What does an ADU cost to build in Los Angeles?

Detached new construction in LA County runs $300–$400 per sq ft all-in (soft costs, hard costs and contingency). A turnkey 800 sq ft detached ADU lands around $260,000–$320,000 depending on lot conditions, finishes and site work.

How long does the entire process take, from contract to keys?

Plan on 9–13 months for a detached new build: 14–22 weeks from signed agreement to permit-in-hand, then 18–28 weeks of construction. Garage conversions compress that to 6–10 months. We publish week-by-week breakdowns under Process.

Do I need to live in the primary house to build an ADU?

No. California state law removed the owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs permitted between 2020 and 2025, and most LA-area cities have aligned with the state rule. JADUs (junior ADUs inside the primary home) still typically require owner occupancy.

Will building an ADU reassess my property taxes?

Only the new ADU is reassessed at current market value — your existing home keeps its Prop 13 protected base. On a $325K detached ADU that translates to roughly $3,400–$4,000 of additional annual property tax depending on your jurisdiction.

What rental income can an ADU realistically produce?

Long-term: 1-bed/600 sq ft units rent for $1,900–$3,100/mo across LA depending on neighborhood. After 10–12% management and a 5% vacancy assumption, net yield-on-cost typically lands 10–16%.

What's the first step to get a real number for my lot?

Submit your address through Contact for a free 30-minute feasibility call. Within one business day of the call we send a written brief: viable ADU types, estimated cost band, permit timeline and a fixed fee for full schematic design.

Did the 2025 California ADU rules change anything for LA homeowners?

Yes. AB 1033 lets cities allow ADUs to be sold separately as condos, AB 976 made the no-owner-occupancy rule permanent, and SB 1211 raised the cap to up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots. LADBS aligned its bulletins in early 2025 — most single-family lots can now permit one ADU and one JADU ministerially.

How do I verify my LA ADU contractor is actually licensed?

Look up the license number on the California Contractors State License Board portal at cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices. Confirm the classification is B (general building) or B-2 (residential remodeling), the bond is current, and the workers' compensation policy is active. Cross-check with BBB and LA County Consumer Affairs for complaint history.

Now booking · Spring 2026

California residential ADU builder.

SERVICEDesign · Permit · BuildRESP · SLA< 2h

A California residential design-build studio helping homeowners and investors with ADUs, garage conversions, custom homes, teardown and fire rebuilds, hillside projects, SB9 lot splits, and 2–6 unit small multifamily across the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.

CSLB #1156772 · License & insurance details on request

Begin a Bay Area project→Begin an LA project→or browse the catalog→

A 20-minute feasibility review of your lot. No cost, no obligation.

Scroll

California desks

Two desks. One construction standard.

Different cities. Different permit rooms. A single licensed California contractor behind both.

Desk 01 · Headquarters · Northern California

San Francisco Headquarters

Detached ADUs, garage conversions, additions, and rental-ready units across the San Francisco Bay Area. Built for dense lots, hillside conditions, high-value rental markets, and complex local review.

Phone: +1 (510) 405-5921
Desk: 555 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco
Oakland
Richmond
Berkeley
Walnut Creek
Fremont
San Jose
Palo Alto
Sunnyvale
Livermore

Open San Francisco desk→Start a brief

Desk 02 · Southern California

Los Angeles Desk

Garage conversions, detached ADUs, JADUs, and rental-ready backyard cottages across Los Angeles County. Built around LADBS, LA County, and Southern California lot conditions.

Phone: +1 (323) 483-4705
Desk: Los Angeles desk — consultations by appointmentLos Angeles County

Los Angeles
Beverly Hills
Santa Monica
Pasadena
Long Beach
Burbank
Glendale
Culver City

Open Los Angeles desk→Start a brief

Desk 01 · HQ · San Francisco Bay Area

Headquarters

San Francisco Bay Area.

Our headquarters desk. Permit-ready ADUs, garage conversions, JADUs, additions, and rental units across San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto, Fremont, Walnut Creek, and the surrounding Bay.

Open Bay Area HQ +1 (510) 405-5921 →

Two desks · One studio

Offices in San Francisco and Beverly Hills.

Each desk runs its own permit room, project leads, and crew rosters for the cities it serves — never routed across regions.

Desk 01 · San FranciscoLoading…
San Francisco headquarters.
555 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
+1 (510) 405-5921
Maya Bergman · Bay Area Principal · Permit strategist
Visit San Francisco desk →Book a consult
Desk 02 · Los AngelesLoading…
Los Angeles desk.
Los Angeles desk — consultations by appointment
+1 (323) 483-4705
Daniel Avraham · LA Principal · Feasibility lead
Visit Los Angeles desk →Book a consult

I'm looking for

What does an ADU cost to build in Los Angeles?
Detached new construction in LA County runs $300–$400 per sq ft all-in (soft costs, hard costs and contingency). A turnkey 800 sq ft detached ADU lands around $260,000–$320,000 depending on lot conditions, finishes and site work.
Cost breakdown →Where the budget goes →
What rental income can an ADU realistically produce?
Long-term: 1-bed/600 sq ft units rent for $1,900–$3,100/mo across LA depending on neighborhood. After 10–12% management and a 5% vacancy assumption, net yield-on-cost typically lands 10–16%.
ROI calculator →Financing options →
Will building an ADU reassess my property taxes?
Only the new ADU is reassessed at current market value — your existing home keeps its Prop 13 protected base. On a $325K detached ADU that translates to roughly $3,400–$4,000 of additional annual property tax depending on your jurisdiction.
Run the ROI math →Cost breakdown →
How do I verify my LA ADU contractor is actually licensed?
Look up the license number on the California Contractors State License Board portal at cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices. Confirm the classification is B (general building) or B-2 (residential remodeling), the bond is current, and the workers' compensation policy is active. Cross-check with BBB and LA County Consumer Affairs for complaint history.
How to vet any contractor →Our license & insurance →

All questions

Now booking — Spring 2026ADUs · Custom Homes · MultifamilyLicense & insurance details on requestCSLB #1156772Fixed-price contractsDesign · Permit · BuildFree 20-min feasibility reviewServing Los Angeles + the San Francisco Bay AreaNow booking — Spring 2026ADUs · Custom Homes · MultifamilyLicense & insurance details on requestCSLB #1156772Fixed-price contractsDesign · Permit · BuildFree 20-min feasibility reviewServing Los Angeles + the San Francisco Bay Area

Featured · Field Report

A backyard studio
in Silver Lake.

"We wanted a quiet place for my mother that didn't feel like a tacked-on box. They drew it, permitted it, and built it — start to finish in sixteen weeks."

Footprint: 580 sqft
Build: 16 weeks
Neighborhood: Silver Lake, CA
Permit: LADBS · 2025

View the full record→

Featured Los Angeles ADU project — a 580 sqft backyard studio in Silver Lake — Photograph — Studio ADU, Silver Lake. Completed Spring 2025.

The Catalog · Three Formats

We build three things,
and we build them well.

Every Los Angeles lot is different. These three formats cover the permit envelope of nearly every parcel in the county.

01400 – 600 sqft

FMT · 01

Studio

From $185,000

A self-contained single room for a tenant, a parent, or a writer. The smallest footprint we build, and often the fastest to permit through LADBS.

Inquire about Studio→

02600 – 850 sqft

FMT · 02

One-bedroom

From $265,000

A separated bedroom, full kitchen, and proper living space. Our most-requested format for long-term LA rental income.

Inquire about One-bedroom→

03850 – 1,200 sqft

FMT · 03

Two-bedroom

From $345,000

A small house, in everything but name. Built for multi-generational families and the LA market for premium rentals.

Inquire about Two-bedroom→

Market Pulse · Bay Area ADU Desk

Demo · Bay Area Desk

Sample · Planning data

ADU·RENT·1BR

$2,950

Median asking rent estimate for a new 1-bedroom Bay Area ADU.

PERMIT·DAYS

105

Typical city review window for a standard ADU permit package.

BUILD·COST·PSF

$375

Typical turnkey detached ADU build cost per finished sq ft.

ADU·CASH·ROI

12.8%

Owner cash-on-cash ROI depending on rent and financing terms.

BACKYARD·INQUIRIES

Weekly homeowner consults across core Bay Area cities.

OPEN·SLOTS

9 wk

Estimated next available crew start.

Sample planning ranges for the Bay Area desk. Replace with verified live or internal data before publishing as a public metric.

Demonstration desk — values are sample planning ranges and should be replaced with verified live or internal data before publishing.

Market Pulse · San Francisco ADU Desk

Live · LA Desk

—

ADU·RENT·1BR

$2,648

Median asking rent for a new 1-bedroom LA ADU.

LADBS·PERMIT·DAYS

Average LADBS standard-plan ADU permit issuance time.

BUILD·COST·PSF

$385

Typical turnkey detached ADU build cost per finished sq ft.

ADU·CASH·ROI

13.6%

Owner cash-on-cash ROI assuming 25% down, current rates.

BACKYARD·INQUIRIES

Inbound homeowner consults per week, citywide.

OPEN·SLOTS

8 wk

Weeks until next available crew start across LA ADU builders.

Feed · last 24h

07:11LADBSStandard plan queue cleared faster than 30-day avg — turnaround tightening.
10:28RENTSilver Lake 1BR ADU asks crossed $2,800 — 3rd weekly print above trend.
13:45COSTLumber index −1.8% w/w; framing bids softening across LA County.
16:02RATESHELOC blended rate held at 8.6% — financing window stable.
19:19DEMANDMar Vista & Culver inquiries up 14% — empty-nester cohort.
22:36WARNConcrete supplier lead times stretched to 11 days — schedule risk.
01:53POLICYAB 1033 condo-conversion: detached ADU starts +22% YoY in LA City.

Demonstration desk — values seed from realistic LA County ADU ranges and drift client-side. No live connections.

Dispatches · From the Field

All articles →

Permits

A short field guide to the LADBS Standard Plan ADU process

What actually happens between submitting a pre-application and pulling the framing permit — written for owners, not for architects.

April 2026 · 8 min read

Finance

HELOC vs. construction loan: which is right for an LA ADU?

March 2026 · 6 min

Investment

The math behind a 12–16% LA ADU return

March 2026 · 5 min

Design

Five quiet design moves that make a 480 sqft unit feel like a home

February 2026 · 4 min

Press & Reviews · Public Record

Public review profiles,
available during consultation.

Ask our team for current review profiles and client references. We share live links to our public profiles — never curated screenshots.

CSLB #1156772·555 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104·+1 (510) 405-5921·License and insurance details available during consultation.

Star ratings and review counts are intentionally omitted on-page until every platform profile is owner-verified.

Voices · In Their Own Words

The owners,
unedited.

Three notes from owners whose ADUs we delivered between 2024 and 2025. Each one is verifiable on a public review platform.

Their team handled the design, permits, and build. We just collect rent now.

Jake H.

Silver Lake, Los Angeles

One-bedroom ADU · 2024

A true turnkey experience. Zero stress, constant updates, tenant moved in day one.

Sarah & Tim P.

Mar Vista, Los Angeles

Two-bedroom ADU · 2024

Smooth from start to finish. Passive income every month without lifting a finger.

Linda C.

Pasadena, Los Angeles County

Garage conversion · 2025

The Record · How we work

Design
In-house architecture: Permit
Jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction: Build
Fixed-price contracts: Service
Bay Area HQ + LA desk

California Contractor License · CSLB #1156772 · License and insurance details available during consultation.

Elsewherefollow along

Or, the old way+1 (510) 405-5921

Our Commitment · Causes We Stand Behind

We build homes here.We stand with those who served.

Every year, our country loses far too many veterans, first responders, and neighbors who needed someone in their corner. We don't route donations through our company — we point you straight to the organizations doing the work, so 100% of your support reaches them.

Golden State ADU is not affiliated with these organizations and does not collect or process donations on their behalf. Links go directly to each nonprofit's official website so contributions reach them in full.

Before you book a call

The questions homeowners ask first

Quick answers on cost, timeline, occupancy and ROI. Deeper Q&A lives on each topic page.

What does an ADU cost to build in Los Angeles?
Detached new construction in LA County runs $300–$400 per sq ft all-in (soft costs, hard costs and contingency). A turnkey 800 sq ft detached ADU lands around $260,000–$320,000 depending on lot conditions, finishes and site work.
Cost breakdown →Where the budget goes →
How long does the entire process take, from contract to keys?
Plan on 9–13 months for a detached new build: 14–22 weeks from signed agreement to permit-in-hand, then 18–28 weeks of construction. Garage conversions compress that to 6–10 months. We publish week-by-week breakdowns under Process.
Five-stage process →Service types →
Do I need to live in the primary house to build an ADU?
No. California state law removed the owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs permitted between 2020 and 2025, and most LA-area cities have aligned with the state rule. JADUs (junior ADUs inside the primary home) still typically require owner occupancy.
JADU + ADU services →
Will building an ADU reassess my property taxes?
Only the new ADU is reassessed at current market value — your existing home keeps its Prop 13 protected base. On a $325K detached ADU that translates to roughly $3,400–$4,000 of additional annual property tax depending on your jurisdiction.
Run the ROI math →Cost breakdown →
What rental income can an ADU realistically produce?
Long-term: 1-bed/600 sq ft units rent for $1,900–$3,100/mo across LA depending on neighborhood. After 10–12% management and a 5% vacancy assumption, net yield-on-cost typically lands 10–16%.
ROI calculator →Financing options →
What's the first step to get a real number for my lot?
Submit your address through Contact for a free 30-minute feasibility call. Within one business day of the call we send a written brief: viable ADU types, estimated cost band, permit timeline and a fixed fee for full schematic design.
Book a call →Compare services →
Did the 2025 California ADU rules change anything for LA homeowners?
Yes. AB 1033 lets cities allow ADUs to be sold separately as condos, AB 976 made the no-owner-occupancy rule permanent, and SB 1211 raised the cap to up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots. LADBS aligned its bulletins in early 2025 — most single-family lots can now permit one ADU and one JADU ministerially.
2025 permitting rulebook →Permit & design step →
How do I verify my LA ADU contractor is actually licensed?
Look up the license number on the California Contractors State License Board portal at cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices. Confirm the classification is B (general building) or B-2 (residential remodeling), the bond is current, and the workers' compensation policy is active. Cross-check with BBB and LA County Consumer Affairs for complaint history.
How to vet any contractor →Our license & insurance →

Begin

Begin your projectin twenty minutes.

A short feasibility review of your lot — what you can build, roughly what it costs, and how long it will take. Free of charge. No sales call afterwards unless you ask for one.

Get started→or call +1 (510) 405-5921

No obligation
◆
Reply within 24 hours
◆
License & insurance on request

California residential ADU builder.

Two desks. One construction standard.

San Francisco Bay Area.

Offices in San Francisco and Beverly Hills.

San Francisco headquarters.

Los Angeles desk.

A backyard studio
in Silver Lake.