California ADU rules · Los Angeles County
Can I Build an ADU in Lomita?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Lomita. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Lomita, to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit by right, plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot. What varies city to city are the local specifics below.
Can you build one?
ADUs allowed
Local ruleYes — by right
Ministerial approval for compliant ADUs/JADUs; discretionary only for nonconforming proposals.
Units on a single-family lot
CA state law1 ADU + 1 JADU
At least one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot (a conversion ADU may also be possible).
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (>=1 or 25% of units) + up to 2 detached (proposed multifamily) or up to 8 detached (existing multifamily, not to exceed number of existing units)
Detached ADU cap is 2 for proposed multifamily, 8 for existing multifamily, subject to not exceeding number of existing units.
Junior ADU (JADU)
Local ruleAllowed
JADUs allowed only on single-family zoned lots.
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft
Detached ADUs: 800 sq ft by-right (Class 1); up to 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bed) if meeting local standards.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule50% of primary, >=850 (studio/1-bed), >=1,000 (2+ bed)
Attached ADUs: 50% of primary dwelling, but must allow at least 850/1,000 sq ft as applicable.
Guaranteed minimum size
CA state law800 sq ft
An 800 sq ft ADU must be allowed regardless of FAR/lot-coverage caps; a city also cannot cap an attached ADU below 850 sq ft (1,000 for 2+ bedrooms).
Max JADU size
CA state law500 sq ft
Max height
Local rule25 ft
Detached: 16 ft standard, 18 ft near transit/multifamily, up to 20 ft for matching roof pitch. Attached: up to 25 ft or primary dwelling height, max 2 stories.
Setbacks
Side setback
CA state law4 ft
A city cannot require more than 4 ft side or rear setback; conversions of existing structures are exempt.
Rear setback
CA state law4 ft
Front setback
Local rule20 ft for Class 2 ADUs, but not if it would preclude an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side/rear setbacks
Front setback applies only to Class 2 ADUs; state minimums override if needed for 800 sq ft ADU.
Separation from main house
Local ruleNone required
No minimum separation; must comply with building/fire code.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
Max 1 space per ADU or per bedroom (whichever is less); multiple exemptions apply.
Transit parking exemption
CA state lawYes — no parking required near transit & for conversions
No parking may be required within ½ mi walking distance of transit, in a historic district, for an ADU within an existing structure, within one block of car-share, or in certain permit-parking areas.
Garage-conversion replacement parking
Local ruleNot required
No replacement parking required for garage/carport conversions.
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
CA state law60 days
The agency must act within 60 days of a complete application — and the ADU is deemed approved if it does not.
Owner-occupancy
CA state lawOnly for a JADU
No owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs (the prior sunset was removed). A JADU may require owner-occupancy, principally where it shares sanitation with the main house.
Impact-fee waiver
CA state lawWaived under 750 sq ft
An ADU of 750 sq ft or less pays no impact fees (the 750 sq ft threshold itself is exempt under § 66311.5); larger ADUs pay fees proportional to the primary dwelling. JADUs (≤ 500 sq ft) are exempt.
Permits required
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Lomita-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic Districts
Additional review required for ADUs in designated historic districts.
Lomita limits detached ADUs to 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms) or 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed) unless using the state-mandated 800 sq ft by-right path. Detached ADUs on multifamily lots are capped at 2 for proposed and 8 for existing buildings, not to exceed the number of existing units.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Lomita?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Lomita to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit ministerial (by right), plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot.
How big can an ADU be in Lomita?
A detached ADU of at least 1,000 sq ft must be allowed, and an ADU of 800 sq ft can never be zoned out by floor-area or lot-coverage limits. A JADU can be up to 500 sq ft.
What are the setback requirements for an ADU in Lomita?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. 20 ft for Class 2 ADUs, but not if it would preclude an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side/rear setbacks.
Is parking required for an ADU in Lomita?
Up to 1 space. No parking can be required within ½ mile of transit, for conversions, or for units inside the primary home. When a garage is converted, replacement parking is not required.
How long does ADU approval take in Lomita?
A complete application must be acted on within 60 days, with ministerial (by right) — no public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Lomita?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06 (2024/2025)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(J); (F)(2); (E)(1)-(2)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(E)(1)(a)-(d)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(E)(1)(a), (F)(1)(c)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(G)(1)(a)-(c)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(G)(1)(b)-(c)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(F)(2)(a)-(d)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(G)(3)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(E)(1)(a)(iii)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(G)(6); Gov. Code § 66322(a)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06(G)(6)(d); Gov. Code § 66314(d)(11)
- Lomita Municipal Code § 11-1.30.06
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 (ADU Law)
- HCD 2025 Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66322 (ADU parking; § 66334 covers JADU parking)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66317 (ministerial approval, 60-day deadline)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66315 (owner-occupancy)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66311.5 (impact fees: none for an ADU ≤ 750 sq ft or JADU ≤ 500 sq ft)
Last updated 2026-06-25. This is an AI-assisted summary of Lomita's ADU rules, drawn from its published ordinance and California ADU law — general information, not legal advice, and it may be incomplete or out of date. Verify the controlling rule for your specific parcel with Lomita Planning before relying on it.
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