How United Build Partners helps Inglewood homeowners
We're not a construction company. United Build Partners is an ADU advisory and contractor-matching service: we start with a free review of your property and goals, help you understand what's realistic for your lot under Inglewood's rules, and — when it's a good fit — connect you with up to three contractors in our network suited to your project type and neighborhood. From there, you compare proposals and decide who to work with; the licensed contractor you choose handles the actual design and construction.
ADU rules and permitting in Inglewood
Every ADU in California starts from the same statewide floor: ministerial (by-right) approval, at least 16 feet of height, 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and size minimums the city can't undercut. Inglewood layers a design-match rule, a covenant, and — unusually — a Rent Ordinance on top. Here's what stands out locally.
What's specific to Inglewood
- Inglewood has a Rent Ordinance — check how it applies. Inglewood is one of the few cities in our coverage area with a Rent Ordinance (rent stabilization), and it publishes a dedicated chart on how it applies to ADUs. If you plan to rent your ADU, confirm your situation with the city — it's a consideration most SoCal homeowners never have to weigh.
- A detailed architectural-match rule. Your ADU's design must match the primary dwelling — roof pitch, window casing design, the windows on a two-story ADU, color, and exterior finishes are all called out. Plan the exterior to mirror your existing home from the first sketch.
- A recorded covenant: no separate sale, no short-term rental. Before your building permit is finalized, a covenant is recorded prohibiting the ADU from being sold separately from the main home and prohibiting short-term rental (stays of 30 days or less, the kind advertised on Airbnb or VRBO). Plan for a long-term tenant or family use.
- Parking: often none, otherwise tandem on the driveway. No parking is required if you're within a half-mile of transit or a block of car-share, if the ADU is part of an existing structure, or if on-street permits aren't offered to the ADU resident. Otherwise, one space is required — and it may be provided as tandem parking on your driveway.
- Multi-story ADUs need an engineer's stamp. A California-licensed engineer or architect's stamp is required on plans for multi-story ADUs (and may be required for single-story), and the city expects five plan sets plus structural, energy, and geotechnical calculations. Budget for the design and engineering accordingly.
- Allowed in every residential zone. ADUs and JADUs are allowed in all zones that permit residential units, on any lot with an existing or proposed primary residence — so eligibility is rarely the barrier here.
Property and lot considerations
Inglewood is a dense, transit-rich Los Angeles city near LAX and the SoFi Stadium district, so lots tend to be compact and many parcels sit within a half-mile of transit — which often removes the parking requirement entirely. Here the design-match rule and the Rent Ordinance question matter more than lot size. A free property review is the fastest way to see what your specific parcel supports and what to confirm; our size & setback calculator is a good first check.
Common ADU types for Inglewood homeowners
Detached ADUs, attached ADUs, junior ADUs (JADUs), and conversions are all recognized in Inglewood, and the design-match rule applies to whichever you choose. On a small urban lot, a conversion or a compact detached unit often fits best. Our which-ADU quiz helps narrow the choice to your lot and goals.
Cost factors in Inglewood
Inglewood's specific soft costs are worth planning for: a licensed engineer or architect's stamp for a multi-story ADU, five plan sets, and structural, energy, and geotechnical calculations — plus design-match materials to mirror your home. None of this sets a dollar figure; our cost guide and soft-costs guide frame the full budget beyond construction.
Financing your Inglewood ADU
Most homeowners fund ADU construction through a HELOC, cash-out refinance, a construction loan, or some combination — see our ADU financing overview and loan payment calculator for how each works. Financing options aren't generally city-specific, but a lender may consider your neighborhood and local rents when evaluating projected rental income as qualifying income.
How our process works
Frequently asked questions
Inglewood has a Rent Ordinance (rent stabilization), and the city publishes a chart on how it applies to ADUs — so it's worth confirming directly. Newly constructed units are often treated differently from older housing under state law, but the specific answer for your ADU depends on the unit and the ordinance. Ask the Planning Division before you count on a particular rent outcome.
Yes — Inglewood requires the ADU's design to match the primary dwelling, including roof pitch, window casing design, the windows on a two-story ADU, color, and exterior finishes. Design the exterior to mirror your existing home from the start; it's a review requirement, not a suggestion.
No. Before your permit is finalized, Inglewood records a covenant prohibiting short-term rentals — stays of 30 days or less advertised through platforms like Airbnb or VRBO — and prohibiting selling the ADU separately from the main home. Plan for a long-term tenant or family use.