The City of Los Angeles is making pre-approved standard plans available as an additional resource to help property owners rebuild more quickly following the January 2025 Wildfires.

These plans are not open-source; they remain the intellectual property of the architects, engineers, designers or builders who developed them.

The City’s role is to provide a streamlined permitting pathway by pre-reviewing these plans for building code compliance, thereby reducing plan check times.

No. These plans remain the intellectual property of the architects, engineers, designers or builders (design owner) who developed them.

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Below is a general list of items needed for the ADU Standard Plan review and approval:

• Floor plan – Show proposed work and room layout, door and window sizes and location.

• Building Elevations/Cross Sections – Exterior elevations for new construction, detailing all exterior walls, projections and cross sections in each direction.

• Foundation Plan – Show foundation size (width and depth), along with slab on grade thickness. For raised floor construction, show size and direction of floor joists.

• Roof Framing – Show roof rafters and ceiling joists’ size and direction.

• Energy Conservation – Energy calculations and Certificate of Compliance (CF1R). See energy.ca.gov/title24 for more information. Compliance documents shall be provided for all design orientations/directions.

• Green Code – material specifications, notes and details.

   

More detailed information can be found in our Document Submittal Requirement for a New Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standard Plan.

Below is a general list of items needed for the Standard Plan review and approval:

• Floor plan – Show proposed work and room layout, door and window sizes and location.

• Building Elevations/Cross Sections – Exterior elevations for new construction, detailing all exterior walls, projections and cross sections in each direction.

• Foundation Plan – Show foundation size (width and depth), along with slab on grade thickness. For raised floor construction, show size and direction of floor joists.

• Roof Framing – Show roof rafters and ceiling joists’ size and direction.

• Energy Conservation – Energy calculations and Certificate of Compliance (CF1R). See energy.ca.gov/title24 for more information. Compliance documents shall be provided for all design orientations/directions.

• Green Code – material specifications, notes and details.

   

More detailed information can be found in our Document Submittal Requirements for a New Single Family Dewlling (SFD)/Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standard Plan Designs.

Yes

No, the LAMC does not permit deviations from development standards provided in LAMC 12.22 A.33 (Exceptions) because these provisions are already exceptions from the Code; however, an ADU may request the appropriate entitlement(s) to deviate from development standards provided in other sections of the Code that are not specifically defined in LAMC 12.22 A.33.

The ADU can be added on the second floor as long as the overall resulting building height is within 110% of the existing building height.

A homeowner can obtain a permit and do the construction, alteration or repair on his/her house and accessory buildings or facilities thereto, if the owner resides or will reside in the dwelling.

Read more on our "About the Construction Process" page.

Yes, the plans may be purchased directly from the design owner.