# ADU Builder & Home Additions in Alhambra, CA [Browser-friendly HTML version](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/website-guide/pages/services/adus-additions/alhambra/index) Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/alhambra Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z Text part: 1 of 1 [Full website text index](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms-full.txt) | [Services by city](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/services-by-city-005.txt) | [Previous page](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/pages/services/adus-additions/san-gabriel/index.txt) | [Next page](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/pages/services/adus-additions/monterey-park/index.txt) --- Image: Detached backyard ADU with wood siding and black-framed glass doors at dusk 1. [Home](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/) 1. [Services](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services) 1. [ADUs & Additions](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions) 1. Alhambra Design · Permit · Build ### ADUs & Additions in Alhambra Detached ADUs, garage conversions and additions, from plans to move-in. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [Call 818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) #### Built for Alhambra Homes Alhambra has long played on its Moorish name: the Lindaraxa Tract, platted in 1911, took its name from Washington Irving's Tales of the Alhambra, and one block of Sherwood Avenue in the northwest corner is still lined with Spanish Colonial Revival houses from the 1920s and 1930s. The city incorporated in 1903 on the western edge of the San Gabriel Valley and grew tract by tract, from the Craftsman houses of the Ramona Park Tract to the Tudor Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival homes of the 1929 Mayfair tract. Its ground is a mostly flat alluvial plain that slopes gently to the southeast, so grade seldom decides where a pool or terrace goes. What does shape a project is the zoning code: its pool setbacks, the thresholds that send an addition to the Design Review Board, and whether a house appears on the city's Inventory of Historic Resources. Early tract lots ran deep: 1906 advertisements for the Alhambra Park Tract listed an average lot of 50 by 150 feet, and original lots on South 2nd and 3rd Streets in the Ramona Park Tract measured 110 feet wide by 160 feet deep, some since split. In the RL low-density zone a house is limited to two stories, 25 feet and a 0.40 floor area ratio behind a 25-foot front setback, with a rear setback of 20 percent of lot depth up to 15 feet, and detached accessory structures top out at 15 feet. We are a design-build team, which means the people who draw your project are the people who build it. Design, engineering, permits and construction run through one project manager and our own crews, so nothing gets lost in a handoff between a salesperson and a subcontractor. We are licensed, bonded and insured, [CSLB license #1119054](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1119054) . Permits in Alhambra: The Building Division of the Community Development Department handles building plan check, permits and inspections, including for pools and spas, and applications and inspection requests go through the city's online Permit Portal. Under Alhambra's zoning code, new homes, all two-story and second-story additions, additions that enlarge a house by more than 50 percent, and exterior alterations visible from a public street that need a building permit go to the Design Review Board, as do fences and walls in a front or street side yard facing the street. Pools, spas and pool equipment may not sit in a required front yard and must be at least three feet from any property line in an interior side or rear yard, or five feet in a street side yard, with setbacks measured from the water line. For a house listed on the city's Inventory of Historic Resources as a potentially eligible individual resource, a major alteration first requires a historic resource assessment by a qualified professional, and if the house is found eligible the work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. Permit details checked September 2026 against [City of Alhambra](https://www.alhambraca.gov/192/Building-Division) . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel. What We Build - Design Review Board packages for second-story additions - Pool and equipment layout to the three-foot setback - Remodels of homes on the historic inventory - Two-story ADUs matched to the main house - Front-yard wall and fence design review - Detached ADUs, ground-up - Garage conversions to living space - Junior ADUs within the main house - Room additions and bump-outs - Second-story additions - Full kitchens and bathrooms in the ADU - Separate utility metering where required - Private entries, patios and landscaping - Plans, engineering and city submittals - Title 24 energy compliance Local Conditions #### What to Know in Alhambra These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget. 01 Alhambra sits on an alluvial plain formed from the weathering of the San Gabriel Mountains, sloping southeast at about 1.05 feet per 100 feet from 580 feet in the northwest corner to 380 feet in the southeast, on gravelly loams, sandy loams and clays that the General Plan says do not have a high potential for collapse or expansion. 02 Most of the city is flat, but the General Plan identifies small hillside areas in the western and southwestern parts of town as potentially subject to landslides, so pool and terrace plans there call for a closer look at slope and soils. 03 No active fault is known to cross Alhambra and the city lies outside any Alquist-Priolo zone. Regional flood-control improvements have removed it from the 100-year flood zone, and the General Plan limits flooding problems to local spots where drainage systems cannot handle intense rain. 04 Oaks and California native trees taller than 15 feet or more than 12 inches in trunk diameter, and mature trees taller than 20 feet or more than 24 inches across, need a Tree Permit to be removed or materially altered, although trees in side and rear yards in the RL and RM zones are exempt. Areas we serve in Alhambra:Midwick TractEmery ParkLindaraxa ParkMayfairRamona ParkBean Tract Investment #### What It Costs in Alhambra Real Southern California price ranges, not teaser numbers. ##### Detached ADU $150,000 to $400,000+ What moves it: square footage, finish level, utility runs, and site access; garage conversions typically run well below a ground-up detached build ##### Garage conversion ADU $80,000 to $180,000 What moves it: whether the existing slab and framing meet current code, how far utilities have to run, and the finish level of the kitchen and bathroom ##### Plans, drawings and permit management $4,500 to $25,000+ What moves it: project type and size, whether structural engineering, Title 24 or a soils report is required, and how many jurisdictions or review bodies are involved Your lot, access and finishes set the price. We walk the site, then show you where every dollar goes. [Get a line-item price for your Alhambra property](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) The Process #### How We Work in Alhambra 01 ##### Feasibility We check lot size, setbacks, utilities and access to confirm what your property will actually support. 02 ##### Design & 3D Layout, elevations and finishes, modeled in 3D so you approve the unit before submittal. 03 ##### Plans & Permits We prepare the full drawing set, handle engineering and Title 24, and manage the city submittal and corrections. In Alhambra that submittal goes to City of Alhambra Community Development Department, Building Division. 04 ##### Foundation & Framing Site prep, foundation, framing and dry-in by our own crews. 05 ##### Systems & Finishes Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, then kitchen, bath and interior finishes. 06 ##### Final Inspection We pass final inspection, walk the unit with you and hand over the keys. Questions #### What Alhambra Homeowners Ask Who issues the permits for this work in Alhambra? City of Alhambra Community Development Department, Building Division. The Building Division of the Community Development Department handles building plan check, permits and inspections, including for pools and spas, and applications and inspection requests go through the city's online Permit Portal. Under Alhambra's zoning code, new homes, all two-story and second-story additions, additions that enlarge a house by more than 50 percent, and exterior alterations visible from a public street that need a building permit go to the Design Review Board, as do fences and walls in a front or street side yard facing the street. Pools, spas and pool equipment may not sit in a required front yard and must be at least three feet from any property line in an interior side or rear yard, or five feet in a street side yard, with setbacks measured from the water line. For a house listed on the city's Inventory of Historic Resources as a potentially eligible individual resource, a major alteration first requires a historic resource assessment by a qualified professional, and if the house is found eligible the work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. We prepare the drawings, make the submittal and handle plan-check corrections ourselves, so you are not the one chasing plan check. What makes building in Alhambra different? Early tract lots ran deep: 1906 advertisements for the Alhambra Park Tract listed an average lot of 50 by 150 feet, and original lots on South 2nd and 3rd Streets in the Ramona Park Tract measured 110 feet wide by 160 feet deep, some since split. In the RL low-density zone a house is limited to two stories, 25 feet and a 0.40 floor area ratio behind a 25-foot front setback, with a rear setback of 20 percent of lot depth up to 15 feet, and detached accessory structures top out at 15 feet. One local condition that shapes the work: Alhambra sits on an alluvial plain formed from the weathering of the San Gabriel Mountains, sloping southeast at about 1.05 feet per 100 feet from 580 feet in the northwest corner to 380 feet in the southeast, on gravelly loams, sandy loams and clays that the General Plan says do not have a high potential for collapse or expansion. Which parts of Alhambra do you work in? All of it, including Midwick Tract, Emery Park, Lindaraxa Park and Mayfair. Our crews run every job out of our Cahuenga Pass base in Los Angeles, with our own people on site. What does an ADU or addition cost in Alhambra? Detached ADU: generally $150,000 to $400,000+ across Southern California. What moves it is square footage, finish level, utility runs, and site access; garage conversions typically run well below a ground-up detached build. We give line-item pricing after seeing the site rather than quoting a number over the phone. How long does an ADU take start to finish? Plan a realistic year. Design and engineering typically take one to three months, city plan check and corrections add several more, and construction usually runs four to eight months depending on size and site access. Is a garage conversion cheaper than a detached ADU? Usually yes, and often substantially, because the foundation, walls and roof already exist. The trade-offs are that you lose the garage, and older slabs and framing sometimes need upgrading to meet current code. Can I rent the ADU out? California ADU law is designed to allow long-term rental, and an ADU is one of the few ways to add rentable square footage to a single-family lot. Short-term rental rules vary by city, so confirm your local ordinance before counting on that income. Do you handle the permits? Yes. Plans, engineering, Title 24 and the city submittal are all handled in-house, including responding to plan-check corrections. That is a service we sell on its own, so it is not something we hand off. #### More Services in Alhambra [Pool & Spa Remodeling in Alhambra](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/swimming-pool-spa/alhambra) [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Alhambra](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/alhambra) [Everything we build in Alhambra](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/service-areas/alhambra) #### ADUs & Additions Nearby [ADUs & Additions in South Pasadena](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/south-pasadena) [ADUs & Additions in San Marino](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/san-marino) [ADUs & Additions in Pasadena](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/pasadena) [ADUs & Additions in San Gabriel](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/san-gabriel) [ADUs & Additions in Monterey Park](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/monterey-park) [ADUs & Additions in Los Angeles](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/los-angeles) Planning Guides #### Before You Build in Alhambra Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects. [ADU Cost Breakdown by Size in Los Angeles A detached ADU in Los Angeles runs $150,000 to $400,000-plus. Here is the real cost broken down by unit size, with the soft costs, utility work and finish decisions that move the number. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/adu-cost-breakdown-by-size-los-angeles) [Garage Conversion to ADU: The Step-by-Step Build A garage conversion runs $80,000 to $180,000 in Southern California. Here is the real sequence, from slab testing and plan check to the raised floor, the mini-split and final sign-off. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/garage-conversion-adu-step-by-step) [ADU Rental Income Math in the San Fernando Valley A one-bedroom ADU in the San Fernando Valley rents for roughly $2,100 to $2,900 a month. Here is the honest arithmetic on payback, carrying costs and what the unit adds to the property. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/adu-rental-income-san-fernando-valley) [Second Story Addition vs Building Out: Which Costs Less Building out runs $350 to $500 per square foot. Going up runs $450 to $700. Here is when the cheaper option is actually the wrong one, and what drives each number. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/second-story-addition-vs-building-out) #### Planning an ADU in Alhambra? Sit down with your project manager and get an accurate estimate. We call you back within one business day. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) Licensed, bonded & insured · [CSLB license #1119054](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1119054) --- End of text part 1 of 1. This page is complete.