El Segundo Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

El Segundo states that accessory dwelling units are permitted by right in any zone where residential uses are permitted, and it offers an online fee calculator and a Pre-Approved ADU Plan Program. This guide summarizes what the city publishes about ADUs and junior ADUs, where to find the numeric standards, and what to check before buying or selling an El Segundo property with an extra unit.

El Segundo zoning and ADUs at a glance

Departments	Planning Division (310-524-2350) and Housing Division, Community Development Department
ADU zoning	Permitted by right in any zone where residential uses are permitted
Junior ADU	One junior accessory dwelling unit per R-1 lot with an existing or proposed single-family home
Municipal Code	Sections 15-4E-3 and 15-4F-2, referenced on the city’s ADU page
Application	ADU Application Handout, then building permit through the E-Z Permit Hub
Fee estimate	ADU Fee Calculator on the E-Z Permit Hub (plan check, permit and development impact fees)
Pre-approved plans	Pre-Approved ADU Plan (PADU) Program for detached ADUs
Grant	CalHFA ADU Grant Program, up to $40,000 toward pre-development and non-recurring closing costs

How the city frames ADUs

El Segundo’s ADU and JADU resources page treats accessory units as a housing tool and points owners to the state Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Housing Finance Agency for background.

The city says ADUs are permitted by right throughout any zone where residential uses are allowed, which means a unit that meets the standards does not need a discretionary hearing. It also allows one junior ADU per R-1 lot that has an existing or proposed single-family residence.

The page does not restate size, height or setback numbers. Instead it sends applicants to Municipal Code sections 15-4E-3 and 15-4F-2 and to an ADU Application Handout. Those are the documents that govern, so read them before you spend money on plans. We have not reproduced numeric limits here because the city’s own pages do not list them in one place.

Step by step: getting an ADU approved

1. Read the handout and code sections

Start with the ADU Application Handout and the two code sections the city names. They list the standards a plan must meet, including setbacks, height and unit size.

2. Estimate your fees

Set up an account on the E-Z Permit Hub, choose the ADU Fee Calculator under the Building and Safety category, answer the project questions and select Create Record. The calculator estimates plan check, permit and development impact fees, which helps you decide whether the project pencils out before you hire a designer.

3. Consider pre-approved plans

The Pre-Approved ADU Plan Program offers permit-ready plans, floor plans and architectural styles for detached units. The goal, as the city puts it, is to streamline approval and reduce costs. Check the program page for the current plan set.

4. Apply for the building permit

Submit the ADU or JADU application on the E-Z Permit Hub. Accelerated plan check is aimed at 7 working days from the date fees are paid and regular plan check takes one to four weeks. Our El Segundo building permits guide walks through the process.

5. Build and inspect

Request inspections through the hub. A passed final inspection is the record that the unit is legal, so keep it with your closing documents.

Funding and the CalHFA grant

The city links to the CalHFA ADU Grant Program, which the city says provides up to $40,000 toward pre-development and non-recurring closing costs. Eligibility rules belong to CalHFA, so check its site for current terms and funding availability before you count on it.

Zoning and what you can do with your lot

Before adding any unit, confirm your lot’s zone with the Planning Division at 310-524-2350. Zoning controls whether a second unit is allowed by right, how large the main home may be, and whether design or overlay review applies. Mismatches between what is built and what the zoning allows are what show up as problems at sale time.

Selling an El Segundo property with an ADU or unpermitted unit

Buyers and lenders ask whether extra units are legal, and sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the disclosure rules. The usual paths are to legalize the unit through the city, disclose and discount, or sell as-is to a cash buyer. Before deciding:

• Confirm the lot’s zone with the Planning Division.
• Find permits for any garage conversions, back houses or added rooms.
• Use the ADU fee calculator to estimate the cost of legalizing a unit.
• Check whether the unit is rented and under what terms.
• Compare that cost with a no-repairs cash sale.

How to sell a house in El Segundo

1. Confirm what units and additions exist on the property.
2. Collect permits, plans and any city letters.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the property as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.

See also our El Segundo cash buyer page.

Frequently asked questions

Are ADUs allowed in El Segundo?

The city says ADUs are permitted by right in any zone where residential uses are permitted.

Can I build a junior ADU?

One JADU is permitted per R-1 lot with an existing or proposed single-family home.

How do I estimate ADU fees?

Use the ADU Fee Calculator on the E-Z Permit Hub.

Does El Segundo have pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. The Pre-Approved ADU Plan Program covers detached ADUs.

Can I sell an El Segundo property with an unpermitted unit?

Yes. Disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in El Segundo
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• El Segundo Building Permits Guide
• El Segundo Code Enforcement Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of El Segundo: ADU and JADU Resources
• City of El Segundo: Planning Division
• City of El Segundo: Apply for a Building Permit

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