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San Gabriel Valley JADU Builder.

A Junior ADU carves up to 500 sqft out of an existing single-family house, typically a converted bedroom or attached garage bay. It is the lightest-touch path to a permitted rental unit in LA — and the owner can keep occupying the main house. We handle the plan set, the LADBS permit, and the build.

The SGV is the fastest stretch of LA County we work in. Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank all run their own building departments with shorter queues than LADBS. The catches are Pasadena's Landmark Districts and the separate municipal utilities — Burbank Water & Power, Glendale Water & Power, Pasadena Water & Power — each with their own connection fees and meter-set timelines.

San Gabriel Valley cost band — 2026

$95K – $180K all-in

Existing plumbing wall proximity and whether the entrance already exists drive the band.

San Gabriel Valley permit clock

6–10 weeks ministerial

Plan on 6–10 weeks for design + LADBS permit, then 8–12 weeks on-site.

Scope — start to keys.

  • Feasibility check — interior wall layout, plumbing access, exterior entry
  • Kitchenette, efficiency bath, and bedroom buildout
  • Separate exterior entrance, fire-rated demising wall if required
  • Owner-occupancy deed restriction and LADBS sign-off
  • Sub-panel, plumbing tie-in, mini-split HVAC

What changes about the permit here.

  1. Pasadena Permit Center: typically 6–8 weeks for a ministerial ADU.
  2. Pasadena Landmark Districts (Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, etc.) require Historic Preservation review.
  3. Burbank / Glendale / Pasadena run their own water + power utilities — connection fees and timelines differ from LADWP.
  4. Altadena and South Pasadena run through LA County Public Works — slower than the cities by 2–4 weeks.

What moves the San Gabriel Valley number.

  • 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.

In short.

What is a JADU and how is it different from an ADU?
A JADU (Junior ADU) is a unit up to 500 sqft built inside the footprint of an existing single-family house — usually a converted bedroom or garage. It requires owner-occupancy and is faster/cheaper to permit than a full ADU.
Can I have both a JADU and an ADU on my LA lot?
Yes — state law allows one JADU plus one ADU on most single-family lots in LA. The combination is often the best path for multi-generational living plus rental income.
How much does a JADU cost in Los Angeles?
Most LA JADUs land between $95K and $180K all-in. Existing plumbing proximity and whether the entrance already exists are the biggest swing factors.
Is Pasadena's permit process faster than LADBS?
Yes. The Pasadena Permit Center typically lands a ministerial ADU at 6–8 weeks, vs. 8–12 in LADBS. Landmark District properties add 4–8 weeks of HPC review.
Does Bungalow Heaven count as a Landmark District?
Yes — Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Prospect Park, and Madison Heights are all designated. Contributing structures need HPC review for any visible exterior work.

More we build in San Gabriel Valley.

JADU Builder in nearby LA areas.

Got a San Gabriel Valley project in mind?

Send us the address and we’ll pull San Gabriel Valley zoning, setbacks, and jadu builder feasibility before you spend on drawings.

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