How active is ADU building in this area? LADBS issued 1,241 ADU permits here from 2020 through early November 2026, which puts the Woodland Hills-Warner Center neighborhood council area at number 2 of 236 in our data. It falls in council district 3.
Year by year
| Year | Permits |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 107 |
| 2021 | 182 |
| 2022 | 198 |
| 2023 | 187 |
| 2024 | 215 |
| 2025 | 225 |
| 2026 (partial) | 127 |
The yearly count rose from 107 to 225 between 2020 and 2025. 2026 is still in progress, and already stands at 127.
The three main permit types
| Type | Permits | Median size | Median declared valuation | Median per sq ft | Days to permit | Days permit to CofO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New detached or new construction | 286 | 822 sq ft | $110,000 | $115 | 208 | 409 |
| Garage or space conversion | 660 | 467 sq ft | $45,000 | $90 | 104 | 286 |
| JADU | 244 | 420 sq ft | $37,500 | $90 | 86 | 260 |
| All ADU permits | 1,241 | 524 sq ft | $55,000 | $102 | 123 | 324 |
Medians in the last two columns are in days. About 53 percent of permits are conversions, 23 percent new units and 20 percent JADUs.
Reading the table
Two things stand out. First, JADUs are a real share of the mix here: 244 permits, nearly as many as the 286 for new units. A JADU is a small unit carved from inside an existing home, and the comparison of ADU, JADU and garage conversion explains when each makes sense. Second, new units take the longest to get through the counter, a median of 208 days, against 104 for conversions and 86 for JADUs.
Plans are reviewed and inspected by LADBS; the permit process guide covers each stage.
City medians for context
| Measure | This area | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Declared valuation | $55,000 | $60,000 |
| Size | 524 sq ft | 558 sq ft |
| Per sq ft | $102 | $105 |
| Days to permit | 123 | 154 |
| Days permit to CofO | 324 | 368 |
The median size here is 34 square feet below the citywide figure, and the median declared valuation is $5,000 below it.
Finished versus in progress
Of the 1,241 permits, 784 had a certificate of occupancy on record at the time of our analysis, about 63 percent. The post-permit day counts above come only from that group. Newer permits have had less time to finish, so their completion times are not in the data yet.
Where the numbers come from
ADU permits were identified from the permit ADU flags and descriptions, with supplemental permits removed. The valuation shown is the applicant's declared number, not a complete project price (design, fees, utility work and finishes often come on top). Times are medians for permits that reached each step, from submission to issue and from issue to CofO. 2026 is a partial year. Data: 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.
