The construction permitting process can be arduous and expensive, especially in a city as large as Los Angeles. But a new program aimed at speeding up approvals for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could help to combat the region’s affordable housing shortage.
Last week, the Los Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) launched the Standard Plan Program for ADUs, providing homeowners with 20 pre-approved designs created by some of the city’s top architecture firms. Opting for one of these smartly-designed plans can cut down the review time from several weeks to as little as one day.
There’s a wide variety of available styles and layouts, from one-story garden cottages to two-story modern marvels. Ranging from 200 to 1,200 square feet, the ADUS come in studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans. Seven additional options are currently pending approval, complete with sought-after features like covered roof decks, outdoor patios and third bedrooms.
“The Standard Plan Program will dramatically streamline the process for homeowners of selecting and getting an ADU design approved by LADBS while at the same time supporting the work of Los Angeles architects and extending the City’s rich tradition of innovation in residential architecture,” said Christopher Hawthorne, Chief Design Officer for the City of Los Angeles, in a press release.
“The ADU plans available at launch include contributions from some of the most talented architecture and design firms at work in Los Angeles and around the country — and we look forward to seeing new designs added to the mix.”
Among the local architecture and design firms with approved plans are Welcome Projects, First Office, Fung + Blatt, IT House, LA Más and Design, Bitches. One of the standout ADU designs was Midnight Room by Design, Bitches, “a new guest house/studio as re-envisioned for the contemporary backyard,” pictured here.
The flexible floorplan includes one bedroom, one bathroom, a dedicated workspace, kitchenette, ample storage, and a wraparound deck inspired by the Japanese engawa. There’s also a covered outdoor dining area and rain barrels to meet the watering needs of drought-tolerant landscaping.
According to LADBS, ADUs now make up 22 percent of newly-permitted housing units in the city. In 2017, California passed legislation legalizing ADUs throughout the state, and since that time, backyard construction has boomed.
A report from The Center for Community Innovation (CCI) at UC Berkeley estimates that 9,000 ADUs were built in California between 2018 and 2019, primarily on land zoned for single-family use. Boosting that number in the years to come could help to expand and diversify Los Angeles’ tight supply of housing.
“Driving down the cost of building new units helps all communities increase affordable housing stock. This ADU Standard Plan Program reflects the kind of forward-thinking that LA needs to expand housing affordability throughout the city,” said Councilmember Kevin de León.
