Cudahy Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

Cudahy publishes an ADU handout with size, height and setback standards, and it routes ADU zoning questions to its Planning Division before a building permit is issued. This guide summarizes the ADU standards in the city’s handout, how the Zoning Clearance step works, and what to check before you sell a house with an extra unit.

The handout is undated and state law changes often, so confirm current rules with Planning.

Cudahy ADU rules (city handout) at a glance

Minimum ADU size	350 square feet
Maximum ADU size	Varies by bedroom count, up to 1,200 sq ft for three or more bedrooms
Height	Attached to the main unit 25 ft; detached 18 ft; on top of a garage 28 ft
Setbacks	Attached: same as the base zone; detached: 4-foot side and rear
JADU	Up to 500 sq ft within the existing structure; shared bathroom allowed
Planning contact	planning@cityofcudahyca.gov, (323) 773-5143
Process step	Zoning Clearance before the building permit

How Cudahy handles ADU zoning review

Cudahy’s Zoning Clearance form is completed before a building permit is issued, and for accessory dwelling units it directs applicants to the Planning Division at planning@cityofcudahyca.gov or (323) 773-5143.

After zoning clearance, the project goes through Building & Safety for plans and permits, using the ADU plan requirement sheet in the city’s Applications and Forms list. Start with Planning so that setbacks, height and lot coverage questions are settled before you pay for full plans.

ADU size, height and setbacks

The city’s ADU handout states a minimum size of 350 square feet and a maximum that varies with the number of bedrooms, topping out at 1,200 square feet for units with three or more bedrooms.

Maximum heights listed are 25 feet for a unit attached to the main home, 18 feet for a detached unit and 28 feet for a unit built on top of a garage. Setbacks for an attached unit follow the base zone, while a detached unit needs 4-foot side and rear setbacks.

The handout does not state parking, owner occupancy or review time, so confirm those with Planning and compare them with current state law.

Junior ADUs

The handout describes a junior ADU as a unit of no more than 500 square feet created within the existing structure, with no expansion. Converting an attached garage is allowed, the existing permitted footprint can remain, and the junior ADU may share a bathroom with the main unit.

If your home has a small, separately entered room that was built as a junior ADU, ask the city whether it was permitted and recorded.

Garage conversions, egress and bedrooms

Garage conversions are one of the most common sources of unpermitted living space in older Cudahy neighborhoods. A converted garage that is used as a bedroom must also meet egress rules, and the city publishes an egress window requirements sheet through its building department.

When a buyer’s inspector sees an enclosed garage without a permit record, the sale can stall. Ask Building & Safety what the file shows before you list.

What to do before you list a house with an ADU

Ask Building & Safety for the permit history on any second unit, then ask Planning whether the unit meets the handout’s size, height and setback standards. If the unit was built without permits, get a realistic estimate of plans, corrections and fees so you can compare it with selling as-is.

Because the handout is undated, check it against the March 2026 HCD handbook linked in our sources, and treat anything the two disagree on as a question for Planning.

State ADU law and Cudahy

California’s ADU statute, Government Code section 66314 and following, sets a floor that every city must follow, and local ordinances fill in the details.

The state requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application, bars a city from requiring more than a limited set of standards, and generally allows an ADU or conversion inside existing space without added setbacks.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) publishes a handbook and keeps a list of the state requirements. Because state law changes often, treat the city’s current ordinance and handout as the final word on size, height, parking and fees for your lot.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a Cudahy house

Many older homes have a converted garage or a backyard unit built without permits. Buyers and lenders ask about them, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the rules, and our Prop 13 guide explains how new construction can affect property tax. Before you list:

• Check city records for permits on any ADU, conversion or addition.
• Ask Planning whether the structure could qualify under current rules.
• Estimate plans, fees and corrections needed to legalize it.
• Compare that with selling as-is and letting a cash buyer take on the legalization.

Questions to ask Planning before you design

• Does my lot and zone allow an ADU, a junior ADU, or both?
• Is a pre-approved or pre-reviewed ADU plan available?
• What are the current impact, utility and school fees for the size I am considering?
• Can my existing garage or accessory structure be converted without changing its footprint?
• Are there fire, slope, easement or utility constraints on my lot?

Junior ADUs and garage conversions in more detail

State law treats a junior ADU as a unit of up to 500 square feet created inside the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, with an efficiency kitchen and a recorded restriction that keeps it from being sold apart from the house.

A garage conversion is a different path: the unit replaces the garage, and state law generally does not require the city to demand replacement parking. Both are common sources of unpermitted space in older Cudahy neighborhoods, which is why buyers’ agents and appraisers ask for the permit record.

If a conversion was done without a permit, the usual fix is to submit as-built drawings, pay the fees and pass inspection, which can take months and cost real money.

Fees, utilities and property tax

State law limits the impact fees a city can charge on smaller ADUs and on conversions of existing space, and it limits when a separate utility connection can be required.

Larger new units can still carry impact fees, school fees and water or sewer connection charges, so ask for an itemized estimate before you commit to plans. New construction is generally reassessed for property tax under Prop 13, which means an ADU can raise the bill for the whole property. Our Prop 13 guide explains how reassessment works.

Why ADUs matter for resale

A permitted ADU can add rental income and appeal for some buyers, but an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Lenders typically want permitted living area, and an appraiser may not count unpermitted space.

Because an ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the main home, its value comes through the sale of the whole property.

If you inherited a house with an old backyard unit, or bought one with a converted garage, check what the city has on file before you decide how to sell. Our probate home sale guide covers inherited property.

How to sell a house in Cudahy

1. Ask the city for the permit record on any ADU or conversion.
2. Collect plans, inspection records and any city notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, legalization or showings required.

See also our Cudahy page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does Cudahy allow ADUs?

Yes. The city publishes ADU standards in a handout and routes ADU zoning clearance through the Planning Division.

How big can a Cudahy ADU be?

The handout lists a 350 sq ft minimum and a maximum that varies by bedroom count, up to 1,200 sq ft for three or more bedrooms. A junior ADU is limited to 500 sq ft.

How tall can an ADU be?

The handout lists 25 feet attached, 18 feet detached and 28 feet on top of a garage.

What setbacks apply?

Attached ADUs follow the base zone. Detached ADUs need 4-foot side and rear setbacks.

Who do I contact about an ADU?

Planning at planning@cityofcudahyca.gov or (323) 773-5143.

Can I sell a Cudahy house with an unpermitted ADU?

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

Sources

• City of Cudahy: ADU Handout
• City of Cudahy: Zoning Clearance Form
• City of Cudahy: Applications and Forms
• California HCD: ADU Handbook (March 2026)

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