Junior ADUs in Long Beach
A small, private unit made from space you already have: a bedroom wing, part of the house or an attached garage. The lightest-touch way to add a home. Licensed and insured.
What is a junior ADU?
A junior ADU, or JADU, is a unit of up to 500 sq ft of interior living space created inside a single-family home. As of October 2026, Long Beach allows a JADU to be made from part of the main home or from an attached garage. JADUs are not allowed on lots with a multi-family building.
What does a JADU need?
- An efficiency kitchen. Every JADU must have its own kitchen.
- A bathroom, either its own or a shared one with reasonable access in the main home.
- An entrance. JADUs generally have their own exterior entrance, and an interior door to the main home is allowed. Long Beach's current bulletin notes that a JADU that shares a bathroom and has access to the main home does not need its own exterior entrance.
Requirements as of October 2026, from the City of Long Beach ADU bulletin and zoning summary.
Do I have to live on the property?
Only in some cases. As of October 2026, under AB 1154 (effective January 1, 2026), owner occupancy is required only when the JADU shares a bathroom with the main home. The owner then must live in either the main home or the JADU. If the JADU has its own bathroom, owner occupancy is not required by state law.
Can I rent out a JADU?
Yes, to a tenant for longer than 30 days. As of October 2026, state law requires JADU rentals to be for terms longer than 30 days, so a JADU cannot be a short-term rental. See our Airbnb guide.
What fees and parking apply?
As of October 2026, state law bars impact fees on a JADU of 500 sq ft or less, and a JADU is not treated as a new residential use for utility connection fees unless built with a new single-family home. Long Beach requires no parking for a JADU.
Can I have a JADU and another ADU?
Yes. As of October 2026, Long Beach allows a single-family lot to combine one JADU with one converted ADU and one new detached ADU.
Is a JADU right for me?
It depends on how you plan to use it. A JADU suits housing a relative, a caregiver or a long-term tenant you are comfortable living close to, at a lower cost than new construction. If you want full separation, or plan to sell the house later to a buyer who may not want a shared-bathroom setup, a garage conversion or backyard cottage may suit you better.
Related
Rules as of October 2026, from the City of Long Beach ADU bulletin (IB-PZ-001) and zoning summary, California Government Code and AB 1154 (2025).
See what fits on your lot
Send your address and a line about the space you want to convert. We tell you whether it can become a JADU.