Original Westlake tract ADUs
ADU Builder in First Neighborhood, Westlake Village
First Neighborhood is where Westlake began, and its single-family lots inside the City of Westlake Village have some of the most straightforward ADU paths in the area, starting with conversions of space the house already has.
ADUs in the Original Westlake Tract
The streets around White Oak Elementary were the first homes built in the Westlake master plan, and the neighborhood still has its own zone in the City's landscaping district. The houses are single-family homes on lots laid out before anyone was thinking about second units. That turns out to help. Attached garages, family rooms near side doors and modest backyards give owners several realistic options without heavy grading.
Because First Neighborhood sits inside the City of Westlake Village on the Los Angeles County side, there is no question about jurisdiction here, unlike Westlake Island or the Thousand Oaks tracts across the county line. Planning review comes from the City, and the building permit comes from Los Angeles County Building and Safety.
Garage Conversions and JADUs With Pre-Approved Plans in First Neighborhood
Los Angeles County publishes pre-approved standard plans for two of the most common projects on lots like these: turning a garage into an ADU, and carving a junior ADU out of existing living space. The City of Westlake Village links to both on its ADU page. For a First Neighborhood owner, that can mean less custom drafting and a plan check that starts from drawings the County has already reviewed.
The plans still have to fit the actual building. We measure the garage or rooms, confirm ceiling heights, check where windows and an exterior door can go, and look at the path from new fixtures to the sewer lateral. If the space matches the standard plan's assumptions, we adapt it to your site plan. If not, we draw a custom set and keep the parts of the standard plan that still apply.
A two-car garage typically becomes a studio or a one-bedroom unit. A bedroom wing with its own bath near an exterior wall is a natural fit for a junior ADU of up to 500 square feet.
Building a Backyard ADU on a First Neighborhood Lot
Some owners want to keep the garage and put a new unit in the yard instead. Under state law, a new backyard unit as large as 800 square feet is allowed on a single-family lot even if local lot coverage limits say otherwise, and it can sit four feet from the side and rear lines. On a typical First Neighborhood backyard, that leaves room for a one-bedroom cottage, though pools, patios and trees often decide the exact footprint.
Mature oaks are part of this neighborhood's character. Any work that could harm an oak or a designated heritage tree needs the City's Protected Tree Permit, and digging a utility trench under the canopy can count. We locate the unit and its utility trenches to stay clear wherever possible. Most rear yards here have a side yard path for access, though narrow ones can slow concrete pours and deliveries.
City Zoning Clearance and County Permits for First Neighborhood ADUs
The approval sequence runs in two parts. City planning staff check the design against the ADU section of the Municipal Code, 9.14.070, and issue a Zoning Clearance administratively. With that in hand, the construction set goes to LA County plan check through the EPIC-LA portal. Inspections during construction are performed by County inspectors.
The state housing department has told the City that its most recent ADU ordinance on file dates from 2022 and may be outdated. Practically, that means we confirm current standards with City staff and apply state law wherever it controls. Neither step involves a public hearing, and both agencies are bound by the state's completeness and decision deadlines.
- City of Westlake Village Zoning Clearance
- LA County building plan check via EPIC-LA
- County inspections from foundation to final
- No public hearing for a compliant ADU
What First Neighborhood Owners Can Build
Garage Conversion From a County Standard Plan
Attached garages in First Neighborhood are often good candidates for Los Angeles County's pre-approved garage conversion plan, which can shorten design and limit plan check comments when the garage matches its assumptions.
Junior ADU in an Existing Bedroom Wing
A bedroom and bath near an outside wall can be turned into a junior unit no larger than 500 square feet with an efficiency kitchen and private entrance, again with a County standard plan available as a starting point.
One-Bedroom Backyard Cottage
Where the yard allows, a by-right detached cottage of 800 square feet or less fits behind many houses here. Siting around oaks and pools is the main design question.
A JADU Now, a Detached ADU Later
State law lets a single-family lot have a junior ADU and a detached ADU together. Many owners build the simpler conversion first and add a backyard unit when the timing suits them.
ADU services in First Neighborhood
ADU Services in First Neighborhood
FAQs
Questions About ADUs in First Neighborhood
Does the City of Westlake Village govern First Neighborhood?
Yes. First Neighborhood is inside the City of Westlake Village on the Los Angeles County side, which means City planners sign off on the ADU first and the County's building officials handle the construction permit.
Can I use LA County's pre-approved plans for my First Neighborhood garage?
Often, yes. The County's standard garage conversion plan applies to parcels it permits, including those in the City. Whether it fits depends on your garage's size, condition and layout, which we check on the first visit.
Will a garage conversion leave me without parking?
The garage spaces go away, and nothing in state law makes you build replacements. The driveway still counts. Street parking rules and any HOA rules are worth reviewing before you decide.
Can a First Neighborhood ADU be rented out?
Yes, on leases over 30 days. The City cannot require you to live on the property to rent an ADU. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house is the exception, since owner occupancy applies in that case.
ADU consultation
Talk to a First Neighborhood ADU Builder
Tell us about your garage, the rooms you might convert or the yard you want to build in. We answer every consultation request within 24 hours by phone or email.
- Design
- Permits
- Construction