ADU Builder & Home Additions in Los Angeles, 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
- Los Angeles
Design · Permit · Build
ADUs & Additions in Los Angeles
Detached ADUs, garage conversions and additions, from plans to move-in.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Los Angeles Homes
We work across the City of Los Angeles, and the practical reality is that two addresses ten minutes apart can sit under completely different rule sets. One parcel is flat R1 with a straightforward pool permit; the next is inside a hillside area, a methane zone, an HPOZ, or a very high fire hazard severity zone.
Our first move on any Los Angeles project is pulling the parcel's zoning and hazard overlays before a single line gets drawn.
Lot character varies enormously, from 5,000-square-foot flat R1 parcels in the older grid neighborhoods to steep, irregular hillside lots where usable outdoor space has to be manufactured with retaining structures and cantilevered decking.
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 Los Angeles: LADBS issues residential building, grading, plumbing, electrical and pool permits citywide, with Development Services Centers downtown and in Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and San Pedro, while zoning entitlements and design review come from Los Angeles City Planning.
Parcels in a designated hillside area fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), which limits residential floor area, building envelope height, and grading and import/export quantities. Protected trees and shrubs (native oaks other than scrub oak, western sycamore, Southern California black walnut, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon) are regulated under LAMC 46.00 at four inches of cumulative trunk diameter, and removing or relocating one needs a StreetsLA Urban Forestry Division permit. Review length varies by parcel and scope.
Permit details checked September 2026 against LADBS . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Hillside pool and retaining structure engineering
- Methane mitigation coordination where zoned
- Protected-tree permitting through Urban Forestry
- 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 Los Angeles
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Soil swings from deep alluvial fill on the valley floors to weathered bedrock and old landslide debris in the hills, so the geotechnical report drives foundation and pool shell design more than the architecture does.
02
Older neighborhoods still carry 100-amp services, clay sewer laterals and galvanized supply lines that must be upgraded before a pool, spa heater and outdoor kitchen can be added.
03
Many pre-1940 parcels have a detached rear garage off an alley, and that alley is often the only viable equipment path, deciding whether excavation is machine work or conveyor and hand work.
04
Hillside streets are narrow and frequently lack turnarounds, so staging for concrete, gunite and crane picks has to be planned around fire access requirements and neighbors.
Areas we serve in Los Angeles:Hancock ParkLos FelizSilver LakeCheviot HillsWindsor SquareMount Washington
Investment
What It Costs in Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles property
The Process
How We Work in Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles that submittal goes to Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
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 Los Angeles Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). LADBS issues residential building, grading, plumbing, electrical and pool permits citywide, with Development Services Centers downtown and in Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and San Pedro, while zoning entitlements and design review come from Los Angeles City Planning.
Parcels in a designated hillside area fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), which limits residential floor area, building envelope height, and grading and import/export quantities. Protected trees and shrubs (native oaks other than scrub oak, western sycamore, Southern California black walnut, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon) are regulated under LAMC 46.00 at four inches of cumulative trunk diameter, and removing or relocating one needs a StreetsLA Urban Forestry Division permit.
Review length varies by parcel and scope. 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 Los Angeles different?
Lot character varies enormously, from 5,000-square-foot flat R1 parcels in the older grid neighborhoods to steep, irregular hillside lots where usable outdoor space has to be manufactured with retaining structures and cantilevered decking. One local condition that shapes the work: Soil swings from deep alluvial fill on the valley floors to weathered bedrock and old landslide debris in the hills, so the geotechnical report drives foundation and pool shell design more than the architecture does.
Which parts of Los Angeles do you work in?
All of it, including Hancock Park, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Cheviot Hills. 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 Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Los Angeles Backyard & Outdoor Living in Los Angeles Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Los Angeles Plans, Permits & Design in Los Angeles Everything we build in Los Angeles
ADUs & Additions Nearby
ADUs & Additions in Van Nuys ADUs & Additions in North Hollywood ADUs & Additions in West Hollywood ADUs & Additions in Culver City ADUs & Additions in Beverly Hills ADUs & Additions in Hancock Park
Planning Guides
Before You Build in Los Angeles
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 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 Kitchen Remodel Cost in Los Angeles: Real Line Items A mid-range LA kitchen remodel runs $75,000 to $130,000. Here is the full line-item breakdown at three budget levels, including the structural and electrical work that eats budgets. Read guide
Planning an ADU in Los Angeles?
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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