Community Development

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have become a major contributor to the growth of Long Beach’s housing stock. ADUs represent a unique opportunity for adding housing throughout the City’s existing neighborhoods and can be designed to be more affordable than large-scale multifamily developments. ADU construction in Long Beach has gone from zero 10 years ago to a current rate of more than 400 per year. The City’s goal is to facilitate 400–500 ADUs per year throughout the coming decade.

The revised ADU Ordinance will provide a new set of ADU regulations tailored to the specific needs of Long Beach, with the goals of creating excellent housing stock and opportunities while ensuring quality design. The revised Ordinance will:

• Incorporate all changes to state ADU laws which have taken place since the City’s previous ADU ordinance, including the latest changes that became effective as of January 1, 2023 (including AB 2221 and SB 897);
• Formalize the City’s approach to legalizing unpermitted units as ADUs, and administering ADUs within the Coastal Zone;
• Explore integrating pre-approved ADU designs and streamlined garage conversions; and
• Incentivize enhanced ADU designs overall to benefit future ADU residents and neighbors alike.

State law requires by-right approval of the following in any zone that allows residential uses:

• For properties with single-family dwellings: one ADU and one JADU. A JADU requires the property owner to live on the property permanently.
• For properties with multi-family dwellings (two or more units attached or in a single building):
  • Two detached ADUs, Or
  • Conversion of existing attached non-habitable space into ADU at the rate of one ADU or 25% of the permitted number of dwelling units, whichever is more.
  • Must choose from one of the above options, not both.

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Standards: 

• ADU Height: Max. 18 feet if near transit; 25 feet if attached ADU; 16 feet otherwise.
• Parking: Max. one space, none if near transit. Replacement parking is not required for conversions of existing residential or garage space.
• Setbacks: Max. four feet side and rear for new construction.
• No owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs, but JADUs do have owner-occupancy for a unit on the property (not necessarily the JADU).
• Objective-design standards could be incorporated, for example, ADUs in historic districts.

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Process: 

Applications must be acted upon within 60 days.

New ADU Garage Conversion Standards have been designed to make it easier for applicants who intend to convert a single-story detached garage to an ADU in a single-family zone in the City. This prescriptive set of standards addresses the main requirements that permit applicants (homeowners or contractors) must present to City staff in order to pull an over-the-counter permit for a garage conversion to an ADU. This prescriptive set of standards has two (2) components:

1. ADU-Garage Conversion Submittal Package: Consists of a permit application, instructions to complete the site and floor plan, space to attach interior and exterior photos illustrating the existing conditions of your garage, construction details to be referenced on the plans, and the ADU covenant to be recorded.
2. ADU-Garage Conversion Reference Documents: Consists of relevant information to further assist applicants with preparation of the submittal package.

• ADU Summary Zoning Regulations
• ADU Guidelines Update - Garage Conversions
• Transit Priority Areas Map

Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) is a California housing law became effective on January 1, 2022, which complements state ADU law by enabling urban lot splits and two-unit development in existing residential neighborhoods. Specifically, SB 9 requires by-right approval of residential developments with no more than two primary units in a single-family zone, and allows the subdivision of a parcel in a single-family zone into two parcels in certain cases.

The City does not have a local ordinance to implement the provisions of SB 9, although a separate local effort is already in process to update the Subdivision Ordinance (Title 20) to enable SB 9 urban lot splits. While the request for SB 9 projects has been limited thus far, it may increase in the future, especially for two-unit development projects. Much like the revised ADU Ordinance, a new SB 9 Ordinance will ensure compliance with State law while customizing specific regulations to suit the needs of Long Beach. It will provide clarity to the community, project applicants, City staff, and City Council on what is and is not permitted on various lots throughout the City.

SB 9 requires by-right approval in single-family (R-1) zones of:

• Up to two primary units on a single parcel and up to one ADU and one JADU.
• The subdivision of a parcel into two (60/40 difference at most) and no more than four units possible total, from starting parcel.

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Standards:

• Parking: Max one space, and no requirement if within Transit Priority Area.
• Setbacks: At least 800 sq. ft. must be permitted regardless of zoning development standards, but setbacks specified for SB 9 units (4' side and rear, plus zoning front setback) still apply.
• Use: Property must contain only residential uses (non-commercial or mixed-use buildings).
• Owner occupancy: Min. three years in certain circumstances.
• Objective design standards only.

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Situations that don't qualify for SB 9:

• May not involve demolition of affordable or rent-controlled units.
• May not displace tenants.
• Does not apply in designated historic districts, wetlands, coastal areas or earthquake fault zones (Alquist-Priolo).
• Refer to City’s SB 9 Project Eligibility Checklist

• Two-Unit Development and Urban Lot Splits (SB 9) Summary Chart
• SP 9 Project Eligibility Checklist
• Transit Priority Areas Map