Sylmar is the sixth most active of the 236 neighborhood council areas in our data, with 883 ADU permits issued since 2020. The area is in council district 7.
Permits issued each year
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permits | 77 | 143 | 159 | 126 | 149 | 159 | 70 |
After a jump to 143 in 2021, counts held between 126 and 159 through 2025. The 70 shown for 2026 is a part-year total.
By type
| Type | Permits | Median size | Median declared valuation | Median per sq ft | Days to permit | Days permit to CofO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New detached or new construction | 187 | 1,046 sq ft | $120,000 | $111 | 202 | 442 |
| Garage or space conversion | 546 | 490 sq ft | $42,000 | $85 | 114 | 376 |
| JADU | 122 | 434 sq ft | $30,000 | $77 | 101 | 246 |
| All ADU permits | 883 | 566 sq ft | $50,000 | $100 | 133 | 372 |
Last two columns are medians in days. Conversions account for 62 percent of permits, new units 21 percent and JADUs 14 percent.
Timing against the city
Time from issue to CofO is close to the city figure. A median permit took 372 days from issue to certificate of occupancy, versus 368 for the city. For new units the figure is 442 days against a city median of 427, and for conversions 376 against 358. Getting to the permit is a little quicker than the city median, at 133 days (city: 154). Both figures only include permits that reached that stage, so projects still in progress are not reflected. The timeline guide explains where the days usually go.
The size picture is close to the city: 566 square feet at the median, versus 558. JADUs here have a median declared valuation of $30,000 and $77 per square foot, the lowest per-foot figure of the three types. Since conversions are the bulk of activity, the ADU, JADU and garage conversion comparison is a sensible first read.
Every permit above went through LADBS. For the review and inspection sequence, see the Los Angeles ADU permit process.
Completed projects only
Sylmar has 596 permits with a CofO among 883 issued, or 67 percent. The post-permit medians above come from this finished group. Of the new units, 121 of 187 have finished.
Where the numbers come from
ADU permits were selected by their ADU flags and descriptions; supplemental permits were removed. Valuation is the figure the applicant declared, not the whole project cost, since design, fees, utilities and finishes often add to it. Medians count only permits that reached the relevant step, and 2026 is a partial year. Data from LADBS Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present, data.lacity.org pi9x-tg5x (City of Los Angeles only), our analysis, November 2026.
Next steps
Work out a budget with the ADU cost guide, set expectations with how long an ADU takes, and before signing anything read how to check an ADU builder's CSLB license.
