ADU Builder & Home Additions in Agoura Hills, CA
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Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Detached backyard ADU with wood siding and black-framed glass doors at dusk
- Agoura Hills
Design · Permit · Build
ADUs & Additions in Agoura Hills
Detached ADUs, garage conversions and additions, from plans to move-in.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Agoura Hills Homes
Many backyards here back onto something protected: an oak grove, a slope, a fuel-modification buffer at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. That shapes the work. Pool shells get sited around root protection zones instead of through them, outdoor kitchens get non-combustible cladding, and grading is kept close to natural contour.
We plan Agoura Hills projects around the oak survey and the slope map before anyone picks a finish.
A mix of flat tract parcels with modest rear yards near the valley floor and half-acre-plus equestrian and hillside properties with slope, oaks and long driveways in the older ranch areas.
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 Agoura Hills: Residential permits are issued by the City of Agoura Hills Building and Safety Division, with planning and architectural review handled in the same Community Development Department. The City's protected tree regulations (AHMC 9657, updated by Ordinance 25-482 in December 2025) protect every scrub oak regardless of size, plus any oak, California sycamore or Southern California black walnut measuring six inches or more at 4.5 feet above grade.
The tree protection zone starts five feet outside the dripline and is never less than 15 feet from the trunk, so grading, trenching or paving inside it requires a protected tree permit. Parcels in or partly in a designated hillside area need architectural review approval or a conditional use permit before a building or grading permit can issue.
CAL FIRE's March 2025 local responsibility area maps place the large majority of the city in high or very high fire hazard severity zones, which drives defensible space and exterior material requirements.
Permit details checked September 2026 against Agoura Hills Municipal Code and City of Agoura Hills . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Protected tree permit coordination
- Hillside grading and retaining design
- Fire-resistant outdoor living materials
- 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 Agoura Hills
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Decomposed granite and clay-rich hillside soils vary sharply within a single parcel, so pool shells and detached structure foundations usually need a project-specific soils report rather than a standard detail.
02
Mature coast live oaks sit close to houses, and their tree protection zones begin five feet outside the dripline and are never less than 15 feet from the trunk, which pushes excavation, trenching and equipment staging away from the canopy.
03
Sloping rear yards mean retaining walls and deepened footings are often the first line item on a backyard budget rather than an upgrade.
04
Fuel-modification requirements along the wildland edge shape plant palettes, decking material and any shade structure inside the defensible-space band.
Areas we serve in Agoura Hills:Old AgouraMorrison RanchLake LinderoLiberty CanyonMalibu JunctionChateau Springs
Investment
What It Costs in Agoura Hills
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 Agoura Hills property
The Process
How We Work in Agoura Hills
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 Agoura Hills that submittal goes to City of Agoura Hills Community Development Department, Building and Safety 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 Agoura Hills Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Agoura Hills?
City of Agoura Hills Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division. Residential permits are issued by the City of Agoura Hills Building and Safety Division, with planning and architectural review handled in the same Community Development Department.
The City's protected tree regulations (AHMC 9657, updated by Ordinance 25-482 in December 2025) protect every scrub oak regardless of size, plus any oak, California sycamore or Southern California black walnut measuring six inches or more at 4.5 feet above grade.
The tree protection zone starts five feet outside the dripline and is never less than 15 feet from the trunk, so grading, trenching or paving inside it requires a protected tree permit. Parcels in or partly in a designated hillside area need architectural review approval or a conditional use permit before a building or grading permit can issue.
CAL FIRE's March 2025 local responsibility area maps place the large majority of the city in high or very high fire hazard severity zones, which drives defensible space and exterior material requirements. 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 Agoura Hills different?
A mix of flat tract parcels with modest rear yards near the valley floor and half-acre-plus equestrian and hillside properties with slope, oaks and long driveways in the older ranch areas. One local condition that shapes the work: Decomposed granite and clay-rich hillside soils vary sharply within a single parcel, so pool shells and detached structure foundations usually need a project-specific soils report rather than a standard detail.
Which parts of Agoura Hills do you work in?
All of it, including Old Agoura, Morrison Ranch, Lake Lindero and Liberty Canyon. 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 Agoura Hills?
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 Agoura Hills
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Agoura Hills Backyard & Outdoor Living in Agoura Hills Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Agoura Hills Plans, Permits & Design in Agoura Hills Everything we build in Agoura Hills
ADUs & Additions Nearby
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in Agoura Hills
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 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 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 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
Planning an ADU in Agoura Hills?
Sit down with your project manager and get an accurate estimate. We call you back within one business day.
Book a Consultation 818-300-2393
Licensed, bonded & insured · CSLB license #1119054
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