For investors
Screen every lot before you spend a dollar on diligence.
Check any LA or San Diego lot for ADU potential from your desk: zone, setbacks, ADU and SB 9 paths and the permit record, every line cited. Pay for surveys and architects only on the lots that pass.
Two ways to check a lot.
The old way
- Guess from listing photos and a hunch.
- Pay for a study, a survey and a city consult on every lot.
- Wait weeks for answers. San Diego's own preliminary review takes about 20 business days. City of San Diego IB 513 (September 2026)
- Find out the lot never worked.
Then come the calls, the emails, and the meeting to schedule the meeting.
You'll still need a survey and an architect. Just on the right lot.
Why now
California needs homes. The law now favors ADUs.
30,354
ADUs permitted in California in 2024, up from 1,336 in 2016. HCD ADU Handbook, March 2026
more than 26%
of all homes permitted statewide in 2024 were ADUs. HCD ADU Handbook, March 2026
456,643 / 108,036
homes the City of Los Angeles and the City of San Diego must plan for, 2021 to 2029. LA City Planning, Housing Element Chapter 4 City of San Diego, Housing Element
Past results don't predict future ones. Subject to a survey and an architect.
The law opened the backyard.
Since 2020, state laws (AB 68, AB 881 and SB 13, then AB 1033, AB 2533 and more) cut the barriers: no owner-occupancy rule for ADUs, limits on parking and fees, and a 60-day permit decision clock. SB 9 can add two primary units on many single-family lots, alongside ADUs. HCD ADU Handbook, March 2026
Cities get credit for every ADU.
ADUs count toward each city's state housing target (RHNA), so cities have a reason to say yes. HCD ADU Handbook, March 2026
Value is in the lot.
Federal data shows California homes with ADUs had a median appraised value of $1,064,000 in 2023, vs $715,000 without. Different homes, not before-and-after. FHFA, California appraisals with and without an ADU, 2023
Two lots from public records show what that potential can look like. One kept and rented. One resold.
Example · Public records · San Diego 92115
One house. Three ADUs. Still owned, now rented.
- April 2024Purchased · $940,000
- January 20253 ADU permits issued
- Late 2025Garage ADU leased · $3,698 / mo
- October 2026Still owned
RS-1-7 · 8,800 sq ft lot · state, city, and bonus paths yes
See the numbers
A San Diego investor bought a single-family home on an 8,800 sq ft lot in ZIP 92115. Within four months, plans were filed for three ADUs: a converted garage and two detached two-story units. The new units have been leased or listed for rent, and the property has not been resold.
What the report shows under today's rules
Read on this lot with the current rules file. Rules in 2024 may have differed.
- Zone RS-1-7, lot 8,800 sq ft
- State pathPotential
- City pathPotential
- Bonus pathPotential
- SB 9Verify
- Purchased
April 2024 · $940,000
County deed record and MLS, recorded April 2024- ADU permits
3 ADUs issued January 2025. Garage conversion and two detached two-story units.
City of San Diego development permits dataset- Rented
Garage-conversion ADU leased at $3,698 a month, late 2025. Two more units are listed for rent.
Rental listing, accessed October 18, 2026- Still owned
No resale on record as of October 2026.
County records, pulled October 18, 2026
One example, not a typical result. It's a single property picked from public records to show what a buy-and-hold path can look like. Most purchases don't go this way, and we don't track customer outcomes.
Rent isn't profit. $3,698 is a listed rent for the garage-conversion unit. It leaves out the cost to build, loan payments, property tax, insurance, repairs, management, and vacancy. One of the three units is recorded by the city as a moderate-income unit, which can limit its rent. This page does not assign a dollar rent to the other two listings.
Potential, subject to a survey and an architect. ADU Clear didn't advise on this property and has no connection to its owner.
See the public records.
The ADU permits were applied for July 29, 2024 and issued January 28, 2025. The purchase deed was recorded April 9, 2024. Listing pages were read October 18, 2026. No street address or permit number is published here.
See how many units your next lot may hold. The preview is free.
Example · Public records · Los Angeles 90011
One South LA lot. The upside was in the backyard.
- May 2025Purchased · $525,000
- June 2025Detached ADU permit issued
- June 2026Resold · $1,010,000
R2-1-CPIO · 5,139 sq ft lot · the gap between prices isn't profit
See the numbers
A Los Angeles investor bought a single-family home on a 5,139 sq ft lot. Two days after the purchase, an application for a detached ADU at the rear of the lot was filed with the city. Thirteen months later the property sold again.
What the report shows under today's rules
Read on this lot with the current rules file. Rules in May 2025 may have differed.
- Zone R2-1-CPIO, lot 5,139 sq ft
- State path, detached unitPotential
- City pathPotential
- SB 9Not supported
- Purchased
May 2025 · $525,000
County deed record, recorded 2025- ADU permit
Detached 1-story ADU at the rear of the lot, issued June 2025.
LADBS building permits issued from 2020 to present- Other permitted work
Kitchen and bath remodel, new windows, and an added bedroom and bath inside the house.
LADBS permit records, same parcel- Resold
June 2026 · $1,010,000
County deed record, recorded July 2026
One example, not a typical result. It's a single property picked from public records to show what an ADU path can look like. Most purchases don't go this way, and we don't track outcomes for our customers.
The gap between prices isn't profit. It leaves out the cost of building the ADU, the house remodel, loan and holding costs, taxes, commissions, and closing fees, none of which these public records show.
Potential, subject to a survey and an architect. ADU Clear didn't advise on this property, and it has no connection to the buyer or seller.
See the public records.
The detached ADU permit was submitted May 23, 2025 and issued June 10, 2025. A later permit reduced the size and layout. The purchase was May 21, 2025 and the resale was June 30, 2026. Data fetched October 18, 2026. No street address or permit number is published here.
See what your next lot may hold. The preview is free.
Past results don't predict future ones. Subject to a survey and an architect.
Every day I see investors burn weeks and real money on due diligence that dies on one question: can this lot hold an ADU? The ones who win move fast. I built ADU Clear so you get that answer, with the rules cited, before your competition does.
What's in the report
Five chapters. Each one is in the report you get for a lot, with the source on the line it comes from.
The lot, as the city has it on file
Zone and lot size from the city's record, before you pay for a survey.
What may fit, and which rules allow it
State path and city path, side by side, each rule cited.
What could get in the way
Fire, flood, hillside, and coastal flags called out.
What's already on record
Permits on this parcel, with open, expired, or final status.
What you do next
The path from this report to the city's submittal page.
Full report: $99, one-time.
Check a lotWhat it costs to find out the other way
Los Angeles
$1,000+ per lot
City consult
$226.72
Published pre-submittal plan check fee.
LADBS, Preliminary Plan CheckFeasibility study
$490
Written feasibility report for one lot.
CALI ADU, ADU Game PlanProperty survey
$600
Low end of the published range for a property line survey on a standard lot.
Surveyors.io, Los Angeles property line survey
San Diego
$2,700+ per lot
City consult
$1,600.89
$1,588.73 single-discipline flat fee + $12.16 mapping fee
City of San Diego IB 513 (September 2026)Feasibility study
$500
Written feasibility study for one lot.
ADU Geeks, Feasibility StudyProperty survey
$650
Low end of the published range for a boundary survey on a city lot.
Surveyors.io, San Diego boundary survey
Lowest published prices for a city consult, a feasibility study and a survey. Sources linked.
ADU Clear full report
$99Every path, rule, citation, and permit, for one lot.
ADU Clear: $99. No calls, emails or meetings.
Subject to a survey and an architect.
For agents and architects
ADU potential is a question buyers ask. Run the address before the listing appointment and share a sourced link or PDF that states potential as potential, with the survey and architect items listed.
Own the home you're checking? See the homeowner guide.
Questions before you start
Is this a permit or a city ruling?
No. ADU Clear is a research report built from public data. It isn't a zoning decision, survey, permit or design service. Confirm with a licensed surveyor, an architect and your planning department.
Can I check a whole list of lots?
Yes, one address at a time. Each preview is free, and packs lower the per-report price when you're working a deal list.
How current are the rules?
Every report shows the rules version and effective date it used. Rules change, which is why every line is dated and cited.
Where does it work?
The City of Los Angeles and the City of San Diego. More cities soon.
Does an ADU raise a home's value?
Federal data shows California homes with ADUs had a median appraised value of $1,064,000 in 2023, versus $715,000 without. Those are different homes, not before-and-after. FHFA, California appraisals with and without an ADU, 2023.
What happens to the address I enter?
We use it to look up public records for your report. Our site analytics don't record the address.
See what your lot could hold.
ADU Clear reports are research estimates of ADU potential based on public data. They are not a zoning decision, survey, permit or professional design service. Confirm with a licensed surveyor, architect and your local planning department. Potential, subject to a survey and an architect.