Lakewood Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from City of Lakewood building and planning documents; some predate recent changes, so sources are listed at the end.

Lakewood runs a Pre-Approved ADU Program and publishes ADU handouts and residential zoning requirements. Several of those documents are dated 2019 to 2022, so confirm current rules with the city before you build, legalize or sell a unit.

Lakewood ADU and zoning resources at a glance

Does Lakewood have pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. The city says property owners can access pre-approved ADU construction plans, and that architects and designers may submit standardized plans for city review. Permits are applied for through the city’s OpenGov portal; see our Lakewood building permits guide.

What lot coverage limit applies on Lakewood R-1 and R-A lots?

A 2019 city zoning sheet says the total first-floor area of the main building and all enclosed accessory structures cannot exceed 45% of the lot area. This can matter if a past owner added a room or converted a garage. Confirm the current rule with the city.

How an ADU or garage conversion affects selling a house in Lakewood

A permitted ADU can be a selling point. An unpermitted one is a problem lenders and inspectors notice. In California, sellers generally must disclose known unpermitted work. On a traditional listing you can try to permit the unit, remove it, price it in, or offer a credit.

How to sell a Lakewood house with an unpermitted ADU

1. Check the city’s records for what is permitted at the address.
2. Gather what you have: plans, receipts, inspection cards.
3. Compare options: legalize, remove, or sell as-is.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change disclosure duties but removes repair steps.

We buy Lakewood houses as they are. See selling as-is in Lakewood, our Lakewood building permits guide and code enforcement guide.

Questions about a unit on your property? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

What Lakewood’s ADU page says

The city’s ADU page explains what residents should know about California housing laws that require cities to allow extra housing units on single-family lots.

It says a detached ADU in a backyard is between 150 and 1,200 square feet, and that a lot split must leave each lot at least 40% of the original lot size. An owner may be able to build one junior ADU within the main residence.

The city says a JADU must have a separate exterior entrance and an efficiency kitchen and may share the main house’s bathroom. State law limits what a city may require for parking, and owner-occupancy requirements vary by unit type under state law.

Design review and mobility standards

Owners submit building plans so the city can check architectural compatibility with the existing home. The review looks at roofing, paint color, windows and doors, landscaping and proper storage of trash containers. The page also says ADUs must meet mobility-friendly design standards such as wider doorways and wider shower openings.

Ordinances to know

Lakewood’s ADU standards ordinance (No. 2018-2) says the city shall ministerially approve an application for a building permit to create one ADU per lot within zone districts that allow single-family dwellings.

A newer ordinance (No. 2026-5) says an ADU created solely by converting all or part of an existing building may add up to 150 square feet for ingress and egress. The city also advertises a Pre-Approved ADU Program on its pages. Contact the Planning Division before starting.

Starting an ADU in Lakewood

1. Contact Planning at (562) 866-9771, ext. 2340, to confirm your lot qualifies and the current standards.
2. Review the Pre-Approved ADU Program to see whether a pre-approved plan suits your lot.
3. Submit plans through the online permit center.
4. Pass inspections, including a final.

Selling a Lakewood house with an unpermitted unit

Garage conversions are on the city’s list of common code violations, so an unpermitted unit can surface after a neighbor complaint or during a sale.

California Civil Code section 1102.1 keeps your disclosure duty in place in an as-is sale, and section 1102.3 lets a buyer cancel within three days of in-person delivery or five days of mailing or agreed electronic delivery when a required disclosure arrives after an offer.

Your options are to legalize, remove the unit, price accordingly or sell as-is to a cash buyer. See our Lakewood code enforcement guide and building permits guide.

Lot coverage and what it means for additions

The city’s 2019 sheet says that on R-1 and R-A lots the total first-floor area of the main building and all enclosed accessory structures must not exceed 45% of the lot area.

If a past owner added a room, enclosed a patio or built a detached structure, the total may have pushed the lot past that limit. A buyer’s inspector may not measure it, but a city review could. Ask Building and Safety at 562-866-9771, ext. 2350, how coverage is measured.

What counts as an ADU

The city’s 2020 handout defines an ADU as an independent dwelling unit with its own exterior door and facilities for living, cooking, eating, bathing and sleeping. A garage with a bed and a hot plate may not meet that, while a finished back unit with a kitchen and bath does. Which one you have affects how it should be described to a buyer.

Selling with a back unit or enclosed structure

• Look for permits covering each enclosed structure.
• Check whether the unit has its own entrance and facilities.
• Ask whether the Pre-Approved ADU Program was used.
• Decide whether to legalize, adjust price, or sell as-is.

See our Lakewood building permits guide and California as-is guide.

Design review and mobility standards in practice

The city’s ADU page points to design review and mobility standards as part of the process. For a seller, the practical point is that a unit built in Lakewood may have gone through review steps beyond a simple building permit.

If you cannot find the approvals for a unit on your lot, call Building and Safety at 562-866-9771, ext. 2350, and ask what the record shows. Then decide whether you want to try to fill the gap or sell as-is.

Talking to buyers about the unit

Be ready to answer three questions: was it permitted, does it have its own entrance and facilities, and has the city ever raised a concern. Honest answers, backed by documents where you have them, reduce the chance of a surprise late in escrow.

Lakewood zoning and ADU FAQ

Does Lakewood have a pre-approved ADU program?

Yes. The city’s Pre-Approved ADU Program lets property owners use pre-approved plans to streamline the process.

Is there a lot coverage limit on Lakewood R-1 lots?

A 2019 city zoning sheet says first-floor area of the main building and enclosed accessory structures must not exceed 45% of the lot area. Confirm the current rule with the city.

Can I sell a Lakewood house with an unpermitted ADU?

Yes. It must be disclosed, but a cash buyer can purchase the property as it is.

How big can a detached ADU be in Lakewood?

The city’s ADU page says a detached backyard ADU is between 150 and 1,200 square feet.

What does a Lakewood JADU need?

A separate exterior entrance and an efficiency kitchen; it may share the main house’s bathroom.

Does Lakewood have pre-approved ADU plans?

The city advertises a Pre-Approved ADU Program on its website. Contact Planning for current details.

What is Lakewood’s lot coverage limit on R-1 and R-A lots?

The city’s 2019 sheet says total first-floor area of the main building and enclosed accessory structures must not exceed 45% of the lot area.

How does Lakewood define an ADU?

As an independent dwelling unit with its own exterior door and facilities for living, cooking, eating, bathing and sleeping.

Sources

• City of Lakewood: Building (Pre-Approved ADU Program)
• City of Lakewood: ADU and JADU info handout (2020)
• City of Lakewood: R-1 and R-A zoning requirements (2019)

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Zoning rules change; confirm with the City of Lakewood.