The short answer
A detached ADU is a free-standing home in your back yard with its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and address. It is the highest-value ADU you can build in Los Angeles and the one most LA lots can actually fit.
Typical cost in Los Angeles
$400 to $600 per sq ft
Typical 750 sq ft detached unit: $300,000 to $450,000 all-in, by style
A detached ADU is a free-standing home in your back yard with its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and address. It is the highest-value ADU you can build in Los Angeles and the one most LA lots can actually fit. State law lets you go up to 1,200 sq ft with four-foot side and rear setbacks, and the city cannot require you to add parking. We handle the lot study, the drawings, LADBS plan check and the build.
What fits on a typical LA lot
- Standard 5,000 to 7,500 sq ft R1 lot supports a 600 to 900 sq ft unit comfortably
- State law caps detached ADUs at 1,200 sq ft; the city cannot go lower
- Four-foot side and rear setbacks, no front-yard placement
- 16-foot height limit, or 18 feet within half a mile of transit
- One-story units clear plan check faster than two-story
What we build
- One-bedroom, 600 to 750 sq ft, the most common LA configuration
- Two-bedroom, 800 to 1,000 sq ft, for family housing or higher rent
- Studio, 400 to 500 sq ft, best return per dollar on tight lots
- Two-story units on narrow lots where footprint is the constraint
- Fire-rated assemblies for units under five feet from a property line
Included in every detached build
- Site survey, soils review and feasibility report before you sign
- Full architectural set, structural calcs and Title 24 energy compliance
- LADBS plan check submittal and correction cycles handled by us
- Separate 100-amp subpanel, dedicated water shutoff and sewer lateral tie-in
- Final inspection, certificate of occupancy and a separate mailing address
Get a straight answer on your lot in 48 hours
Send the property address. We pull the parcel data, zoning, setbacks and any overlay, then tell you whether a detached adu works on it, what size fits and roughly what it costs. No site visit needed and no obligation.
Free 48-hour lot check
One field that matters: the address.
Common questions
How big can a detached ADU be in Los Angeles?
Up to 1,200 sq ft under state law. Los Angeles cannot impose a smaller cap on a detached ADU, and it cannot apply a lot-coverage or floor-area limit that would push you below 800 sq ft.
Do I need parking for a detached ADU?
Usually no. State law removes the parking requirement if the property is within half a mile of a bus stop or transit stop, which covers the overwhelming majority of parcels inside Los Angeles city limits.
How close to the property line can it sit?
Four feet from the side and rear property lines. Anything closer than five feet needs one-hour fire-rated wall assemblies and eliminates openings on that face, which we design for when the lot is tight.
How long does a detached ADU take?
Plan on 3 to 5 months for design and LADBS plan check, then 5 to 7 months of construction. Standard-plan units move faster because the drawings are pre-reviewed.
Can I rent it out separately?
Yes. A detached ADU gets its own address and can be rented on a standard lease. It cannot be sold separately from the main house unless it qualifies under a separate condominium conversion.
Related ADU types
Comparing options? A garage conversion is the cheapest path to a legal unit, a detached ADU earns the most, and the JADU stack can put both on one lot. Cost figures for every type are in the LA cost breakdown.
Areas we build in
Sherman Oaks / Van Nuys / Pasadena / Glendale / Burbank / Santa Monica / Long Beach / Torrance / North Hollywood / Studio City / Woodland Hills / Encino / Northridge / Culver City / Inglewood / Silver Lake and across Los Angeles County.