Florence-Firestone Homeowner Guide: County Permits, Planning and ADUs

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Florence-Firestone follows Los Angeles County rules

Florence-Firestone is unincorporated, with a county community plan and a transit oriented specific plan. Here is what the official sources say and how to sell a house here.

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

Florence-Firestone homeowners deal with Los Angeles County, not a city. This guide covers the community plan, the transit specific plan and the permit, code and ADU questions that come up when you sell.

Florence-Firestone at a glance

Governing body	Los Angeles County (unincorporated)
Planning agency	County Regional Planning
Community plan	Florence-Firestone Community Plan
Specific plan	Florence-Firestone TOD (Slauson Station TOC)
Plan area	About 3.48 square miles
Property tax	LA County

An unincorporated county community

Florence-Firestone is not part of the City of Los Angeles. The county’s Regional Planning department describes it as an unincorporated community about six miles south of downtown Los Angeles, bounded by the city of Los Angeles on the north, south and west. That means Los Angeles County, not a city hall, sets many of the rules, and the Florence-Firestone Community Plan sits inside the county’s Metro Planning Area.

Community plan and the TOD specific plan

Regional Planning publishes the Florence-Firestone Community Plan and the Florence-Firestone Transit Oriented District Specific Plan, also called the Slauson Station TOC Specific Plan.

The environmental report for the specific plan says the plan area covers the whole community, about 3.48 square miles, and the county describes the plan as a zoning tool to allow more affordable housing.

Because zones can change under adopted plans, confirm your parcel’s zone with Regional Planning before you design anything.

ADUs in unincorporated Los Angeles County

Regional Planning publishes a step-by-step ADU guide for unincorporated areas. It tells owners in an unincorporated community to contact Regional Planning to understand the ADU requirements for their property, and it warns that failing to follow the process can lead to revocation of issued building permits. We did not find a Florence-Firestone-specific ADU size table in the pages we checked, so confirm numbers with the county.

Permits and selling a Florence-Firestone house

Buyers and lenders ask about permit history, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work on the Transfer Disclosure Statement. Our statewide guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains what disclosure involves, and the seller closing costs guide shows what else to budget. If tenants live in the home, read the tenant-occupied home sale guide.

When a Florence-Firestone home has an open permit, an expired one, or work done without a permit, you generally have three options: finish and finalize the permit before listing, disclose the work and negotiate on the open market, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who takes the house in its current condition. Use this checklist:

Ask the county’s building division for the permit record on your address.
List every addition, garage conversion, enclosed patio or outbuilding, and note which have permits.
Gather final inspection records, plans and contractor invoices.
Ask what plans, fees and inspections it would take to permit each unpermitted item.
Compare that cost and time with a no-repairs cash sale. New construction can also be reassessed for property tax, which our Prop 13 guide explains.

Questions to ask the Florence-Firestone building division before you start

Does my project need Planning or Engineering approval in addition to a building permit?
Is there an exemption that applies, and what conditions come with it?
What plan-check deposit and fees apply, and how long will review take right now?
What inspections will be required, and in what order?
Can an existing unpermitted structure be legalized, and what would that involve?

Selling a Florence-Firestone house with open code violations

An open notice or citation does not stop you from selling. California sellers generally disclose known notices on the Transfer Disclosure Statement, which asks about notices of abatement or citations against the property, and a title search will show any recorded lien. Our as-is and unpermitted work guide explains the disclosure rules, and the closing costs guide covers how liens and fees are paid at closing.

In practice, sellers with open violations usually choose one of three paths: correct the problem and ask the county to close the case before listing, disclose it and sell with a price adjustment, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who takes on the cleanup. Which one fits depends on how big the problem is, how much time you have and whether fines are still growing. Before you decide:

Get the case number, notice date and the specific code sections cited.
Ask the county what must be done to close the case and whether it will re-inspect.
Ask for a current statement of fines, fees and any recorded liens.
Get quotes for the work so you can compare repair cost with a no-repairs sale.
Check whether tenants, an estate or a co-owner need to be part of the decision.

Questions to ask the Florence-Firestone code enforcement team

What exactly is the violation, and what would count as fixed?
What is the deadline, and can it be extended if work is under way?
Are fines accruing, and what is the total today?
Has a lien or special assessment been recorded against the property?
How do I request a re-inspection once the work is done?

State ADU law and Florence-Firestone

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

The state requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application, bars a county 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 county’s current ordinance and handout as the final word on size, height, parking and fees for your lot.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a Florence-Firestone 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 county 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.

How to sell a house in Florence-Firestone

Request a cash offer by phone, text or the form on this page; we ask about the address, condition and your timeline.
We review the property and any permit or violation issues you tell us about, then make a written cash offer with no repair demands.
If you accept, we open escrow, order title and confirm payoff amounts, liens and any association or tax balances.
You choose the closing date, and you can stay or move out on a schedule that fits. See the Florence-Firestone cash offer process.
You sign at escrow and receive your proceeds with no commissions or listing fees.

Own a house in Florence-Firestone? Get a no-obligation cash offer, as-is.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Florence-Firestone part of the City of Los Angeles?

No. It is an unincorporated community governed by Los Angeles County, though it is surrounded by the city of Los Angeles.

Who handles zoning and ADUs in Florence-Firestone?

Los Angeles County Regional Planning, using the Florence-Firestone Community Plan and the transit oriented district specific plan.

Can I sell a Florence-Firestone house with unpermitted work?

Yes. California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work, and a cash buyer can take the house as it stands.

How are property taxes handled here?

Through Los Angeles County. See our LA County property tax guide.

What if the house was inherited?

See our LA County probate guide and the inherited house page.

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Sources

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