ADU Builder & Home Additions in Pasadena, CA
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Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Open-plan living room and kitchen with polished concrete floors
- Pasadena
Design · Permit · Build
ADUs & Additions in Pasadena
Detached ADUs, garage conversions and additions, from plans to move-in.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Pasadena Homes
We work across a city where two houses on the same street can carry completely different rulebooks: one inside a landmark district, one on a hillside lot with slope limits. Our teams plan around the Arroyo's cobble soils, protected oaks, and driveways built for Model Ts.
Before design starts we confirm zoning overlay, tree inventory, and fire-zone status, because those three items shape a pool, ADU, or addition far more than square footage does.
Parcels range from compact bungalow lots near the historic districts to large estate grounds in Oak Knoll and the San Rafael Hills. Rear yards are often deep but narrow, with alley or single-drive access.
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 Pasadena: Residential permits are issued through the Permit Center of the Building & Safety Division, with entitlements and design review handled inside the same Planning & Community Development Department. Certain projects on lots in the city's Hillside Overlay Districts, including major renovations, require a Hillside Development Permit under Zoning Code Chapter 17.29.
Properties inside a landmark district or individually designated need a Certificate of Appropriateness evaluated against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. The Tree Protection Ordinance (PMC 8.52) requires a permit before removing protected trees, including native oaks over eight inches in diameter, and northern foothill parcels fall inside a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Permit details checked September 2026 against City of Pasadena . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Hillside Development Permit packages
- Certificate of Appropriateness submittals
- Protected-tree preservation plans
- 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 Pasadena
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Arroyo-side and foothill lots sit on coarse alluvial fan deposits, so excavation for pools and sunken patios often hits cobble and boulder layers that slow digging and raise export costs.
02
The Raymond Fault crosses the southern edge of town, and parcels inside the state-mapped Alquist-Priolo zone need a fault investigation before new habitable structures can be sited.
03
Craftsman-era blocks were platted before cars grew, leaving single-width driveways and detached rear garages that force smaller equipment, hand-dig zones, or crane picks for pool shells.
04
Mature deodar and oak canopy shades many rear yards, which changes pool solar gain, drives root-protection fencing, and limits where a spa or detached unit foundation can land.
Areas we serve in Pasadena:Bungalow HeavenMadison HeightsLinda VistaSan Rafael HillsHastings RanchOak Knoll
Investment
What It Costs in Pasadena
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 Pasadena property
The Process
How We Work in Pasadena
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 Pasadena that submittal goes to City of Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department, Building & 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 Pasadena Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Pasadena?
City of Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division. Residential permits are issued through the Permit Center of the Building & Safety Division, with entitlements and design review handled inside the same Planning & Community Development Department.
Certain projects on lots in the city's Hillside Overlay Districts, including major renovations, require a Hillside Development Permit under Zoning Code Chapter 17.29. Properties inside a landmark district or individually designated need a Certificate of Appropriateness evaluated against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
The Tree Protection Ordinance (PMC 8.52) requires a permit before removing protected trees, including native oaks over eight inches in diameter, and northern foothill parcels fall inside a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. 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 Pasadena different?
Parcels range from compact bungalow lots near the historic districts to large estate grounds in Oak Knoll and the San Rafael Hills. Rear yards are often deep but narrow, with alley or single-drive access. One local condition that shapes the work: Arroyo-side and foothill lots sit on coarse alluvial fan deposits, so excavation for pools and sunken patios often hits cobble and boulder layers that slow digging and raise export costs.
Which parts of Pasadena do you work in?
All of it, including Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, Linda Vista and San Rafael 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 Pasadena?
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 Pasadena
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Pasadena Backyard & Outdoor Living in Pasadena Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Pasadena Plans, Permits & Design in Pasadena Everything we build in Pasadena
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in Pasadena
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
ADU Construction in Pasadena: Costs, Rules & Design Ideas Pasadena has specific ADU regulations that differ from LA City. Learn what makes Pasadena ADU construction unique and how to navigate the process. Read guide Outdoor Kitchen Ideas for Pasadena Homes Pasadena's architectural heritage inspires distinctive outdoor kitchen designs. Explore ideas that complement Craftsman, mid-century, and Mediterranean homes. Read guide 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
Planning an ADU in Pasadena?
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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