Building an ADU

In an effort to accelerate housing construction throughout California, the State legislature passed a series of laws to encourage Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in single and multi-family neighborhoods. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) are independent living facilities located on the same parcel as the primary unit, which may be occupied by extended family members or tenants. Below is more information about Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units. For questions, please contact (949) 362-4300 or email Planning@cityoflagunaniguel.org.

ADU Handout 2 Reduced

A comprehensive submittal checklist detailing the City's ADU review requirements is available here: Laguna Niguel ADU Submittal Checklist

Pre-Approved ADU Program

The City of Laguna Niguel has established the Pre-Approved ADU Program to streamline the process of constructing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) within the City. Residents can choose from three pre-approved plan sets based on their preferences, featuring different sizes and architectural styles available for download. Click the link button below to be directed to the Pre-Approved ADU Program webpage. For questions, please contact (949) 362-4300 or email Planning@cityoflagunaniguel.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do people build ADUs and JADUs?

Homeowners build ADUs for many reasons. A few of the most common reasons we hear from property owners are listed below:

  • Passive income from rental property or retirement income.
  • Increased property value and long-term investment.
  • Long-term family or guest accommodations.
  • Home additions.

2. How many ADUs can be built on my property?

Single-family residences are permitted to have one ADU and one JADU per lot. To learn about the difference between these two types of ADUs, please refer to the ADU handout provided in the link above.

3. How does an ADU impact my property taxes?

The construction of an ADU does not trigger a complete reassessment of the value of your home. Instead, the county tax assessor will do a “blended assessment” of your property. In a “blended assessment”, the assessor estimates the value of the ADU based on the cost of building the ADU. The assessor adds this number to the current assessed value of the property in order to create a new assessed property value. The value of the primary home is not reassessed.

Once an ADU project is completed, your property taxes will only increase based on the additional value created by your ADU. The taxes you pay on the primary home will not change.

4. Is short-term lodging allowed in ADUs?

Short-term lodging is prohibited. Units are not to be rented for less than 30 days.

5. Are there any grant programs for ADUs?

Please refer to the City's ADU Grants & Loans webpage for information on grant and loan programs for ADUs.