San Gabriel Valley · Cost

What an ADU costs in San Gabriel Valley

Honest 2026 pricing for San Gabriel Valley ADU projects. These ranges are installed cost — design, permit, construction, and standard finishes — based on jobs we've actually closed in this market.

Installed cost ranges

Detached new-build: $425–$550/sqft
Garage / interior conversion: $250–$360/sqft

Why San Gabriel Valley prices look like this

Pasadena/Burbank/Glendale plan-check fees track LADBS but utility connections cost more.
Landmark District design review pushes window/door budgets 15–30% higher.
Altadena hillside parcels add geotech similar to LA Hills.
BWP / GWP / PWP service drops can take longer than LADWP — schedule risk, not cost risk.

How to read these numbers

These are total installed $/sqft, not just construction. The detached range assumes a clean 600–900 sqft new-build with mid-range finishes. Conversions price lower because the shell already exists — most cost lives in plumbing, electrical, and the kitchen. Move outside these ranges and we'll tell you why before you sign anything.

Reference

Terms and guides for this page

Glossary terms

Title 24
California's energy efficiency code — required for all new construction and most additions.
HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone)
City of LA designation that imposes design review on alterations within a historic neighborhood.
Ministerial Review
Permit review based purely on objective standards — no public hearing, no discretion.
LA City Planning
The City of LA agency that handles zoning, entitlements, and HPOZ review.
Construction Loan
Short-term loan covering construction costs, converted to a permanent mortgage at completion.
HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit)
Revolving credit line secured by your home's equity — common ADU financing path.

Field guides

The Los Angeles ADU permit process, step by step
Permitting an ADU inside the City of Los Angeles takes about 8–11 weeks of plan check (LADBS) plus 2–4 weeks of pre-submittal prep. State law caps ministerial review at 60 days from a complete submittal. Total city + utility fees for a 700 sqft detached ADU typically run $13,000–$26,000.