Planning ADU utility connections in Los Angeles starts with your property, not a universal rule about separate meters. Your provider, project type and proposed service arrangement determine which answers you need before finalizing the design.
If you are unsure what “utilities included” really covers, start here. You should not have to become a utility expert to ask for a clear scope. Use this guide to identify what is known, what needs confirmation and who handles the next step.
The plan is simple:
The table and worksheet below are yours to use with a prospective team or the designer and contractor you already trust. You do not need to change teams to ask better questions.
Write down the property's jurisdiction and the provider for each utility. A Los Angeles County address does not automatically mean LADWP supplies your electricity or water. Treat the LADWP examples below as provider-specific guidance, not a rule for the entire region.
Next, describe the proposed work: converting existing space, adding an attached unit or building a detached ADU. Note whether the primary home is also being built new. Those details matter, but an everyday label such as “garage conversion” does not by itself establish which legal pathway applies.[6]
Ask your designer to identify the project's approval pathway and the agencies and providers that must confirm the service plan. If you are still assessing the broader building possibilities, first check your property's ADU feasibility. This utility checklist supports that review; it does not determine zoning eligibility.
A meter decision is only one part of your ADU utility plan. Keep these terms separate when reviewing a proposal:
These are planning definitions, not instructions for designing or installing equipment. Have the relevant qualified professional and provider confirm what applies to your property. The HCD connection guidance and LADWP service examples below address different parts of this picture.[6][7]
| Arrangement to discuss | Decision it addresses | What it does not prove | Who confirms it | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared billing arrangement under an existing provider account | How provider charges reach the account holder | Adequate capacity, an approved physical connection or lawful allocation of charges to occupants | Utility provider for account/service terms; qualified adviser for any occupant-billing arrangement | What service arrangement supports this proposal, and what billing questions need separate advice? |
| Separate provider metering and account, if available and approved | Whether the ADU can have separately measured provider service and a separate account | That the property has adequate capacity, the route is approved or all work is included in the estimate | Provider and qualified service designer; addressing authority where relevant | What equipment, address information, approvals and work would this option require? |
| Private usage measurement with a submeter | Measuring usage within the property's arrangement | A separate provider account, sufficient capacity or permission to bill a tenant in a particular way | Qualified designer/installer and provider where applicable; qualified adviser for billing rules | What would the submeter measure, and which service and billing questions would remain open? |
Use the same questions for every proposal, including Go ADU's. An allowance can be a reasonable budgeting placeholder. It simply is not, by itself, a documented answer about equipment, approvals, exclusions or responsibility.
California's Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD, distinguishes qualifying existing-space units from other projects in its March 2026 ADU Handbook, Utilities, pages 41–42. ADUs and JADUs created from existing space in a primary dwelling or accessory structure under Government Code section 66323(a)(1) cannot be required to install a new or separate connection unless constructed concurrently with a new single-family dwelling. For other ADUs and JADUs outside that pathway, a new or separate connection may be required.[6]
That is a conditional state-guidance summary, not an approval of your property or a blanket exemption for every conversion. HCD also expressly states that it does not have authority over gas and electrical-service issues. Do not use the handbook's connection summary to override an electrical provider's service requirements.[6]
The practical question for your team is: Which project pathway applies, and what does the responsible provider or approval body require for this proposed arrangement? Confirm current requirements before relying on them for design or a contract.
For a property served by LADWP, its May 2, 2024 Electric Service Requirements Manual, printed page 5-33, lists overhead-service options that include using the primary home's existing residential meter without an upgrade, as well as multiple-metering arrangements. This shows that an existing-meter option appears in that dated guidance. It does not establish that your home's service has adequate capacity or that the option applies to your project.[7]
The same page states that when more than one meter will be installed, attached and detached ADUs must have separate, unique legal addresses different from the primary residence, approved by the Los Angeles Department of Public Works. That is a condition in this LADWP service context, not a conclusion that every ADU everywhere has the same address requirement. Ask the applicable addressing authority and provider to confirm the current requirement for your proposal.[7]
Bring these questions to your qualified electrical designer and provider:
Do not open a panel, approach overhead lines or inspect energized equipment to complete this list. Use records you already have and let qualified professionals assess equipment and capacity.
LADWP describes a meter spot as verification of the correct placement of a new electric service panel. Its web guidance says a contractor or homeowner planning a new residential service panel must first request a meter spot.[8]
The online form is limited to single-family residential services up to 320 amps. LADWP directs new construction and other services to its Connection Center, so a homeowner should not assume every new ADU belongs in that online form.[8]
Ask your team which service-planning route applies. A meter spot verifies panel location; it is not the same as a completed utility design, energization or a guaranteed ADU completion date.[8]
A decision about an electric meter does not settle the water supply or wastewater route. Record these separately:
| Planning item | Question for your provider or qualified team |
|---|---|
| Water provider and service | Who supplies the property, and what supply, capacity and metering information is needed for the proposed ADU? |
| Sewer authority and connection | Who approves the work, and what connection arrangement must be reviewed? |
| On-site routing | Where would the proposed lines run, and what existing structures or site conditions need evaluation? |
| Trenching and restoration | Which excavation, backfill and surface-restoration work is included, and which work remains unpriced? |
| Easements and approvals | What recorded or site-specific constraints must the team confirm before finalizing the route? |
| Septic, if applicable | Which qualified professional must evaluate whether the proposed project can be served? |
Do not assume “shared utilities” means every existing pipe can be reused, or that a separate meter requires a new sewer line to the street. Ask for a project-specific explanation of the physical route and approvals. The HCD guidance above is conditional; it is not a universal routing plan.[6]
For the broader approval sequence, see the ADU permitting process in Los Angeles. Confirm utility routing directly with your qualified team and approving authority rather than treating a general permitting overview as an approved service design.
In this Go ADU construction update, Gil Vaisman explains how water, electrical and sewer connections can affect project scope and cost. The example shows one property’s sewer-routing constraints, not a rule for every ADU.
Watch this Go ADU utility-planning video on YouTube.
A single “utilities” line can leave several different questions unanswered. Equipment changes, capacity decisions, routing, trenching, restoration and approval scope all need a place in the planning conversation. For broader budget context, review ADU project pricing; it is not a property-specific utility quote.
Use the worksheet below once for each utility or separate scope item. Copy it into your notes or print it and write in the right-hand column. Write “needs confirmation” rather than guessing.
| Field | Your project notes |
|---|---|
| Utility / provider | Utility: __ Provider: ____ |
| Existing information | Records available: __ Information still unknown: ____ |
| Proposed arrangement | Meter/account, service equipment or connection/route proposed: ______ |
| Confirmation needed | Exact question: __ Provider or qualified reviewer: ____ |
| Responsible party | Named person/company handling this item: ______ |
| Included / excluded work | Included: __ Excluded: _ Not yet defined: ___ |
| Approval dependency | Required review, correction, inspection or other prerequisite: ______ |
| Estimated allowance or written quote | Amount, if supplied: __ Allowance or quote: _ Date and written scope: ___ |
| Next action | Who will do what: __ Follow-up date agreed with the team: ____ |
This is a blank planning worksheet, not a utility quote or engineered plan. An allowance is a budget amount pending further definition; a written quote still needs a clear scope, exclusions and assumptions. Ask the issuer what the amount covers and what would cause it to change.
Before comparing totals or committing to related work, ask your team:
An open item does not mean the project is failing. It means the next confirmation needs a named owner. Making that visible gives you a clearer basis for deciding what to do next.
Use this on-page utility-planning checklist before your next conversation:
If you are exploring without a team, use the checklist to prepare. When comparing proposals, ask each team to clarify the same fields. If you already have a designer or builder, bring the open items to that team first. For an active utility problem or safety concern, contact the responsible provider or qualified professional rather than using this guide to troubleshoot it yourself.
Go ADU's site evaluation and planning process includes reviewing utilities among the property's site-specific conditions. Its process begins with a free phone consultation about your goals, property, budget and timeline.[2] Bring your checklist so the conversation starts with your actual questions. The phone consultation is a starting conversation, not a final utility design, engineering approval or written utility quote.
An ADU can have a separate electric meter where the provider approves that service arrangement. LADWP's May 2, 2024 manual lists multiple-metering options, but that does not make separate metering a requirement or the right choice for every property. Ask your provider and qualified designer to confirm the current options, capacity and equipment requirements for your project.[7]
Planning a split between ADU and house utilities starts by deciding what you want to separate: provider accounts, usage measurement or physical service arrangements. Those are different questions. Ask your provider and qualified designer which options apply, then record the proposed scope and responsibilities in the worksheet. LADWP's metering options and HCD's conditional connection guidance address different parts of that decision.[6][7] Do not split wiring or pipes yourself, and obtain qualified advice on any proposed tenant-billing arrangement.
An ADU's separate-address status needs confirmation from the applicable addressing authority and utility provider for the proposed project. In its May 2, 2024 manual, LADWP requires a distinct legal address approved by the Los Angeles Department of Public Works when more than one meter will be installed. That service-specific condition does not establish every ADU's address status; confirm the current requirement for your property.[7]
A separate utility meter is not a universal requirement that can be established for every Los Angeles ADU from one rule. Metering depends on the provider and proposed arrangement; a meter is also different from a utility connection. HCD's March 2026 handbook distinguishes qualifying existing-space projects under section 66323(a)(1), retains the concurrent-new-single-family-dwelling exception and allows separate connections to be required for other pathways. HCD expressly does not have authority over gas and electrical-service issues, so confirm electrical requirements with the responsible provider.[6][7]
A private submeter is not the same as a separate utility account: it measures usage within a property's arrangement rather than establishing a separate customer account with the provider. Confirm the intended setup with your provider and qualified designer. Usage measurement alone does not establish adequate service capacity or a lawful method of charging an occupant; get qualified advice before adopting a billing arrangement.
An ADU may be able to use the main home's existing electrical service if the provider and qualified designer confirm that the arrangement and capacity are suitable. LADWP's May 2, 2024 manual includes an existing-residential-meter option without an upgrade for overhead service. It is a bounded example, not permission to reuse your property's service without review.[7]
Contact the utility provider during service planning, before committing to equipment locations or work that depends on its requirements. For LADWP, the meter-spot guidance requires a meter spot before a new residential service panel, limits its online form to single-family residential services up to 320 amps and directs new construction to the Connection Center. Ask which route applies to your project; do not treat a meter-spot visit as an energization or completion commitment.[8]
An ADU utility estimate should identify the provider, proposed arrangement, included and excluded work, unresolved confirmations, approval dependencies and responsible parties. It should also distinguish an allowance from a written quote and state the scope and assumptions behind any supplied amount. Use the worksheet to record the next action for each unknown rather than treating a single total as a complete utility plan.
Water and sewer need their own provider and approval checks rather than being treated as extensions of an electric-meter decision. HCD's handbook addresses conditional connection requirements but expressly does not have authority over gas and electrical services.[6] Ask the water and wastewater authorities and qualified designer to confirm the proposed supply, capacity, connection and on-site route; do not infer a universal sewer rule from an electrical arrangement.
You do not need every answer before starting a planning conversation. You do need a way to separate confirmed information from assumptions.
Use the checklist and worksheet above to identify your providers, proposed arrangements and open scope questions. With the next action and responsible person beside each item, you can move into the design conversation better prepared.
Plan your ADU's utilities before you commit to the design. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your property and next steps. Go ADU's free phone consultation is the starting point for that conversation.[2]
[2] https://goadu.com/about-us/our-process - Go ADU process [6] https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/docs/policy-and-research/adu-handbook-update.pdf - HCD March 2026 ADU Handbook [7] https://www.ladwp.com/sites/default/files/2024-05/Electric%20Service%20Requirements%20Manual.pdf - LADWP electric service manual May 2024 [8] https://www.ladwp.com/construction-services/construction-and-renovation-electric-service-requests/request-meter-spot-single-family-residential-home-or-adu-320-amps - LADWP meter spot service