Legal
Disclaimer
Please read this before relying on anything published here.
Last updated November 10, 2026.
General information only
Lotline publishes general information about accessory dwelling unit (ADU) permits. Nothing on this website is legal, architectural, engineering, construction, tax or financial advice, and nothing here is a substitute for advice from a licensed professional who has reviewed your property and your project.
Not a government website
Lotline is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the State of California, the Department of Housing and Community Development, or any city, county, utility or other public agency. We do not issue permits, review plans or make decisions on applications. Only your permitting agency can tell you what it requires and whether an application is complete or approved.
No professional relationship
Reading this website, buying the Playbook or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship or any other professional relationship. Lotline is not a law firm, and it is not a licensed architect, engineer or contractor.
Accuracy and currency
ADU statutes, local ordinances, fee schedules and city procedures change, sometimes without notice. We take care in preparing each page and show the date it was last reviewed, but we do not guarantee that any page is complete, accurate or current on the day you read it. Summaries are our own reading of the documents listed on each page; they are not the documents themselves, and where the two differ the document governs. Always confirm requirements, deadlines and fees directly with your permitting agency before you act.
Deadlines and legal rights
Some pages describe time limits and rights under state law, including provisions under which an application may be deemed complete or deemed approved. How those provisions apply depends on the facts of each application. Do not start construction, miss a deadline or give up a right in reliance on this website. Speak to a California land use attorney first.
Your use of this website
You use this website and any checklist, template or other material from it at your own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Lotline and its publisher are not liable for any loss, cost, delay, penalty or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this website or its materials, including permit denials, plan check corrections, fees, construction costs and lost time.
Links to other websites
We link to statutes, agency pages and other third-party websites for reference. We do not control those websites and are not responsible for their content or availability. A link is not an endorsement.
Examples and figures
Worked examples, including fee and timeline illustrations, use simplified or hypothetical numbers to explain how a rule operates. They are not estimates for your project.