California's ADU numbers have increased 11-fold from 2017-2019

As California goes, so goes the nation. Well, if that’s the case, the nation may soon see a LOT of ADUs. The growth of ADUs in California has been remarkable since 2017 due largely to state legislative changes. And, their popularity there is likely only just beginning.

This post shows the first, granular, city-by-city, annual chart depiction of ADU permit trends in California. In California at large, the permit numbers increased from 1,269 ADU permits in 2016, to 4,974 in 2017, to 8,900 permits in 2018, to 14,702 in 2019—-an 11-fold increase in ADU permits in 3 years.

And from 2012-2019, they’ve increased 925-fold!

L.A. is on the forefront of the ADU movement in California. We've seen ADU permits in Los Angeles go from 71 in 2014 to 2,342 in 2017 to 6,747 in 2019.

In fact, L.A. is not only leading the pack in CA; it’s leading the pack in the nation. It’s not only leading the pack in the nation, it’s leading the pack globally in terms of sheer numbers of ADUs in a given jurisdiction. As a percentage of total single family housing units, Vancouver BC still remains the global leader in ADUs.

Annual ADU Permit Trends by City in California

Below are the ADU permit trends for the forty-four jurisdictions that had a total of 100 or more total permitted ADUs issued by 2019, starting with Los Angeles, and moving downwards. The total number of ADU permits issued is listed on the left side.

This is based on data collected by California’s Department of Housing & Community Development. The Department of Housing cannot independently verify most of the housing development, but this is the most accurate statewide depiction of ADU permit trends available to date.

Go here to see the ADU permit trends for any of California’s 527 jurisdictions. You may copy and use the charts from this post on your website or in presentations.