For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please also contact your local Planning Department to discuss your project.
Visit our Standard Plans Program to look at floorplans and save time and money on design and permitting. You can also learn about your local ADU rules, use the Address Look-Up Tool to find out what you are eligible to build and estimate costs or rents using the ADU Calculator.
Get an ADU Feasibility Consult from us or contact your local planning department to find out in advance about any special issues with your property.
Make a sketch of our property, including existing home, any other structures and proposed ADU. Use the exercises in our ADU Workbook to complete.
Now that you have a better idea of what you want to build, bring your sketch in. A planner will advise you on what rules might apply to your proposed ADU and what to consider.
Although you can build an ADU as an owner builder, we recommend hiring a licensed architect or designer to design your ADU and a licensed builder to construct it, or a design/build team for the entire process. Whoever you hire will help with the application process.
Your professional team will be instrumental in preparing the Permit Application. Check out our on-demand webinar on permitting in our webinar library. We also recommend asking for a pre-application meeting with your planning and building department before formally submitting plans.
Check your local ADU rules and processes to learn how your city or county fees are assessed, how and where to submit/pay, and any documents that need to be submitted like other agency permits.
Jurisdictions have up to 60 days to review your complete application. They may have comments for you and vour team to respond to. Once your application is approved and fees are paid, you can collect your building permit.
Check-in regularly with your builders or design/build team and make decisions about materials as needed. Timelines for construction vary, but 12-18 months is fairly common.
Your builder will schedule a final inspection as construction concludes. Once your ADU has passed, your ADU is ready for move-in!
Now that you know you’re allowed to build and have set a budget, here’s everything you can expect once you begin building your ADU.
Before moving forward, you’ll want to make sure you’ve completed the following preliminary steps:
Often people hire an architect or designer to design a ADU and then a builder to provide additional cost information and to ultimately construct the unit.
Some homeowners hire a design/build team that handles the entire project, including both the design and the construction, while others work with a modular home company. Selecting your team involves looking at their past work of a similar scale and checking references. It can also be helpful if they have worked in your community and know the local permitting process.
When designing your ADU, you will consider size, use, layout, specific project needs (storage, laundry room, etc.), architectural style, and privacy.
Once you have a preliminary design, it’s a good idea for you and your designer to have a pre-application meeting with the local planning (and possibly building) staff. At that meeting, you can ask questions and address any critical issues prior to submitting your permit application. You will also review all requirements, fees, and other considerations specific to your property and project and any unique requirements not previously considered.
Explore neighborhood ADUsOur goal is to help you feel prepared and work effectively. Learn more about what to expect in the ADU building process below.
To apply for permits, you and your project team will need to complete the forms required by your jurisdiction and provide detailed drawings and other documentation. The City will provide comments on your application that you will need to address and resubmit for approval. Most projects require 1-3 rounds of revisions working with city staff. Once your application is approved and all fees are paid, you will be issued permits to start construction.
Now that you have your building permits, you can start construction of your ADU. The builder you hire will lead this step. Communicate frequently with your builder, and verify progress before making payments. During construction, your ADU will be inspected multiple times to ensure it is being built according to the permitted plans. When all the work is complete, a building inspector will conduct a final inspection. Upon approval, you will receive a Certificate of Occupancy and possibly a registration letter for your new ADU.
Download ADU workbookConstruction is complete, and now it’s time for someone to move in. This may be you, a friend, a family member, or a renter.
If it is a tenant, there are plenty of resources to help you if you are a new landlord, including organizations that can match you with a renter and help you manage your unit. You may want to consider pricing the unit so a community member can move in.
Learn moreGood news: New state laws make it even easier to build an ADU or Junior ADU. Check out your local ADU rules to learn more!
Once you’ve determined what you’re eligible to build, contact your city to double-check your assumptions and to seek clarity on rules.
Check my addressWhat is an adu? An accessory dwelling unit is a fully functional living space that can fall into one of three categories:
An ADU has its own entrance, separate from the primary house, as well as a kitchen, bathroom, and living space. Accessory dwelling units can be rented year-round and add a lot of value to your property.
Once you know what you’re allowed to build on your property, it’s time to think about how you want your ADU to look and feel. We strongly recommend homeowners work with a professional throughout the planning and design process, since professional help can get you through the following steps quickly and easily.
Builders/contractors will often have thoughts about costs—and opportunities to reduce them—that your designer may not have considered early on. Consider bringing your builder into the design process so you can draw upon their expertise before the plans are finalized
We have our own Vision and Goals for how we plan to design our ADU’s. These are few items we suggest you take into consideration the size, use, layout, specific project needs (storage, laundry room, etc.), architectural style, and privacy. It is imperative that you have a very clear sense for your specifications. We would suggest you make that your number 1 priority early in the process. Making changes during the process can and will be costly.
Some cities have guidelines intended to help maintain the character of a place that can include guidelines on color, material, details, and style, among other things. You might be excited to think about the finishes (the type of siding, flooring, fixtures, or lighting), but these design details do not need to be decided early in the process. These elements do not affect the form and placement of the unit, which is what the design will focus on initially.
Once you have a preliminary design, it’s a good idea for you & your designer to have a pre-application meeting with the local planning (and possibly building) staff. At this point (ideally, halfway through the design plan refinement process) it is a good idea to show the design concept to city staff to make sure the plan is approvable and to identify any other regulatory considerations.
After meeting with the city, you or your designer can complete the city’s permit application and appropriate plans for that stage of the review.
Following your city meeting, you will have asked your questions and addressed any critical issues prior to submitting your permit application.
It is a good idea at this phase to talk to your neighbors about your ADU development to keep them informed of your intentions to build.
ADU state law does not require neighbors to sign off on the construction of an ADU and generally cannot stop an allowed ADU project, but you will need to live next to your neighbors for many years, and the development and construction process will be much smoother if your neighbors are kept informed throughout the process, especially in the beginning.
There are two sets of cost SOFT COST & CONSTRUCTION cost. Soft Cost are plans, permits, survey etc. cost that may all be required to be paid out of pocket upfront in the process. Many Cities and Counties and well as the State are offering Grant funds and subsidies to reimburse on those cost to learn more schedule a consultation Northern California | Southern California| Inland Empire Riverside
Most people’s units cost between $400 to $600 per square foot to build.
Sqft of the space X $400 to $600 (variation region, labor, materials) per square foot
450 sqft x $600 = $270,000.00
The cost to build an ADU varies by region, due to the fluctuation in labor and material cost. Understand that building an ADU is very different from building a single-family home. The importance rule of thumb is to make sure you are considering every cubic foot.
ADU cost more per square foot than typical single-family homes for several reasons.
What all of this means is, yes, the cost per square foot of an ADU is most likely going to be higher, but you are packing a lot more value into a smaller space.
Now that your have your design and plans verified and approved by the local building and safety department in your area, your contractor will begin working on your ADU getting you just a little closer to completion.
Please note prior to construction getting started be sure to have a contract in place with the licensed contractor specifying all materials, and phases of the project, to ensure that your are aware of payments to be made and progress of your project. Having this very detailed documentation will help elevate costly change orders as well as the stress and anxiety of knowing when the ADU will be done.
There are many lenders within and outside the State of California who are whiling to help with financing your ADU. Keep in mind if you are looking to utilize the State of California ADU Grant you will need to consider the eligibility requirements (FAQ ADU Grant Program | CalHFA) and one of the preferred lenders ( ADU Grant Program | CalHFA ) from there website. Standard income documentation and review of your credit will be considered for financing.
Please note there are various ADU subsidy programs being offered by the Cities and Counties within the State of California, to find out more details schedule a consultation Northern California | Southern California| Inland Empire Riverside
Options for financing your ADU are
Tenant | Landlord Right + Responsibilities & DIY | Property Management With rewards comes risk although ADU has many benefits we would like for you to keep in mind your future role as a landlord. There are many Rights and Responsibilities Tenants have and you must be made aware of these when deciding how you plan to manage (DIY or hire Property Management firm) your ADU unit or main property. Though there are many DIY resources and services you want to make sure you are following the Fair Housing Laws and requirement when seeking to properly manage your ADU unit. Learn more
There are countless options for how you will generate income with your ADU may vary from long term rental income or short term. Be sure to consult your City and County regarding the ordinances. If you are not sure where to start schedule a consultation Northern California | Southern California| Inland Empire Riverside
Property Vesting LLC + Trust | Insurances
Now that you are a property owner with responsibilities as a landlord, you must take an iron clad view at the business of ADU’ing. For instance, if there is a situation that occurs at the property where someone is hurt what sort of insurance, what legal representation should you have, and how should you file your corporate entity in the event the harmed individual wishes to pursue damages. Not to be Debbie downer but these are all things that must be consider through the process.
Start today contacting your family real estate attorney, cpa, and insurance provider to discuss the cost and options as you review your right and responsibilities as a landlord and how you ensure you don’t bring the pain home.
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