760 ADU permits have been issued in Mar Vista since 2020, placing it 14th of 236 council areas. The area is in Council District 11.
Year-by-year permits
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permits issued | 66 | 93 | 139 | 105 | 114 | 163 | 80 |
The best year so far is 2025 with 163 permits, up from 114 in 2024. Earlier peaks were 139 in 2022. With 80 permits in 2026, a year not yet over, the count is already about half of 2025's.
Permit types
| Permit type | Issued | Median area (sq ft) | Median declared valuation | Median declared $ per sq ft | Median wait to issue (days) | Median days to CofO after issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New detached or new construction | 107 | 632 | $97,869 | $129 | 182 | 460 |
| Garage or space conversion | 575 | 460 | $55,000 | $105 | 153 | 366 |
| JADU | 43 | 373 | $50,000 | $112 | 129 | 375 |
| All ADU permits | 760 | 488 | $64,426 | $111 | 152 | 379 |
What the numbers suggest
Conversions are about 76 percent of everything here: 575 of 760 permits. That is a clear majority. For anyone starting with an existing garage, the guide to ADU, JADU and garage conversion covers how the types differ.
New construction is the smaller group at 107 permits, declared at a median $97,869 and 632 square feet, so $129 per square foot. JADUs are 43 permits, with a median declared valuation of $50,000 for 373 square feet, which is above the citywide JADU median of $35,000.
Every ADU permit here passes through LADBS (see the Los Angeles permit process). The data lists 0 percent hillside, so we make no hillside claim, but fire hazard zone rules are worth a look for any parcel on a slope.
Mar Vista and the citywide medians
How does the whole city compare? Its median ADU permit is $60,000 declared, 558 square feet and $105 per square foot, issued after 154 days with a CofO 368 days later. Citywide new builds are $120,000 and 813 square feet, conversions $50,000 and 496 square feet, and JADUs $35,000 and 400 square feet.
Mar Vista overall: $64,426 declared, 488 square feet, $111 per square foot, 152 days to issue and 379 days from issue to CofO. The median size is 70 square feet below the citywide 558, and the value per square foot is $6 above.
A certificate of occupancy appears for 525 of the 760 permits, about 69 percent, against about 63 percent citywide (26,170 of 41,450). The days-to-CofO column applies only to those 525 completed permits. Days to permit cover all permits issued.
Where to go from here
Costs: see what ADUs cost in Los Angeles. Time: see how long an ADU takes from permit to move-in. People: see how to check an ADU builder with the CSLB.
Source and method
Where the numbers come from: LADBS "Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present" (data.lacity.org, dataset pi9x-tg5x, City of Los Angeles only), with analysis by us in November 2026.
Notes on how we got these. Permits were treated as ADUs on the strength of their ADU flags and descriptions; supplemental permits were set aside. Declared valuation comes from the applicant and is not what a finished ADU costs in full, because design, fees, utilities and finishes are often separate. Days are medians for permits that reached each step. 2026 has not finished.
