ft studio
• 637 sq ft one bedroom
• 806 sq ft two bedroom

The plans are for new construction only. You download them from the city's ADU page, add a site plan for your lot, fill in the project details on the cover sheet, and submit for a permit; plan check and impact fees still apply. Since 2025, as state law (AB 1332) requires, anyone can submit their own ADU plans for pre-approval; approved plans are posted with the applicant's contact information and are valid for the current building code cycle. The city also publishes an ADU Handbook (PDF). Questions go to the Planner on Duty at (310) 253-5710. To compare with factory-built options see our prefab ADU guide. [2]

Permit steps in Culver City

1. Check the rules for your lot

   Read CCMC 17.400.095 and the city's ADU Handbook, or ask the Planner on Duty at (310) 253-5710 or planning@culvercity.gov. [1][2]

2. Choose a design

   Hire a designer or download a free pre-approved plan (studio, one or two bedrooms) and add a site plan for your property. [2]

3. Apply online

   Create an account on the Culver City Permit Portal, choose Building, and upload your plans and documents. You can also submit four plan sets at the Building Safety counter on the second floor of City Hall. [5]

4. Pay plan check fees and answer corrections

   Staff check your submittal for completeness (they say within 2 to 3 business days), then email you to pay plan check fees. Each plan check round takes about 20 business days. State law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application. [4][5]

5. Request an address and pay permit fees

   Submit the Address Assignment Request to Current Planning, then pay permit, impact and sewer fees. The contractor signs the permit, and licenses must be active. [1][5]

6. Build, inspect and get your Certificate of Occupancy

   Start within one year, schedule inspections, then email Building.Safety@culvercity.org to request the Certificate of Occupancy. [5]

Pre-approved and sample plans

• Pre-Approved ADU (PRADU) Program

  Free plans for a 468 sq ft studio, 637 sq ft one-bedroom and 806 sq ft two-bedroom ADU, each in three styles; new construction only, with your own site plan. [2]

Who to call

• Culver City Planning Division (Planner on Duty)

  ADU zoning rules, pre-approved plans and address requests; email planning@culvercity.gov

  (310) 253-5710

  City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

  [2]

• Culver City Building Safety Division

  Permit applications, plan check, inspections, Certificates of Occupancy and legalizing unpermitted ADUs

  (310) 253-5800

  9770 Culver Blvd., 2nd Floor, Culver City, CA 90232

  [2][5]

• Culver City Current Planning Division

  Confirming permit payment requests

  (310) 253-5725

  [7]

Questions people ask