ADU Constructionin Inglewood, CA
ADU construction in Inglewood runs on three sets of numbers that disagree: Article 35 sets a 500 square foot minimum, the Planning sheet says 150, and California's HCD found problems with the ordinance in May 2025. State law controls where they conflict, so ask Planning before you design. Inside the fault zone, add a geological plan check.
About 37.6 percent of Inglewood's housing units are single-family detached homes, according to the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, and the median home value is $792,800. Those are the lots where an ADU fits, and many carry houses from the 1940s and 1950s, since 78.1 percent of the city's units were built before 1980. A backyard unit here goes next to a house with original plumbing, an old electrical service and, often, a detached garage.
The City's rules are less settled than the lot sizes. This page sets out where the ordinance, the Planning handout and state law disagree, what the fault zone adds, how garage conversions work, which fees apply and what the recorded covenant means. Statewide costs, JADUs and the rest are on our ADU construction page, and the Inglewood overview lists our other trades here.
What Inglewood's ADU ordinance, sheet and permit handout say
Where adu construction permits come from in Inglewood: City of Inglewood Development Services Department, Building Safety Division.
- Article 35 of Chapter 12 (ADU ordinance, Ord. 24-02, 12/12/2023) lets one ADU and one JADU sit on a single-family lot. A new detached ADU needs Site Plan Review, conversions of existing detached structures or attached space and expansions of an existing detached structure are exempt from it, and the Director must act on a planning application within 60 days of a complete application.
- Article 35 sets a 500 square foot minimum ADU, a detached maximum of 1,000 square feet or 100 percent of the primary dwelling (850 square feet if the primary is under 850), an attached maximum of 850 square feet or 50 percent of the primary, a rear setback of at least 4 feet, a side yard of 10 percent of lot width (3 to 5 feet), a detached height of one story or 16 feet, and exterior design matching the primary dwelling (roof pitch, window casings, color, finish). No impact fees apply to an ADU under 750 square feet.
- Article 35 bars short-term rental (rentals must be 30 days or longer) and separate sale of an ADU or JADU, and requires a City-provided covenant recorded against the title before the building permit is issued.
- The Planning Division's ADU and JADU Development Standards sheet (last updated 05/15/2024) lists a 150 square foot minimum, 4 foot side and rear setbacks for a new detached ADU, a 1,000 square foot or 100 percent size cap (850 square feet if the primary is under 850), no parking required within a half mile of transit, within one block of a car-share vehicle, in an existing or proposed primary residence or accessory structure, or where on-street permits are required but not offered, and otherwise one tandem driveway space. The sheet's 150 square foot minimum and 4 foot side setback differ from Article 35's 500 square foot minimum and 3 to 5 foot side yard.
- California HCD's May 12, 2025 letter found that the City's ADU Ordinance 24-02 did not comply with state ADU law in at least 14 numbered findings, including the 500 square foot minimum (state law allows 150 square foot efficiency units), an ADU covenant requirement, a 'shall act' rather than 'approve or deny' 60-day clock, Site Plan Review for ADUs, parking exceptions and statute numbering, and asked the City to respond by June 11, 2025. Whether the City has amended the ordinance since was not found.
- The City's ADU Permit Requirements say plans need a stamp from a California engineer or architect for multi-story buildings (it may be required for one-story ones), two sets of structural calculations where applicable, a foundation plan showing a new built-up curb in an existing garage door opening, electrical load calculations, energy calculations and CALGreen sheets, with Planning (310-412-5230) and Public Works (310-412-5333) giving their own requirements.
- The City's 2026 ADU Owner Acknowledgment letter says the ADU cannot be used or represented as a short-term rental or sold separately, and that a Covenant and Agreement will be recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office before final inspection or certificate of occupancy.
- Municipal Code Chapter 12, Article 19 bars converting a required parking space or garage to another use, except that a garage may be converted to an accessory dwelling unit under Article 35.
Which Inglewood ADU rules apply: Article 35, the Planning sheet or state law?
Three City and State documents give different answers. Article 35 of Chapter 12, adopted as Ordinance 24-02 on December 12, 2023, sets a 500 square foot minimum and a side yard of 10 percent of lot width, between 3 and 5 feet. The Planning Division's ADU and JADU Development Standards sheet, last updated May 15, 2024, lists a 150 square foot minimum and 4 foot side and rear setbacks for a new detached unit.
Then there is the State. California's Housing and Community Development department wrote to the City on May 12, 2025, with at least 14 numbered findings that the ordinance does not comply with state ADU law, including the 500 square foot minimum, the covenant requirement and Site Plan Review for ADUs, and asked for a response by June 11, 2025. We found no City response or amended ordinance. State law controls where a local rule conflicts with it, so ask Planning at (310) 412-5230 which standard it applies to your lot, and get the answer in writing. The City's ADU page links the ordinance and the sheet.
How big can an ADU be in Inglewood, and how close to the fence?
Article 35 caps a detached ADU at 1,000 square feet or 100 percent of the main house, with 850 square feet allowed if the house is under 850. An attached unit may reach 850 square feet or 50 percent of the house. A detached unit is limited to one story or 16 feet, and the ordinance asks the exterior to match the house in roof pitch, window casings, color and finish.
State rules set a floor under those numbers. Under Government Code section 66314, a city cannot require more than 4 feet of side and rear setback for a new ADU and cannot impose a minimum lot size, and section 66321 says a city may not cap size below 850 square feet, or 1,000 if the unit has more than one bedroom. Detached height cannot be set below 16 feet. An 800 square foot detached unit with 4 foot setbacks is protected under section 66323. Whichever number governs, the lot still has to leave room for the setbacks and the main house, so a survey comes first.
Can you convert an Inglewood garage into an ADU, and does the parking have to be replaced?
Yes. Chapter 12, Article 19 of the Municipal Code bars converting a required parking space or garage to another use, except that a garage may become an accessory dwelling unit under Article 35. State law adds that a city cannot require replacement parking when a garage, carport or covered space is converted, and the Planning sheet lists no parking for a unit inside an existing structure or within a half mile of transit.
The City's ADU Permit Requirements ask for a foundation plan showing a new built-up curb in an existing garage door opening, electrical load calculations, energy calculations and the City's CALGreen sheets. Section 66323 also lets a conversion add up to 150 square feet for entry and exit. Our garage conversion permit steps post is written for Los Angeles, so read it for the sequence and not for Inglewood's rules. If the house has a detached garage, confirm its permit history with Building Safety before you design around it, since the presale report also lists the permit numbers and dates on file.
Does the Newport-Inglewood Fault change how you build an ADU?
The City's Safety Element calls the Newport-Inglewood Fault an active fault running through the city. In the County's GIS copy of the State's maps, an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone boundary touched 8 of 67 sample points, all in the northern and central parts of Inglewood, and the City's fee handout requires a geological plan check by its consultant for projects in the Special Studies Zone, paid at City Hall at plan submittal. That is a sample and not a parcel map, so check the address with the Building Safety Division.
The Safety Element also places one liquefaction zone in the northwest, and the Residential Code table lists Seismic Design Category D2. For a detached unit, that points to an engineered foundation and shear wall design, plus the geological review as an extra step. Ask for the fault zone answer before you pay for a full set of drawings. The City's presale report must also say whether a property is in the special study zone, so the answer is on record.
What do Inglewood's ADU plan sheets and Site Plan Review require?
Article 35 requires Site Plan Review for a new detached ADU, while conversions and expansions of existing detached structures and attached space are exempt, and the Director must act on a planning application within 60 days of a complete one. HCD's letter objected to Site Plan Review and to the wording of that clock, so confirm both with Planning. State law sets its own clocks: 15 business days to say whether an application is complete, then 60 days to approve or deny, and a unit is deemed approved if the agency does not act.
The City's ADU handout says plans need a stamp from a California engineer or architect for multi-story buildings and that it may be required for one-story ones, plus two sets of structural calculations where applicable. Planning and Public Works add their own conditions, and Public Works handles curb cuts and driveways at (310) 412-5333. Grading brings stormwater review for erosion control, which on this flat coastal plain is more paperwork than slope.
Which fees apply when you build an ADU in Inglewood?
Article 35 says no impact fees apply to an ADU under 750 square feet, and state law (section 66311.5) says the same, with fees above that size proportional to the main house. School fees are separate: most Inglewood properties are in the Inglewood Unified School District, a few in the southeast corner are in LAUSD, and some southwest of Century Boulevard are in the Centinela Valley Union High School District. Each can charge a developer fee, and a unit under 500 square feet counts as adding no assessable space.
Utility connection charges are not covered by the 750 square foot exemption, but a unit converted from existing space cannot be forced to get a new utility connection or pay the related fee. Building permit costs follow the City's fee handout: plan check at 85 percent of the permit fee, a separate permit for each trade, a Construction and Demolition permit unless Public Works exempts it, and double fees if work starts early. Our ADU cost guide explains the budget lines. Tenant rules are a separate subject from construction rules, and we did not research them, so ask Planning or a housing attorney before you sign a lease.
Can an Inglewood ADU be rented, sold or used for short stays, and what is the covenant?
Rentals must run 30 days or longer, so short-term rental is barred, and an ADU cannot be sold apart from the house. State law matches this on sales: section 66314 allows separate sale only to a qualified low-income buyer through a nonprofit or under a city condominium ordinance. Owner occupancy cannot be required for an ADU, though a JADU has its own rule, which our post on ADU versus JADU explains.
Inglewood requires a City-provided covenant recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder, and its own documents differ on timing. Article 35 says before the building permit is issued, while the City's 2026 owner acknowledgment letter says before final inspection or certificate of occupancy. HCD also listed the covenant among its findings, so ask Planning which applies.
ADU photos from Inglewood and nearby cities
Backyard units, garage conversions and framing details from projects in Inglewood and nearby communities. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
What adu construction costs around Inglewood
The regional ranges on our ADU construction page are about $100,000 to $200,000 for a garage conversion to a studio or one-bedroom unit and $200,000 to $400,000 for a new detached ADU of 400 to 800 square feet. They rest on several sources: a UC Berkeley survey that found a Los Angeles County median of $100,000 for ADUs finished in 2018 and 2019, a Terner Center estimate of $148,000 for Los Angeles, and Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value report, which lists an ADU in Los Angeles at $178,536 with 39.9 percent recouped at resale. We found no Inglewood cost study, and the City publishes no ADU fee total, so these are regional figures and not local quotes. Our room addition page for Inglewood covers the alternative for a family that wants space inside the house, and the Los Angeles, Compton and Long Beach pages show how other cities handle the same state law.
| What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Garage conversion to a studio or one bedroom | $100,000 to $200,000 |
| New detached ADU, 400 to 800 sq ft | $200,000 to $400,000 |
| UC Berkeley survey, Los Angeles County median, 2018 and 2019 projects | $100,000 overall. $90,000 garage. $180,000 detached. |
| Terner Center and Berkeley CCI, 2020 | $148,000 Los Angeles estimate. $167,000 statewide average. |
| Remodeling Cost vs. Value 2025, Los Angeles | $178,536 job cost |
| Electrical and plumbing, Angi Los Angeles, January 2026 | Electrical $2,600 to $7,800. plumbing $3,900 to $10,400. |
| City permit and plan check fees | Not priced here |
Inglewood ADU size, fault zone and covenant questions
How big can an ADU be in California?
State law lets a detached ADU reach 1,200 square feet and an attached one 50 percent of the house, and a city cannot cap size below 850 square feet, or 1,000 with more than one bedroom. In Inglewood the Planning sheet caps detached units at 1,000 square feet, while Article 35 sets a 500 square foot minimum that HCD questioned.
Can I build an ADU in Inglewood if the ordinance and the Planning sheet disagree?
Yes, but get the standard in writing first. Article 35 says a 500 square foot minimum and 3 to 5 foot side yards, the Planning sheet says 150 square feet and 4 feet, and HCD found problems with the ordinance in May 2025. State law controls, so ask Planning at (310) 412-5230 which numbers it will apply.
Do I need a permit to build an ADU in California?
Yes. Every ADU needs a building permit, and a new detached unit in Inglewood also needs Site Plan Review under Article 35, while conversions are exempt from that step. The City wants stamped plans for multi-story units, structural calculations, energy calculations and CALGreen sheets, and state law requires an approval decision within 60 days of a complete application.
What is the difference between an ADU and a JADU?
A JADU is smaller, at most 500 square feet, and lives inside the existing single-family house, with an efficiency kitchen and a separate entry. An ADU can be attached or detached and up to the size limits above. Both need rentals of 30 days or longer, and a JADU's owner occupancy rule applies only when sanitation is shared.
Can I sell my ADU separately in Inglewood?
No. Article 35 bars selling an ADU or JADU apart from the main house, and state law allows it only for a qualified low-income buyer through a nonprofit or under a city condominium ordinance. Inglewood also records a covenant against the title, so ask Planning when it is signed and what it says before you plan financing.
Do I need to provide parking for my ADU in Inglewood?
Often not. The Planning sheet lists no parking within a half mile of transit, in an existing or proposed home or accessory structure, within one block of a car-share vehicle, or where on-street permits are required but not offered. Otherwise it asks for one tandem driveway space, and state law forbids replacement parking for a converted garage.
How much does it cost to build an ADU in Los Angeles County?
Regional sources suggest about $100,000 to $200,000 for a garage conversion and $200,000 to $400,000 for a new detached unit. A UC Berkeley survey found a county median of $100,000 for units finished in 2018 and 2019. We found no Inglewood study, so the price comes from a site visit and a written proposal.
Does the Newport-Inglewood Fault stop an ADU from being built?
No, but it adds a step. Inside the Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone the City requires a geological plan check by its consultant, paid at plan submittal. An eight-of-67 sample found the zone boundary in the northern and central city, so ask Building Safety whether your parcel is inside it before you commission drawings.
Can I rent my Inglewood ADU on Airbnb?
No. Article 35 and the City's 2026 owner letter bar short-term rental and require rentals of 30 days or longer, which state law allows a city to require. The covenant recorded against the title carries that restriction to later owners, so confirm with Planning what it says before you list the unit on any platform.
Describe your Inglewood ADU idea
Send the street, the lot size if you know it, whether you want a garage conversion or a detached unit and what the house is like, and we will plan the first call around the ordinance and the fault zone check.