Where we build.
14 LA-area cities, each with its own permitting reality. Search, filter, start with a topical hub, or compare cities side by side.
- No. 01Beverly Hills
Tight lot coverage, strict design review, and high-value rents. ADUs here pencil quickly when zoning allows.
120–180 days$3,400/moROI 9–12% - No. 02Santa Monica
Coastal Commission overlap on parts of the city, but state ADU law dominates inland parcels.
90–150 days$3,200/moROI 10–13% - No. 03Pasadena
Mature lots and HPOZ overlays. We've delivered ADUs in Bungalow Heaven and Madison Heights without disturbing the streetscape.
100–160 days$2,600/moROI 11–14% - No. 04Long Beach
One of the friendliest ADU permit pipelines in the county. Fast turnarounds and strong rental demand.
60–110 days$2,200/moROI 12–16% - No. 05Burbank
Studio-adjacent rental demand and consistent permit timelines. Detached units do well on R-1 lots.
75–120 days$2,400/moROI 11–15% - No. 06Glendale
Hillside parcels and large flat lots in the south. We tailor designs to topography on a per-parcel basis.
90–140 days$2,500/moROI 10–14% - No. 07Culver City
Compact lots, premium rents, and a tech-driven rental market. Garage conversions are especially efficient here.
85–130 days$2,900/moROI 11–14% - No. 08West Hollywood
Dense parcels and a sophisticated permit office. Rent ceilings are among the highest in LA.
100–150 days$3,100/moROI 9–12% - No. 09Compton
Generous lot sizes and accelerating rents make Compton one of the highest-ROI ADU markets in South LA.
70–120 days$1,850/moROI 13–17% - No. 10El Segundo
Tight beach-city lots, strong tech-corridor rents, and a permit office known for clean, fast turnarounds.
65–110 days$2,800/moROI 11–14% - No. 11Torrance
Large flat parcels, predictable plan check, and strong family-rental demand. A quietly excellent ADU market.
75–125 days$2,400/moROI 12–15% - No. 12Inglewood
SoFi-era rent growth, accessible lot pricing, and a permit office that has scaled to meet ADU demand.
80–130 days$2,100/moROI 12–16% - No. 13Manhattan Beach
Premium beach-city rents and tight lot coverage. Detached studios and JADUs pencil best on standard lots.
100–160 days$3,400/moROI 9–12% - No. 14Irvine
Master-planned parcels, HOA layers, and strong tech-corridor rents. We handle ADU work in Irvine selectively, on HOA-friendly lots.
90–140 days$2,900/moROI 10–13%
FAQ
ADU questions, answered for every California city
Which California cities can I actually build an ADU in?
Every California city must allow ADUs by state law (AB 68, SB 9, AB 1033). What changes city-to-city is the permit timeline, school-fee structure and impact-fee caps. We publish per-city pages with current 2026 fee schedules for every jurisdiction we work in.Do ADU rules differ between LA County and the Bay Area?
Yes. LA jurisdictions average 8–14 weeks for permit issuance and cap impact fees at $4,500 for ADUs under 750 sq ft. Bay Area jurisdictions (especially SF, Berkeley, Oakland) typically run 14–22 weeks and have stricter Title 24 energy paths plus seismic detailing.Are these per-city pages actually accurate or just SEO filler?
Each city page is refreshed quarterly against the actual permit authority — LADBS, SF DBI, Oakland Planning, Berkeley Building & Safety, etc. Fee schedules and processing times are dated; outdated pages are de-indexed rather than left up.Can I compare two cities side-by-side?
Yes — the Compare tool puts permit timeline, average cost-per-sq-ft, school fees and recent issued-permit volume next to each other for any two California cities we cover.What if my city isn't listed?
We still build there if it's within reasonable drive of either desk (LA: <60 miles, Bay: <50 miles). Email your address — if we don't have a published city page yet we'll generate the fee research as part of the feasibility brief.How current is the cost data on these city pages?
Cost ranges are recalibrated every quarter against signed contracts and bid sheets from the trailing 90 days. The starting figures shown ($250K for garage conversions) reflect Q1 2026 contracts.Do you serve unincorporated county areas?
Yes — unincorporated LA County is permitted through LA County Department of Regional Planning + DPW. Unincorporated Alameda/Santa Clara/Contra Costa run through their respective county building departments. These tend to be FASTER than incorporated cities for ADUs because state ministerial review applies directly.Which cities are easiest for a quick permit?
Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose and Berkeley have all built dedicated ADU permit tracks under SB 9/AB 2221 and routinely issue within 60 days. Hardest: West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, San Marino, Hillsborough — historic overlays add 4–8 weeks.