License: No. #1076712
Discover what you can build in the City of Inglewood. This city guide covers essential Custom Home regulations and zoning laws to help you navigate the process and make informed decisions for your property.
The City of Inglewood allows homeowners to build one Custom Home on their property. You can also build a JCustom Home within the existing property, bringing the total number of accessory units to a maximum of two.
Multifamily property in Inglewood can be permitted for up to two detached Homes. Owners can convert existing unlivable space into at least one Custom Home, with more Homes up to a number of 25% of the existing units. Therefore, an 8-unit building can have up to two conversion Homes built on the property; four units, up to one.
Inglewood Custom Home regulations state the maximum size for a detached Custom Home is 1,200 square feet. This limit is the same regardless of your lot size.
Attached Homes are capped at 50% of the primary dwelling’s square footage or 1,200 square feet, whichever is less.
You can build A Custom Home to a maximum height of 16 feet in Inglewood. However, if the Custom Home is on multifamily property or is within a half-mile of a public transit stop, the height limit increases to 18 feet.
Two-story Homes are not prohibited in Inglewood, but the standard height requirement of 16 feet makes it very difficult to design a compliant two-story Custom Home. If your height requirement is 18 feet due to one of the above exemptions, it becomes much easier.
Yes, you can build “stacked” detached Homes — two stories with one separate Custom Home on each floor. Keep in mind that single-family property can only be permitted for one detached Custom Home, so stacked Homes are not possible. Since you can build up to two detached Homes on multi-family property, two stacked Homes may be permitted on multifamily property. The extra two feet of height clearance allowed for Homes on multifamily property makes the process much easier.
Residential property can only be permitted for one Custom Home, so you will probably not be permitted for two Homes, attached to each other or otherwise. However, multifamily property can be permitted for up to two detached Homes, and it is possible to design those two Homes to be attached to each other within one new structure.
No, a JCustom Home is defined as a small Custom Home converted from existing space within the main structure of the primary dwelling unit. As such, it cannot be attached to A Custom Home.
Generally roof decks would be permitted on A Custom Home, but must meet the height restrictions for the zone. Roof decks cannot encroach into the required setbacks. As a rule of thumb, railings and access staircases above 42″ need to be included in height calculations.
Inglewood makes no mention of specific requirements for the exterior of the Custom Home. However, general guidance is that the exterior roofing, trim, walls, windows and the color palette of the Custom Home shall incorporate the same features as the primary dwelling unit.
A detached Custom Home in Inglewood requires a minimum four-foot side and rear setback.
A detached Custom Home in Inglewood requires a minimum five feet of separation from any existing structure.
Homes can generally not be permitted in the front yard of a home in Inglewood.
Yes, Inglewood requires you submit your Custom Home plans in person to the Inglewood Planning Division.
California building codes say you need a soils report if your Custom Home project involves:
The Long Beach Community Development division might ask for a soils report even if your project doesn’t fit those exact situations.
A minimum of 30% of the lot is required to be kept as green space, while at least 40% of all hardscape surfaces must be permeable.
To start the plan check process, you’ll need to submit your Custom Home plans in-person to the city’s Planning Division.
The length of the plan check depends. It can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days to get your plans approved as they move from one department to the next. This can depend on how busy the city is, if your plans have any issues, and how many corrections you may have to make.
Inglewood requires that you add one new parking space to your property per Custom Home. However, several exemptions have been put in place to make it easier to add A Custom Home. You need not add parking when any of the following apply:
If more parking must be added, it can be placed within the required setbacks. Tandem parking is allowed, unless otherwise restricted by special rules.
Most newly constructed Homes must comply with California Title 24 Building and Energy Efficiency Standards. If you submitted your permit application later than January 1, 2020, this means you must provide solar panels on new Homes to offset their reliance on the grid. This does not necessarily mean the solar panels need to be installed on the Custom Home itself. They can be installed on the primary dwelling unit or a new or existing array.
Some exemptions may apply to certain Homes. Possible exemptions include:
No, a separate electric and water meter is not required for A Custom Home. However, you may request one from the city.
Not necessarily. A Custom Home can be permitted under the existing address. If you want your Custom Home to have its own address, you can apply to the Mapping and Property Management Division (MPM) for a “½” address designation. In other words, if your address is 1234 Elm Street, your Custom Home could have a separate address of “1234½ Elm Street.”
Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development or redevelopment that seeks to preserve and conserve onsite water quality and natural features, with minimal detrimental effect to local waterways and ecosystems. The City of Inglewood may require LID fees for larger Homes.
Operating A Custom Home as an Airbnb or short-term rental is prohibited by the City of Inglewood.
Any Homes built within the last 15 years is exempt from rent control. The City of Inglewood limits rent increases to 3% per year for older, non-rent-controlled buildings. Newly-constructed Homes are usually exempt.
You can use gas appliances in A Custom Home in the City of Inglewood as long as all building codes, safety standards, and installation guidelines are adhered to. The proper permits must be obtained, and requirements for safety and ventilation observed.
You are not required to put fire sprinklers in your Custom Home if the main dwelling unit is not required by law to have fire sprinklers.
