Parking was once the biggest barrier to ADUs. State law now makes it a minor one. In most cases a city cannot require any parking for your ADU, and it cannot require you to replace parking you give up.
LA ADU Guide is an information site. We are not a contractor, architect, lender or law firm. Rules change, so confirm everything with your building department before you spend money. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The basic rule
Under Gov. Code section 66322, a jurisdiction may waive all ADU parking requirements. If it does not, the most it may require is one space per ADU. ABAG's July 2025 summary lists the exceptions that mean no parking at all can be required.
When no ADU parking can be required
| Exception | Applies when |
|---|---|
| State exempt ADU | The unit qualifies under section 66323 |
| Studio | The ADU is a studio |
| Conversion | The ADU is created from existing space |
| Transit | Within a half mile of public transit |
| Historic district | Within an architecturally and historically significant district |
| Car share | Within one block of a car share location |
| Permit parking | On-street permits are required but not offered to the ADU occupant |
| New home | The ADU application is filed with a new home on the same lot and meets the criteria in section 66322(a)(1) to (5) |
Source: ABAG summary, table 4. Because several exceptions are common in LA County, many ADUs in the region face no parking requirement. Check your parcel against each line.
Replacement parking
ABAG states: "Replacement Parking: None required for ADUs." If you turn a garage or carport into an ADU, the city cannot make you build new spaces elsewhere.
There is one narrow exception. For a JADU, no new parking may be required, but replacement parking may be required if the JADU converts space in an attached garage.
If parking is required
When a city does require a space, state law lets you:
- Use tandem parking (one car behind another).
- Place the space within a setback area.
Those options matter on narrow lots. Ask the city for its written standards.
What the Los Angeles review says
HCD's 2024 review of Los Angeles noted that a city memo on ADUs in non-livable space in multifamily buildings said these may be created "regardless of zoning inconsistencies such as parking and open space." That is consistent with the state approach for conversions.
Practical issues parking rules do not solve
- Street parking can get tighter. Check your block's permit or time limits.
- Driveway width, curb cuts and fire access are separate rules.
- Your HOA, if you have one, may have its own parking covenants. See ADU HOA rules in California.
- Garage conversions can raise insurance or lender questions. Ask your insurer before you build.
Checklist
- [ ] Is your ADU a conversion, a studio or a state exempt unit? If yes, no parking can be required.
- [ ] Are you within a half mile of transit, or one block of car share? Ask the city for its maps.
- [ ] Is your lot in a historic district? Check LA City Planning or LA County maps.
- [ ] If parking is required, can tandem or setback spaces satisfy it?
- [ ] Confirm in writing that no replacement parking is required for a garage conversion.
Common questions
My ADU is a garage conversion. Do I need new parking? ABAG says replacement parking is "None required for ADUs." Conversions are also on the list of exceptions where no ADU parking can be required.
Does an ADU near a bus line need parking? If it is within a half mile of public transit, no ADU parking can be required. The city's definition of transit controls, so ask for its map.
Can the city make me pay a parking fee? We did not verify any rule on that. Ask the agency which section it relies on.
What about a JADU? No new parking may be required, but replacement parking may be required if the JADU converts space in an attached garage.
Can parking be in my front yard setback? ABAG lists "parking in setbacks" as allowed where a space is required, though local driveway and curb rules still apply.
Recent changes
No replacement parking is required for ADUs under the current ABAG summary. The law was renumbered into sections 66310 to 66342 effective March 25, 2024 (SB 477), so parking now sits in section 66322. Browse more in the ADU rules hub or read California ADU rules explained.