will other units on property require inspection when inspecting garage SB9 conversion

Question

I will have a main unit, an ADU, and a garage. They will all be detached from each other (3 separate buildings). Los Angeles allows me to convert the garage to an SB9 dwelling unit. For inspection, will the inspector need to inspect inside the ADU or the main dwelling unit (while will already have their Certificates of Occupancy issued)? My contractor indicated they might need to look in the ADU for fire sprinkler purposes (or maybe something else). Is this true? The ADU and main unit will have tenants, and I would prefer the inspector to not enter those buildings.

Thank you!

Chris Morris · Answer

Hi Dan, the initial post said "Los Angeles allows me to convert the garage to an SB9 dwelling unit. For inspection, will the inspector need to inspect inside the ADU or the main dwelling unit (while will already have their Certificates of Occupancy issued)?"

So the question is, when I convert the garage to an SB9 dwelling unit, will the inspector want to also inspect inside either the already-permitted ADU or the already-permitted main dwelling unit?

I read that the inspector might want to do this to ensure that the sprinkler system is properly supported by the plumbing in the ADU. This is assuming the SB9 unit requires a sprinkler system and also assumes that the sprinkler system will be connected to the ADU's plumbing system.

Chris Morris · Answer

Thanks Dan. However, this SB9 unit is *not* an ADU. It is a second primary dwelling unit. So it actually might require fire sprinklers (I am still waiting for clarification from the fire department) and the ADU laws do not apply to it.

Dan H. · Answer

Look at sb897.

1) bill states that the construction of an ADU on a property does not trigger a requirement for fire sprinklers in the proposed or existing primary dwelling.

There is another ADU law (forget which one) that basically states an ADU Cannot be rejected due to existing unrelated permit issues on items that are not the ADU.

So I see no reason an inspector should ask or be given permission to examine the interior or unrelated units.

Good luck