Gardena Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Gardena regulates land use in Title 18 of its municipal code, regulates accessory dwelling units in Chapter 18.13 together with state law, and now preapproves detached ADU plans from qualified designers. This guide explains how to find your Gardena zoning, who to call, how the Planning Commission fits in, how Gardena’s ADU program works, and what zoning issues mean when you sell.

Gardena zoning at a glance

Department	Planning Division, Community Development Department, City Hall, Room 101, 1700 West 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247
Phone	(310) 217-9524 (zoning questions and appointments)
Hours	Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed every other Friday per the Planning page)
Zoning code	Title 18, Zoning, of the Gardena Municipal Code
Zoning lookup	City’s interactive zoning map
Planning Commission	Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
ADU rules	Chapter 18.13 of the municipal code and Government Code section 66310 and following
ADU plan program	Preapproved detached ADU plans, reviewed by Building and Safety

How to find your Gardena zoning

The city says Title 18 of the Gardena Municipal Code sets out the allowable uses for each piece of property, and that the Planning page includes an interactive map where you can look up the zoning of a particular property. Start there, then confirm with the Planning Division at (310) 217-9524.

The city accepts walk-ins and also takes appointment requests by phone or email.

Zoning governs what can be built or operated on your lot, so it is the first thing a buyer, an appraiser or a contractor will ask about when you plan an addition, a second unit or a change of use.

The Planning Division also advises the Planning Commission and City Council on architecture and design, environmental analysis and land use, and it maintains the general plan and specific plans.

Projects that need a special zoning approval, such as a conditional use permit, go before the commission, which the city says meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Agendas are posted on the city’s site, and CEQA notices are linked from the Planning Projects page.

How Gardena’s ADU rules work

Gardena describes an accessory dwelling unit as an attached or detached residential unit with complete independent living facilities, located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence, as defined in Government Code section 66310. The city regulates ADUs under state law and Chapter 18.13 of its municipal code.

State law, in Government Code sections 66310 through 66342, limits how restrictive local rules can be.

Two of the best known protections: a local agency may limit the floor area of a qualifying ADU to no less than 800 square feet of livable space, and side and rear setbacks of no more than four feet apply to an ADU that is not converted from an existing structure or rebuilt in the same location and dimensions.

Because local code and state law interact, confirm the current size, height and setback numbers for your lot with the Planning Division before you draw plans. The city’s ADU page points to Chapter 18.13 as the local starting point.

Preapproved detached ADU plans

The city is preapproving plans for detached ADUs submitted by designers, architects, builders and other qualified professionals. Preapproved plans are intended to save homeowners the expense of custom plans and simplify the permit process, and they are for new construction only. To use one:

1. Confirm the property has, or will have, a single-family dwelling on a legally zoned residential lot.
2. Work with the designer of the plan set to purchase or license it, since designers keep the copyright.
3. Submit it to the Building and Safety Department electronically for plan check, with the site-specific plans, studies and engineering the project needs.
4. Receive stamped plans and fee information after approval, then pull the building permit.

Modifications are not accepted into the expedited process, so changes send the project through regular ADU plan review. A preapproval stays valid until the city adopts new building codes that apply to the plan.

Master file plans must include architectural and structural plans, structural calculations, Title 24 energy calculations, a CalGreen checklist, and a statement on fire sprinklers, and the city accepts them by email at CDDBuildingservice@cityofgardena.org up to 30 MB. Our Gardena building permits guide covers plan check timing, fees and inspections.

Other Gardena zoning topics

• Conditional use permits, variances and site plan review are handled by Planning; call (310) 217-9524 to schedule an appointment.
• Signs and banners are regulated by Chapter 18.58 of the municipal code.
• Home-sharing, film production and business license items have their own pages under Community Development.
• The housing element and general plan explain how the city plans for new housing, including accessory units.

Zoning and selling a Gardena house

Zoning problems tend to surface late in a sale: a garage converted into a unit without approval, an extra structure at the back of the lot, or a use the zone does not allow.

California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work, and our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work and the seller closing costs guide explain how disclosure and costs work.

You generally have three paths: legalize or remove the issue before listing, sell on the open market and disclose it, or sell as-is to a cash buyer. Before choosing:

• Look up your zoning on the city’s map and confirm with Planning.
• List every structure and unit on the lot and whether each was permitted.
• Ask what legalizing an ADU or garage conversion would require, including plans, fees and inspections.
• Compare that cost and time with a no-repairs cash sale.

Planning an addition or second unit: what to prepare

Before you hire a designer, gather the basics: your parcel number, a copy of any recorded survey or prior plans, the permit history for existing structures, and photos of the lot showing where an addition or detached unit could fit.

Check the zoning on the city’s map, then book a conversation with the Planning Division so you hear the local requirements from staff rather than from a contractor’s assumptions.

Ask specifically about lot coverage, height, setbacks, parking and any design review that applies to your zone, and ask how state ADU law changes the answer for your lot.

If you are considering a preapproved detached ADU, review the plan catalog on the city’s ADU page and compare it with your site.

Preapproved plans still need site-specific plans, studies and engineering, so budget for a survey, soils or foundation work where applicable, utility connections and the permit fees the city provides after approval.

The timeline the city states for first plan check on ordinary projects, about 10 business days, is a useful benchmark, but projects that need Planning Commission approval will take longer.

If you are selling rather than building, you can use the same checklist in reverse. A buyer will want to know what is permitted, what is not, and what it would take to fix. Having that information ready makes any sale smoother, whether you list on the open market or sell as-is for cash.

How to sell a house in Gardena

1. Confirm your zoning and which structures were approved.
2. Gather permits, plans and any city correspondence.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no legalization, repairs or showings required.

Our local pages cover related situations in Gardena, including selling as-is, selling a tenant-occupied house and the cash offer process.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my Gardena zoning?

Use the interactive zoning map on the city’s Planning page and the Title 18 zoning code, then confirm with the Planning Division at (310) 217-9524.

Does Gardena preapprove ADU plans?

Yes. The city preapproves detached ADU plans submitted by qualified professionals, for new construction only, and homeowners contract with the designer to use a plan.

Where are Gardena’s ADU rules?

The city says ADUs are regulated under state law and Chapter 18.13 of the Gardena Municipal Code, and defines them under Government Code section 66310.

When does the Gardena Planning Commission meet?

The city says the Planning Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Can I change a preapproved ADU plan?

Modifications are not accepted for the expedited process. Changes mean the project goes through regular ADU plan review.

Can I sell my Gardena house with an unpermitted unit?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Gardena
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Gardena Building Permits Guide
• Gardena Code Enforcement Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Gardena: Planning and Zoning
• City of Gardena: Preapproved ADU Plan Program
• California Government Code section 66314
• California Government Code section 66321

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the city.