ADU Builder in Temple City, CA: Permits, Pre-Approved Plans and Costs

Does Temple City offer pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. The City of Temple City Pre-Approved ADU Plans page, hosted on templecityca.gov, lists ADU plans that have been pre-approved by the City of Temple City and that a homeowner may purchase from the listed designer and submit under the standard ADU application path. The page currently lists The 16th, a 476 square foot 1 bedroom ADU by J. Kretschmer, and Five Gables, a 799 square foot 2 bedroom ADU by J. Kretschmer. The City instructs applicants to select a pre-approved plan, contact the designer to purchase the plan, prepare a site plan, complete the Zoning Clearance Application and Address Assignment Application, submit through the online portal, and pay the review fee. Confirm the current plan list and designer pricing with the Temple City Planning Division before you submit, because the page notes the listing will continue to expand.

How long does the Temple City Building and Safety plan check take?

The City of Temple City Building and Safety page, hosted on templecityca.gov, states that the average plan review is two weeks or less for a complete submittal. The same page lists an eight step process: submit for plan check, plan review, plan revisions, second round review, additional review if needed, plan check approval, permit issued, and construction with inspections. The page states that more than two resubmittals require additional review fees and that an approval is good for one year from submittal and may be extended, and that a permit is valid for six months from issuance and may be extended. State law in California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3) still applies, so if the City does not act on a completed application within 60 days the application is deemed approved, and under Section 66317(a)(2)(A) the City must issue a completeness determination within 15 business days.

How does AB 2533 legalization work in Temple City?

The City of Temple City ADU/JADU Permitting (AB 2533) page, hosted on templecityca.gov, states that under Assembly Bill 2533 property owners may use a streamlined process to permit an ADU or JADU that was built or converted before January 1, 2020. The page lists the application package: a completed AB 2533 application form, a Substandard Housing Inspection Checklist completed by a California Licensed General Contractor, Architect, or Engineer, proof the unit was built or converted before January 1, 2020 (such as County Assessor records, escrow documents, prior Building or Planning records, or real estate transfer disclosure forms), a site plan, floor plan and photos, and the application fee. The applicant records a covenant with the Planning Division as part of the package. Any violations identified during the inspection must be corrected through plans and permits before the unit can be legalized.

What fees does Temple City charge on an ADU?

The City of Temple City Fees page, hosted on templecityca.gov, states that plan check and permit fees (except encroachment permits) are 120 percent of the fees established by the County of Los Angeles, and that the County fee schedule is published on the L.A. County Department of Public Works Building and Safety Division website. The same page provides an online fee estimator for plan check, permit, and certain development fees, and lists the encroachment permit fee schedule separately. Use the online fee estimator or call the Temple City Building and Safety Division at the number on templecityca.gov to get a project specific fee total before you submit. Under California Government Code Section 66311.5, the City, any special district, and any water corporation shall not impose any impact fee upon an ADU that has 750 square feet of interior livable space or less, and any impact fees charged for an ADU with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space shall be charged proportionately in relation to the primary dwelling square footage.

What size ADU does California state law require Temple City to allow?

California Government Code Section 66314 limits a detached ADU on a lot with an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling to 1,200 square feet of floor area. Section 66321(b)(2)(A) and (B) set statewide minimum size floors that a local ordinance cannot undercut: 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom detached ADU and 1,000 square feet for a multi-bedroom detached ADU. Section 66321(b)(3) creates an 800 square foot ministerial ADU envelope with a four foot side and rear setback. Section 66321(b)(4) sets the height tiers at 16 feet for a detached ADU, 18 feet within one half mile of a major transit stop or a high quality transit corridor as defined in PRC 21155, and 18 feet on a multifamily lot, with two additional feet of roof pitch allowed. Section 66313(d) caps a JADU at 500 square feet of interior space. Section 66325(a) states that the ADU approval article supersedes any conflicting local ordinance.

What should a Temple City homeowner check before starting an ADU?

Before applying, confirm four items on the property. First, identify the lot dimensions, zone, and any easements, because the Zoning Clearance Application for an ADU asks for them on the cover page. Second, decide whether to use a pre-approved plan from the Temple City list on templecityca.gov or submit a custom plan that will go through the full plan check process. Third, confirm the size of the existing primary dwelling, because the proportional impact fee under Gov. Code 66311.5 for ADUs over 750 square feet is calculated against the primary dwelling square footage. Fourth, check the school district boundary and any separate utility providers, because the application requires PDF submittal to the Planning Division and then submittal to the Building and Safety Division through the online portal. The state 60 day clock in Gov. Code 66317(a)(3) starts at receipt of a complete application, and the City must issue a completeness determination within 15 business days under Gov. Code 66317(a)(2)(A). Permit Tech hours at Temple City City Hall are Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Plan Checker hours are Monday and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Official Temple City ADU sources

• The City of Temple City Pre-Approved ADU Plans page, hosted on templecityca.gov, lists two pre-approved ADU plans a homeowner can purchase and submit under the standard application path: The 16th, a 476 square foot 1 bedroom ADU designed by J. Kretschmer, and Five Gables, a 799 square foot 2 bedroom ADU designed by J. Kretschmer. Official source
• The City of Temple City Building and Safety page, hosted on templecityca.gov, states that the average plan review is two weeks or less for a complete submittal, that an approval is good for one year from submittal and may be extended, and that a permit is valid for six months from issuance and may be extended. Official source
• The City of Temple City ADU/JADU Permitting (AB 2533) page, hosted on templecityca.gov, states that under Assembly Bill 2533 property owners may use a streamlined process to permit an ADU or JADU constructed or converted before January 1, 2020, and that the inspection must be completed by a California Licensed General Contractor (B License), Architect, or Engineer. Official source
• The City of Temple City Fees page, hosted on templecityca.gov, states that plan check and permit fees (except encroachment permits) are 120 percent of the fees established by the County of Los Angeles, and that County fees are available on the L.A. County Department of Public Works website. The same page provides an online fee estimator for plan check and permit fees. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66317(a)(3) requires the permitting agency to approve or deny a completed ADU or JADU application within 60 days from receipt, and states that if the local agency has not approved or denied the completed application within 60 days, the application shall be deemed approved. Section 66317(a)(2)(A) requires a written completeness determination within 15 business days. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66314 limits a detached ADU on a lot with an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling to 1,200 square feet of floor area, and Section 66321(b)(2)(A) and (B) set statewide minimum floors of 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom detached ADU and 1,000 square feet for a multi-bedroom detached ADU that a local ordinance cannot undercut. Section 66313(d) caps a JADU at 500 square feet of interior space. Section 66325(a) states that the ADU approval article supersedes any conflicting local ordinance. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66311.5(c)(1) prohibits a local agency, special district, or water corporation from imposing any impact fee upon the development of an ADU that has 750 square feet of interior livable space or less, and requires any impact fees on a larger ADU to be charged proportionately in relation to the primary dwelling square footage. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66314(d)(10) caps required parking at one space per bedroom or per unit, and Section 66314(d)(11) bars a local agency from requiring replacement parking when a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is converted to an ADU. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66313(d) defines a junior accessory dwelling unit as a unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size and contained entirely within a single-family residence. Official source
• California Government Code Section 66325(a) states that, except as provided in subdivision (b), the ADU approval article shall supersede a conflicting local ordinance. Official source