La Habra, CA Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

La Habra allows accessory dwelling units under its municipal code and has adopted urgency ordinances to keep its rules in line with state law. This guide explains where La Habra’s ADU rules come from, what the city’s ordinance and housing element say, how state law sets the baseline and what to ask Planning before you build or sell.

The ordinance text and state rules change, so confirm current size, height, setback and parking numbers with Planning at 562-383-4100.

La Habra ADU rules at a glance

Rules	City of La Habra Municipal Code, with urgency Ordinance 1813 on the city’s document center
Where allowed	The ordinance excerpt says ADUs are permitted in all zones where single-family or multi-family residential units are permitted
Size	The ordinance sets size standards for attached and detached units and garage conversions; confirm current numbers with Planning
Planning Division	562-383-4100
Building permit	Through Building & Safety, 562-383-4116
Housing element	Assumes about 50 ADUs and JADUs per year
State law baseline	Ministerial review within 60 days; at least 800 sq ft detached with 4-foot setbacks; JADU up to 500 sq ft

Where La Habra’s ADU rules live

The city’s document center posts an urgency ordinance of the City Council, Ordinance 1813, on accessory dwelling units.

The excerpt available states that ADUs are permitted in all zones where single-family or multi-family residential units are permitted, and that they must not exceed size standards listed for attached units, detached units and garage conversions.

Because it is an urgency ordinance, later amendments may have changed it, so ask Planning which version controls today.

What the housing element says

La Habra’s housing element planning materials, including the response to the state Department of Housing and Community Development, assume an ADU build-out of about 50 ADUs and junior ADUs per year based on recent trends, and include a program on accessory dwelling units. That signals the city expects steady ADU activity, which is also why permit history on an existing unit matters to buyers.

What state law guarantees

California sets a floor cities cannot override.

A city must approve or deny a complete ADU application ministerially within 60 days, must allow a detached ADU of at least 800 square feet with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and treats a junior ADU as a unit of up to 500 square feet inside an existing or proposed home.

These figures come from state law as summarized in the HCD handbook, not from a La Habra page, so confirm them against the city’s current ordinance.

Garage conversions and unpermitted units

Many older La Habra homes have a garage turned into a bedroom or den without a permit. State law is more favorable to conversions than it used to be, but a unit still needs permits, inspections and a final sign-off to count as legal living space. If yours was never permitted, ask Planning and Building & Safety what legalizing it would involve.

Selling a house with an ADU

A permitted ADU can help a sale, but an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Gather permits, final inspection records and any rental history, and decide whether to legalize, disclose and sell on the open market, or sell as-is.

State ADU law and La Habra

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 La Habra 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 La Habra 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 La Habra

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 La Habra page, the La Habra as-is sale page, the La Habra inherited house page and the Orange County hub. La Habra Heights is a separate city; this guide covers the City of La Habra only.

Frequently asked questions

Does La Habra allow ADUs?

Yes. The city’s urgency Ordinance 1813 excerpt says ADUs are permitted in all zones where single-family or multi-family residential units are permitted.

Where do I find La Habra’s ADU size limits?

In the ordinance on the city’s document center and the municipal code. Planning, at 562-383-4100, can confirm current numbers.

How long does the city have to review an ADU?

State law requires ministerial review of a complete application within 60 days.

What does state law say about ADU size?

State law requires cities to allow a detached ADU of at least 800 square feet with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and a junior ADU of up to 500 square feet.

Can I legalize a converted garage?

Often yes, but it usually requires plans, permits and inspections. Ask Planning and Building & Safety.

Can I sell a La Habra house with an unpermitted ADU?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in La Habra
• We Buy Houses in Orange County
• Orange County Property Tax Guide
• La Habra Building Permits Guide
• La Habra Code Enforcement Guide
• Sell Your La Habra House As-Is
• La Habra Cash Offer Process
• Sell My La Habra House Fast
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of La Habra: Urgency Ordinance 1813 (ADUs)
• City of La Habra: HCD housing element comment letter
• City of La Habra: Housing element response to HCD
• California HCD: Accessory Dwelling Units

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