Pre-Submission Review · Free

ADU Plan Check

Long Beach, California

ADUs are California's fastest-growing housing type — but every city has different rules for setbacks, size limits, and parking. Under state law (AB 68, AB 881), your city must approve a compliant ADU ministerially, but you still need to meet local zoning requirements for the primary structure and overall site. A single code miss can delay your permit by weeks.

  • Check ADU setbacks (4' rear/side under state law vs. city zone requirements)
  • Verify max size: 1,200 sqft or 50% of primary dwelling, whichever is less
  • Confirm parking — waived within ½ mile of transit under AB 881
  • Catch height, coverage, and FAR issues before plan check

Project Location

Building Dimensions

Setbacks

Coverage & Parking

Additional Notes

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in Long Beach: What You Need to Know

California has some of the most permissive ADU laws in the country. Under AB 68 and AB 881, cities must approve ADUs that meet state standards — no discretionary review, no public hearings. But each city still has its own zoning code that determines setbacks, height limits, and lot coverage for the primary structure and site.

Common issues that delay ADU permits in Long Beach:

  • Setback violations — Detached ADUs only need 4' rear and side setbacks under state law, but many applicants mistakenly apply the primary structure setbacks. Make sure you're using the correct standard.
  • Height limit confusion — Detached ADUs max at 16' (one story) or 18' (in some cases for two-story ADUs near transit). Attached ADUs follow the primary structure height limit.
  • Parking miscalculation — ADU parking is waived within ½ mile of transit. If your property qualifies, don't provide unnecessary parking that eats into buildable area.
  • Size limit errors — Max 1,200 sqft OR 50% of the primary dwelling, whichever is smaller. Many plans get flagged for exceeding this.
  • Utility connection fees — Long Beach may charge impact fees for ADUs over 750 sqft. Budget for these during planning, not after permit.

Use the form above to check your ADU project against Long Beach's specific codes before you submit. Our tool checks setbacks, height, lot coverage, FAR, and parking requirements — the items that cause 80% of plan check rejections.

How Plan Check Works in Long Beach

01

Enter your project details

Fill in the form above with your lot size, setbacks, building height, and other dimensions — the same numbers on your architectural plans.

02

We check against Long Beach codes

Your project is compared against Long Beach's specific zoning requirements — setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, parking ratios, and FAR limits for your zone.

03

Get a prioritized report

Critical violations, warnings, and advisory items — ranked by what a Long Beach plan checker will flag first. Fix issues before you submit and save weeks of correction cycles.

Long Beach Zone Requirements

Zone Front Side Rear Height Coverage
R-1-N — Single-Family Residential 20' 5' 15' 25' 50%
R-2-N — Two-Family Residential 20' 5' 15' 30' 60%

Frequently Asked Questions

What setbacks does Long Beach require for accessory dwelling unit (adu) projects? +

Long Beach requires a 20' front setback, 5' side setback, and 15' rear setback in the most common residential zone. Specific requirements vary by zone — enter your zone code above for exact numbers.

How long does Long Beach plan review take? +

Initial plan review in Long Beach typically takes 4-8 weeks. If corrections are required, each resubmission adds another 2-4 weeks. Running a pre-check before submitting can eliminate the most common correction items and save one or more review cycles.

What is the maximum building height in Long Beach? +

The most common residential zone in Long Beach allows a maximum height of 25 feet. Height measurement methods vary — some cities measure to the highest ridge, others to the midpoint of the roof. Check the specific zone requirements for your property.

Is this plan check tool free? +

Yes. Create a free account to run unlimited plan checks against Long Beach's building codes. The tool checks setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, parking requirements, and flags common issues that Long Beach plan reviewers look for.

What are the most common adu plan check corrections in Long Beach? +

The most frequently flagged items in Long Beach include: Height limit is 25 feet for R-1-N — lower than most cities; Coastal zone review adds weeks to approval timeline; ADU rear setback of 4 feet often confused with main structure setback. Our tool checks for all of these automatically.