Between 2020 and today, LADBS issued 803 ADU permits in Pacoima, the 11th highest of 236 council areas. Pacoima is in Council District 7.
The yearly pattern
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permits issued | 92 | 114 | 130 | 127 | 134 | 123 | 83 |
Pacoima's count is steadier than a steep boom: 92 in 2020, 114, 130, 127, 134 and 123 in the years after. The 2026 figure of 83 is a partial year, so it cannot yet be compared with a full year.
What was permitted
| ADU type | Permits | Typical size (sq ft) | Typical declared value | Declared $ per sq ft | Days: submit to issue | Days: issue to CofO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New detached or new construction | 220 | 966 | $120,000 | $113 | 218 | 406 |
| Garage or space conversion | 416 | 528 | $43,000 | $82 | 114 | 318 |
| JADU | 133 | 400 | $30,000 | $96 | 81 | 263 |
| All ADU permits | 803 | 600 | $54,500 | $101 | 136 | 326 |
Notes on the mix
New builds are 27 percent of permits here (citywide, about 22 percent). Of 803 permits, 220 are new builds, with a median declared valuation of $120,000 and 966 square feet, or $113 per square foot. Conversions are still the largest group at 416 permits (about 52 percent), declared at a median $43,000 for 528 square feet. JADUs are 133 permits (about 17 percent) at a median of $30,000 and 400 square feet.
For anyone choosing between these routes, the comparison of ADU, JADU and garage conversion is a good starting point. Whatever the type, the application goes through LADBS, described on the LA permit process page. The hillside share in the data is 0 percent, but check fire hazard zone guidance if your parcel is on a slope.
Pacoima versus the city
City benchmarks to hold against these figures: a $60,000 median declared valuation, 558 square feet, $105 per square foot, 154 days to get a permit and 368 more to reach CofO. Split by type, the city medians read $120,000 at 813 square feet (new), $50,000 at 496 square feet (conversion) and $35,000 at 400 square feet (JADU).
Pacoima's overall medians: $54,500 declared, 600 square feet, $101 per square foot, 136 days to issue and 326 days from issue to CofO. The CofO step is 42 days shorter than the citywide 368. Conversions here are cheaper on the permit than citywide ($43,000 against $50,000), and JADUs are at $30,000 against $35,000.
For completion, 532 of 803 permits here show a certificate of occupancy, about 66 percent. The citywide figure is 26,170 of 41,450, about 63 percent. Because recent permits are still under construction, the share would be expected to move as 2025 and 2026 projects finish.
Where to go from here
Money questions belong on the LA ADU cost page, which separates the declared figure from real spending. Planning the calendar? Try the ADU timeline guide. Hiring comes last, and the CSLB license check for ADU builders is the place to begin.
Source and method
Data: LADBS "Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present" on data.lacity.org (dataset pi9x-tg5x), City of Los Angeles permits only. Analysis by our editors, November 2026.
How this page was built. ADU permits were picked out by their ADU flags and descriptions, with supplemental permits removed. Declared valuation is simply what the applicant wrote on the permit, so total project cost is often higher once design, fees, utilities and finishes are counted. Each time figure is a median, using only permits that reached that step. Treat the 2026 column as incomplete.
