ADUs & Additions in Studio City
Detached ADUs, garage conversions, room additions and second storeys, designed, permitted and built. Designed, permitted and built by our own crews.
ADUs & Additions built for Studio City properties
We work Studio City constantly, partly because it is ten minutes from our yard at Cahuenga Pass and partly because it is two markets in one. Cross Ventura Boulevard heading north and you are on flat, deep lots where a pool, an outdoor kitchen and a lawn all fit comfortably in a single phase. Head south into the canyons and the same budget buys a very different project, because retaining and access come first and the pool follows.
A split market: flat, generous valley-floor lots on one side of Ventura Boulevard and steep canyon parcels on the other. The two build very differently and price very differently.
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 and insured, LIC #1119054.
Permits in Studio City: Private pools in the City of Los Angeles are permitted through a combined Building-Mechanical permit. Plumbing plan check applies to apartment and commercial pools, not single-family homes, and using an LADBS pre-approved standard plan shortens plan check. Properties above Ventura Boulevard sit in the Hillside Grading Area, so grading, retaining and export are permitted separately under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance.
What We Build
- Retaining walls and slope stabilisation
- Canyon-access excavation and haul-off planning
- Detached ADUs, ground-up
- Garage conversions to living space
- Junior ADUs within the main house
- Room additions and bump-outs
- Second-storey 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 building in Studio City actually involves
Every city in Southern California builds differently. These are the things that change the scope, the schedule or the budget on Studio City projects.
Hillside lots north of Ventura Boulevard often need engineered retaining and caisson work before any pool shell is poured
Narrow canyon streets limit equipment access, which drives staging and haul-off planning
Flat valley-floor lots south of Moorpark are far simpler and usually build faster
Investment
What this costs in Studio City
Real Southern California ranges, not a teaser number. Every project is priced line by line after we have seen the site.
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
How We Build
Your Studio City project, step by step
Feasibility
We check lot size, setbacks, utilities and access to confirm what your property will actually support.
Design & 3D
Layout, elevations and finishes, modelled 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 Studio City that submittal goes to Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
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.
Studio City Questions
Common questions from Studio City homeowners
Who issues the permits for this work in Studio City?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Private pools in the City of Los Angeles are permitted through a combined Building-Mechanical permit. Plumbing plan check applies to apartment and commercial pools, not single-family homes, and using an LADBS pre-approved standard plan shortens plan check. Properties above Ventura Boulevard sit in the Hillside Grading Area, so grading, retaining and export are permitted separately under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance. We prepare the drawings, make the submittal and handle plan-check corrections ourselves, so you are not the one chasing the city.
What makes building in Studio City different?
A split market: flat, generous valley-floor lots on one side of Ventura Boulevard and steep canyon parcels on the other. The two build very differently and price very differently. In practice that means hillside lots north of Ventura Boulevard often need engineered retaining and caisson work before any pool shell is poured.
Which parts of Studio City do you work in?
All of it, including Colfax Meadows, Silver Triangle, Woodbridge Park, Fryman Canyon. We are based in Los Angeles at Cahuenga Pass, so Studio City is a short run for our crews rather than a job we service from out of the area.
What does adus & additions cost in Studio City?
Detached ADU in this market generally runs $150,000 to $400,000+. 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 Studio City
Studio City Guides
Planning guides for Studio City homeowners
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Outdoor Kitchen Cost in Studio City: Real Numbers by Component
Outdoor kitchens in Studio City run $14,000 to $55,000. This breaks the cost down by island framing, counters, appliances and utility runs, and covers the canyon access issues that raise labour.
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 Maths 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 adus & additions in Studio City?
Sit down with your project manager, go through the details, and get an accurate estimate for your property.
Licensed & Insured · LIC #1119054