ADU Builder in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA: Permits, Fees and Costs

How long does Rancho Palos Verdes take to decide an ADU application?

California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3) requires the permitting agency to approve or deny an application within 60 days from the date it receives a complete one, and states that an application the agency has not acted on within 60 days is deemed approved. Section 66317(a)(2)(A) requires the agency to send a written completeness determination not later than 15 business days after the application arrives. Rancho Palos Verdes splits the work between two divisions on the same project: the Planning Division reviews a Major Site Plan Review on a signed Uniform Planning Application, and the Building and Safety Division runs a separate plan check on its own plan check application, both listed in the City's ADU and JADU Development Submittal Checklist.

What ADU rules apply on a Rancho Palos Verdes residential lot?

The City's Accessory Dwelling Units page states that ADUs are permitted on any lot zoned to allow single-family or multifamily residential, and that junior ADUs are permitted on any lot zoned to allow single-family residential. The governing local ordinance is Chapter 17.10 of Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, which the City says establishes design and development requirements, and the same page says ADUs must also comply with the applicable California Building Standards Code. State law sets the floors a local standard cannot undercut: Section 66321(b)(3) requires lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, front setback, and minimum lot size rules to permit an ADU with at least 800 square feet of interior livable space and four-foot side and rear yard setbacks, and Section 66314(d)(5) limits the total floor area of a detached ADU to 1,200 square feet.

Does Rancho Palos Verdes offer pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. The City runs a Pre-Approved Standard ADU Plans Program under Assembly Bill 1332. Vendors submit non-site-specific standard plans, the Planning and Zoning Division reviews them for compliance with Chapter 17.10 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, and the Building and Safety Division reviews them against the current cycle of the California Building Standards Code. The program covers new construction, detached, state-exemption ADUs only. Approved plans stay valid within the same triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle in which they were approved, and once the City approves a set and the fees are paid, the plans are posted on the City's website with the vendor name, contact information, a short description, and a floor plan preview.

What does Rancho Palos Verdes charge to review an ADU?

The FY 2026-27 Master Schedule of Fees adopted by the City lists plan check for an ADU New/Addition at $0.68 per square foot, building inspections for an ADU New/Addition at $1.77 per square foot, and a minimum plan check fee of $381. The same schedule lists a JADU Inspection Fee of $154. The City accepts checks, cash, VISA and MasterCard for permit fees. School district fees apply to any added habitable space and are paid to PVPUSD or LAUSD depending on the property location, and the checklist requires a receipt from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District for a new connection to the City sewer system.

What should a homeowner line up before applying in Rancho Palos Verdes?

The City's ADU and JADU Development Submittal Checklist asks for a current land survey stamped and signed by a licensed land surveyor, a topography plan that identifies slopes and distances from steep grades, existing and proposed floor plans and roof plans, elevation drawings, and a site plan that labels setbacks. The checklist also asks for Los Angeles County Fire Department approval for any new habitable space, including an ADU or a JADU, which starts with a fire flow test run with CalWater to decide whether fire sprinklers or a new hydrant are needed. Solar plans are required for a new construction ADU under Title 24, and County Public Health approval is required if a septic system is installed or modified.

How much does an ADU cost in Rancho Palos Verdes?

L Square's configured model prices, published on the L Square cost guide on lscontractor.com, start at $180,000 for the 600 square foot Model 600, run to $240,000 for the 800 square foot Model 800A and Model 800B, to $295,000 for the 1,000 square foot Model 1000A and Model 1000B, and to $354,000 for the 1,200 square foot Model 1200. The same published prices apply to Los Angeles County cities including Rancho Palos Verdes. L Square holds California Contractors State License Board number 1095476. Call (949) 374-7980 to set up a site visit.

Official Rancho Palos Verdes ADU sources

• The City of Rancho Palos Verdes states on its Accessory Dwelling Units page that ADUs are permitted on any lot zoned to allow single-family or multifamily residential, that junior ADUs are permitted on any lot zoned to allow single-family residential, that a junior ADU is no more than 500 square feet, that the governing ordinance is Chapter 17.10 of Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, and that ADUs must comply with the applicable California Building Standards Code. Official source
• The City's ADU and JADU Development Submittal Checklist requires one copy of the Uniform Planning Application signed by the landowner for a Major Site Plan Review, one copy of the Building and Safety Plan Check Application, a land survey stamped by a licensed surveyor, and Los Angeles County Fire Department approval for any new habitable space including an ADU or JADU, which starts with a fire flow test completed with CalWater to decide whether fire sprinklers or a new hydrant are needed. Official source
• The City's Pre-Approved Standard ADU Plans Program Participation Requirements handout states that standard ADU plans submitted for pre-approval apply only to new construction, detached, state-exemption ADUs and must be non-site-specific, that they are reviewed for compliance with Chapter 17.10 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code and against the current cycle of the California Building Standards Code, and that approved plans are only valid within the same triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle. Official source
• The October 6, 2026 City Council agenda report on ADU Code Amendment Initiation states that the City's ADU Ordinance No. 681 was adopted June 18, 2024 and submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, that HCD issued a review letter dated September 8, 2026 with written findings that the ordinance does not comply with State ADU Laws, that the City responded in writing on September 23, 2026, and that the Planning Commission public hearing is expected in December 2026 or January 2027. Official source
• The City's Master Schedule of Fees for Fiscal Year 2026-27 lists plan check for an ADU New/Addition at $0.68 per square foot, building inspections for an ADU New/Addition at $1.77 per square foot, a minimum plan check fee of $381, and a JADU Inspection Fee of $154. Official source
• The City's Applicable Fees page states that the City accepts checks, cash, VISA and MasterCard for payment of permit fees, that Public Works handles water and sewer connection fees and encroachment and drainage fees, and that school district fees apply to residential projects including all new construction, conditional living space only, and additions. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3) requires the permitting agency to approve or deny the application to create or serve an accessory dwelling unit within 60 days from the date the permitting agency receives a completed application, and states that the application shall be deemed approved if the agency has not acted within 60 days. Section 66317(a)(2)(A) requires the permitting agency to determine whether an application is complete and give written notice not later than 15 business days after receipt. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66314(d)(5) states that the total floor area for a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 1,200 square feet. Section 66314(d)(10)(A) states that parking requirements shall not exceed one parking space per accessory dwelling unit or per bedroom, whichever is less. Section 66314(d)(11) states that the local agency shall not require replacement of off-street parking when a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is converted to an accessory dwelling unit. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66321(b)(3) states that local lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, front setback, and minimum lot size limits that do not permit an accessory dwelling unit with at least 800 square feet of interior livable space and with four-foot side and rear yard setbacks are preempted. Section 66321(b)(4)(A) requires a local agency to allow a height of 16 feet for a detached accessory dwelling unit. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66311.5(c)(1) states that a local agency, special district, or water corporation shall not impose any impact fee upon the development of an accessory dwelling unit that has 750 square feet of interior livable space or less or a junior accessory dwelling unit that has 500 square feet of interior livable space or less, and that any impact fees charged for an accessory dwelling unit with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space shall be charged proportionately in relation to the square footage of the primary dwelling unit. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66325(a) states that, except as provided in subdivision (b), the state ADU approval article shall supersede a conflicting local ordinance, and Section 66325(b) states that the article does not limit the authority of local agencies to adopt less restrictive requirements for the creation of an accessory dwelling unit. Official source