ADUs & Additions in Glendale
Detached ADUs, garage conversions and additions, from plans to move-in.
Built for Glendale Homes
Glendale covers a wider range of conditions than people expect. The flats build much like Burbank, quickly and predictably, while Rossmoyne adds historic district design review for anything visible from the street. Move up into Chevy Chase Canyon or Oakmont and you are into foothill construction, where geotechnical review, slope drainage and fire-zone considerations shape both the design and the timeline.
A wide range, from flat traditional lots to steep foothill properties with long views over the basin.
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.
Permits in Glendale: Glendale permits independently of LADBS. Hillside properties in the Verdugo foothills carry additional grading and geotechnical review, and parts of the foothills are mapped as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Permit details checked September 2026 against Glendale Municipal Code and City of Glendale. Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Foothill slope and drainage engineering
- Geotechnical coordination on hillside parcels
- 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 Glendale
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
Foothill parcels in Chevy Chase Canyon and Oakmont need slope and drainage engineering
Rossmoyne is Glendale's largest historic district, so street-visible walls, fences, patio covers, mechanical equipment and additions go through historic design review before permits
Established homes frequently need service upgrades to support modern pool equipment
Investment
What It Costs in Glendale
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 Glendale propertyThe Process
How We Work in Glendale
Feasibility
We check lot size, setbacks, utilities and access to confirm what your property will actually support.
Design & 3D
Layout, elevations and finishes, modeled in 3D so you approve the unit before submittal.
Plans & Permits
We prepare the full drawing set, handle engineering and Title 24, and manage the city submittal and corrections. In Glendale that submittal goes to City of Glendale Community Development Department, Development Services Division.
Foundation & Framing
Site prep, foundation, framing and dry-in by our own crews.
Systems & Finishes
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, then kitchen, bath and interior finishes.
Final Inspection
We pass final inspection, walk the unit with you and hand over the keys.
Questions
What Glendale Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Glendale?
City of Glendale Community Development Department, Development Services Division. Glendale permits independently of LADBS. Hillside properties in the Verdugo foothills carry additional grading and geotechnical review, and parts of the foothills are mapped as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
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 Glendale different?
A wide range, from flat traditional lots to steep foothill properties with long views over the basin. One local condition that shapes the work: Foothill parcels in Chevy Chase Canyon and Oakmont need slope and drainage engineering.
Which parts of Glendale do you work in?
All of it, including Rossmoyne, Verdugo Woodlands, Chevy Chase Canyon and Oakmont. 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 Glendale?
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 Glendale
Planning Guides
Before You Build in Glendale
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Paver Patio and Driveway Cost in Glendale
Paver patios in Glendale run $18 to $32 per square foot installed and driveways $20 to $35. Here is the full cost breakdown, plus what canyon slopes, retaining walls and drainage add.
Read guideADU 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 guideGarage 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 guideADU 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 guidePlanning an ADU in Glendale?
Sit down with your project manager and get an accurate estimate. We call you back within one business day.
Licensed, bonded & insured · CSLB license #1119054