JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit)
A smaller ADU carved out of the existing house, capped at 500 sqft, with owner-occupancy required.
A Junior ADU is a unit created within the existing walls of a single-family home, capped at 500 sqft. It must include an efficiency kitchen and may share a bathroom with the main house. Unlike a full ADU, the owner must live in either the JADU or the main house.
JADUs are faster and cheaper to permit than detached ADUs because no new foundation or shell is required — typical cost $80k–$150k. Most LA-area lots can have one JADU + one detached ADU on a single-family parcel.
Related terms
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)A self-contained second home on a residential lot, with its own kitchen, bath, and entrance.
- AB 682020 California law that streamlined ADU permits — 60-day clock, parking exemptions, ministerial review.
- LADBS (LA Department of Building and Safety)The City of Los Angeles agency that issues building permits and conducts inspections.
People also ask
FAQ — JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit)
What does "JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit)" mean in plain English?
A smaller ADU carved out of the existing house, capped at 500 sqft, with owner-occupancy required.
Why does JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) matter for a California ADU or remodel?
JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) comes up in the zoning and land-use side of nearly every Greater LA and Bay Area project we touch. A Junior ADU is a unit created within the existing walls of a single-family home, capped at 500 sqft. Getting it right at design saves rework later — getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons permits stall.
Where will I see JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) on my own project?
Most owners run into JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) during the design or plan-check phase. Your project manager flags it on the schedule, walks you through what the city expects, and confirms documentation is in place before the inspection that depends on it.
Does JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) cost extra?
Sometimes — depends on whether it adds scope (a report, a structural detail, a fee) or just a paperwork step. Anything cost-impacting is itemized in your contract or change order, never buried in the invoice.
Who at Alpha Dream handles JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit)?
The project architect owns design-level decisions; the permit runner owns city interactions; the project manager owns field execution. You always know who to ask.