Los Angeles Streamlines ADU Permits with High-Design Templates Los Angeles' ADU Standard Plan Program will offer homeowners a set of pre-approved designs that will save them time and money. March 8, 2021, 12pm PST | Diana Ionescu | Abodu Method Homes On the heels of legislation that legalized the construction of stand-alone residential units on lots traditionally zones for single-family homes, the Los Angeles mayor's office and the city's Building and Safety Department are launching an initiative aimed at reducing the red tape involved in securing permits for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), commonly known as "granny flats." By pre-approving a set of designs appropriate for backyard units, reports Carolina Miranda in the Los Angeles Times, the city is "shaving weeks off the permitting process" and providing property owners with more than a dozen "over-the-counter" designs for backyard units. Proponents of ADUs believe that looser regulations will help ease the housing crunch, add more affordable rentals to the market, and lower the barriers for moderate-income landowners to become landlords.