ADUs, built
for Los Angeles.
Four flavors of accessory dwelling unit, all priced and permitted in-house. We've delivered detached new-builds in Mar Vista, garage conversions in Highland Park, JADUs in Pasadena, and attached bump-outs in the Hollywood Hills. State ADU law is your friend; we know how to use it.
By the numbers —
- Typical sqft
- 300 – 1,200
- Permit clock
- 60 – 90 days
- Build time
- 10 – 28 weeks
- All-in start
- $185k
Want a number for your specific lot? Run the ADU cost calculator →
Pick your ADU.
Item A-01
A small house, freestanding.
- Size
- 600 – 1,200 sqft
- All-in
- $385k – $650k
- Build
- 20 – 28 weeks build
Detached new-build ADU
Cedar, cement-board, or smooth stucco. Slab-on-grade or pier foundation when soil reports allow. Up to 1,200 sqft per state law, two stories where local height allows. Full kitchen, bath, and laundry. Heat-pump HVAC, heat-pump water heater, solar-ready conduit and EV-ready 60A subpanel as standard.
- Up to 1,200 sqft, two stories where allowed
- Heat-pump HVAC + heat-pump water heater (no gas)
- Title 24 energy compliance modeled in-house
- Solar-ready, EV-ready conduit on day one
- Separate utility meters optional (water, electric, gas)
Item A-02
The cheapest way in.
- Size
- 300 – 500 sqft
- All-in
- $185k – $285k
- Build
- 10 – 14 weeks build
Garage conversion ADU
Existing footprint, new everything inside. Ministerial approval in most LA-area jurisdictions — no setback variance, no parking replacement, no neighbor notification. We vault the ceiling and add skylights for the daylight a garage never had.
- Ministerial approval where eligible (state ADU law)
- Slab insulation + capillary break under new finishes
- Vaulted ceilings & skylights for daylight
- Compact wet-bath + kitchenette layouts
- New 100A subpanel, mini-split HVAC
Item A-03
Share a wall, save a slab.
- Size
- 400 – 800 sqft
- All-in
- $295k – $475k
- Build
- 16 – 22 weeks build
Attached ADU & bump-outs
Carved out of the existing house or bumped out the side or rear. Cheaper utility runs, faster schedule, fewer foundations. Best for narrow lots that won't fit a detached unit, or hillside parcels where excavation is brutal.
- Side & rear bump-out additions
- Internal conversion of basement, attic, or rear bedroom
- Separate entrance + separate utilities optional
- Fire-rated wall assemblies (1-hour) handled in-house
- Tied-in foundation engineered by our SE of record
Item A-04
Up to 500 sqft, in the main house.
- Size
- 150 – 500 sqft
- All-in
- $95k – $185k
- Build
- 8 – 12 weeks build
JADU (junior ADU)
Carved from the existing house — efficiency kitchen, full bath, separate entrance. Limited to 500 sqft. Owner-occupancy required on one of the two units (deed restriction filed with the county). Often the fastest permit path and the lowest cost-per-sqft.
- Up to 500 sqft within existing walls
- Efficiency kitchen permitted (≤120V, no gas)
- Shared sanitation OK with main house
- Owner-occupancy deed restriction filed with county
- Permitted in 60 days under state ADU law
Six things California ADU law gives you.
Local rules can't undo these. If a city is telling you otherwise, they're wrong — and we'll cite the Government Code section with you.
SB-9 / AB-2221
State ADU law preempts local ordinances. Most single-family lots can host one ADU + one JADU, or two ADUs. Lot splits become possible on qualifying parcels.
Ministerial review
By state law, a complete ADU application must be approved or denied within 60 days. No public hearing, no discretionary review, no design committee.
No owner-occupancy on ADU
Most jurisdictions can no longer require the owner to live in the main house when the ADU is rented. JADUs still require owner-occupancy.
Setback floor: 4 ft
Local setbacks above 4 ft side/rear cannot be applied to a new ADU. Existing nonconforming structures can be converted in place.
Parking replacement waived
Garage conversions don't have to replace lost parking when within ½ mile of transit (most of LA basin qualifies).
Utility connections capped
Capacity charges and meter fees are capped under state law. Separate water meter is optional, not required.
Where you build matters.
Same state law, very different paperwork. Tap into the cost, permits, zoning, and timeline detail for your jurisdiction.
Westside
LA — Westside
LADBS or Santa Monica Building & Safety: 8–12 weeks for a clean ministerial ADU.
Eastside / NELA
LA — Eastside / NELA
LADBS: 8–12 weeks ministerial; HPOZ-adjacent parcels add a design review.
San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
LADBS: 6–10 weeks ministerial; flat lots run faster than the Eastside.
South Bay
South Bay
Local building & safety: 8–14 weeks; coastal zone parcels add review time.
Hills & Canyons
LA — Hills & Canyons
LADBS: 12–18 weeks because of slope, geotech, and hillside ordinance.
San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
City permit centers: 6–10 weeks ministerial; landmark districts add design review.
Ventura County
Ventura County
City + County review: 6–10 weeks ministerial under state law.
Orange County
Orange County
City building departments: 6–10 weeks ministerial; coastal cities add CDP review.
Inland Empire
Inland Empire
City + county building departments: 5–9 weeks ministerial.
ADU FAQ.
What does an LA-area ADU actually cost in 2026?
Garage conversions: $185k – $285k all-in. Attached ADUs: $295k – $475k. Detached new-builds: $385k – $650k depending on size, foundation, and finish level. JADUs land between $95k and $185k. These are real numbers including design, permits, utility upgrades, and finishes — not framing-only.
How long from contract to keys?
Garage conversion: 4–5 months total. Detached new-build: 8–10 months total. The split is roughly 8–12 weeks for design + permits, then 10–28 weeks for build. State law requires the city to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days.
Can I rent the ADU on Airbnb?
Usually no. Most LA-area jurisdictions (LA City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach) prohibit short-term rental of ADUs under 30 days. Long-term rental (30+ days) is allowed everywhere.
Do I need to live in the main house?
No, not for a standard ADU under current state law. You can live in the ADU and rent out the main house, or rent both. JADUs are different — they require owner-occupancy of one of the two units, recorded as a deed restriction.
What if my lot is in a hillside, coastal, or fire zone?
It's still buildable, but the permit path changes. Coastal Zone parcels need a CDP. Hillside parcels need a HCR (Hillside Compliance Review) at LADBS. VHFHSZ parcels (Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone) need WUI-rated assemblies. We handle all three regularly.