The news: Long Beach doesn’t have a local ADU ordinance right now. The city’s old ADU rules (LBMC 21.51.276) are still printed in the municipal code, but the city says they “no longer apply.” Every ADU and junior ADU permit is reviewed under California state ADU law until the City Council adopts a replacement. Public comment on that replacement closed November 23, 2025, and no Planning Commission or Council hearing is scheduled yet. For investors, that’s good news. State law is more permissive than the old local code, and it’s what you’ll be permitting under for the foreseeable future.
Published October 26, 2026. Dylan Serna, The ADU Realtor.
What the City Says
The city’s ADU bulletin (IB-PZ-001) puts it plainly: “The City of Long Beach does not currently have an adopted local ADU ordinance as of the date of this Bulletin.” The city’s ADU planning page tells applicants to use the state’s HCD ADU Handbook for development standards until the new ordinance passes.
Under state law, a local ADU ordinance that conflicts with the state code is void, and the city has to apply state standards instead (Government Code 66316). When the city first tried to update its rules in 2023, the local code capped ADUs at 800 sq ft and didn’t address junior ADUs at all, as the Long Beach Post reported. State law kept moving after that, and the local code fell further behind.
The Rules You’ll Permit Under Today
These come from the city’s bulletin, which applies state law. They hold until a new local ordinance is adopted.
Single-family lots
| ADU type | How many | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion of the house or an accessory building (like a garage) | 1 | No size limit; 150 sq ft addition allowed for entry and exit |
| New detached ADU | 1 (2 starting January 1, 2027) | Up to 800 sq ft |
| New attached ADU | Alternative to the above | 50% of the house or 800 sq ft, whichever is more |
| Junior ADU | 1 | Up to 500 sq ft, inside the house or attached garage |
The combination the city lists is one conversion ADU, one new detached ADU and one junior ADU. That’s four units on one lot counting the house. In 2027, AB 956 raises the detached count to two. For the full unit math, see how many ADUs are allowed on one property.
Multifamily lots (duplex and up)
- Existing building: up to 8 detached ADUs, but no more than the number of existing permitted units. A duplex gets 2, a fourplex gets 4. See SB 1211 explained.
- Conversions: 1 ADU or 25% of existing units, whichever is more, from storage, garages or other non-living space.
- Proposed new multifamily: 2 detached ADUs with no size limit.
- No junior ADUs on any lot with a multifamily building.
Height, setbacks and parking
| Standard | Rule |
|---|---|
| Detached height | 16 ft; 18 ft near transit, plus up to 2 ft to match the main house’s roof slope |
| Attached height | 25 ft / 2 stories, or the zone limit if lower |
| Side and rear setbacks | 4 ft (rear measured to alley centerline where there’s an alley) |
| Front setback | Per zone, but an ADU up to 800 sq ft can encroach if there’s no other spot |
| Lot coverage, open space, FAR | None apply |
| Parking | None within a half mile of transit, in historic districts, for conversions or for any junior ADU |
| Owner occupancy | Only for a junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house |
| Short-term rentals | Not allowed; 30-day minimum |
Coastal and Historic Properties
Two extra approvals still apply, but neither requires a public hearing:
- Coastal Zone (Belmont Shore, Naples, the Peninsula and parts of the East Side): an Administrative Local Coastal Development Permit, filed with your building permit.
- Historic districts and landmarks (Bluff Park, Rose Park, California Heights and others): a Certificate of Appropriateness, also filed with the building permit. The city publishes objective ADU design standards for historic properties.
What This Means If You’re Buying
- Underwrite to state law. When you run a Long Beach lot, use the state limits above, not the old 21.51.276 text you’ll still find online. Plenty of listing remarks and old blog posts quote the dead rules.
- Buy for 2027. A 6,000 sq ft North Long Beach lot with a detached garage can hold a garage conversion, a new detached ADU and a junior ADU today. Two detached ADUs become an option in January. The ADU rent on a new 2-bed runs about $2,900 a month (see ADU rent by city).
- Watch for the new ordinance. When the city adopts its replacement, it can add objective design standards within what state law allows. It can’t go below the state floor. If you’re in escrow when hearings get scheduled, ask the planner whether your plans will be reviewed under the new rules.
- SB 9 is also pending. The city is drafting a standalone SB 9 ordinance and updating its urban lot split rules. My current read is in SB 9 lot splits in Long Beach.
Long Beach is still one of the easier cities to build in. The city says ADU construction has gone from zero a decade ago to more than 400 a year, and it offers pre-approved ADU plans. For where to buy, see Long Beach ADU investing by neighborhood and my Long Beach ADU page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Long Beach have an ADU ordinance?
Not an active one. The old ordinance is still in the municipal code, but the city says it no longer applies. ADUs are reviewed under state law until a new ordinance is adopted.
When will the new Long Beach ADU ordinance pass?
There’s no date yet. Public comment closed November 23, 2025. It still needs Planning Commission and City Council hearings, and none are scheduled.
How big can a detached ADU be in Long Beach?
Up to 800 sq ft for a new detached ADU on a single-family lot under the city’s current bulletin, with 4 ft side and rear setbacks and a 16 ft height limit (18 ft near transit).
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Long Beach?
No. Owner occupancy only applies to a junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the main house.
Do I need parking for a Long Beach ADU?
Usually not. No parking is required within a half mile of transit, in historic districts, for conversions or for junior ADUs, which covers most of the city.
Run a Long Beach Lot Under Today’s Rules
Send me an address or a price range and I’ll tell you how many units the lot can hold today and in 2027, what they’d rent for, and what it takes to cash flow. You can also browse ADU homes for sale or my multifamily ADU buying guide.
👉 Book a buyer ADU consult call to go through your options with Dylan
Prefer to talk now? Call Dylan Serna, ADU Realtor at 714-860-2868.
Dylan Serna | The ADU Realtor | eXp Realty | DRE #02217359
This post is general information, not legal advice. Rules come from the City of Long Beach’s ADU bulletin and planning page as of October 26, 2026. Confirm the rules for any specific property with Long Beach Planning at 562-570-5223.
