Process · 8 min read · February 18, 2026 · 377 words
How to vet any LA ADU contractor in 8 minutes
A repeatable protocol for verifying license, bond, insurance, and complaint history before you sign anything — using only free public databases.
Key takeaways
- Search [BBB Los Angeles](https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-los-angeles-silicon-valley) for the business name and the owner's name separately.
- Search the [LA Superior Court Civil Index](https://www.lacourt.org/casesummary/ui/) for civil complaints.
- Check [LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs](https://dcba.lacounty.gov/) for unresolved disputes.
Answered in this guide
Jump straight to the question you came in with — every answer is on this page, with links onward to the deeper guide.
- How long does an ADU project take in Los Angeles?
- Can I move faster with a pre-approved standard plan?
- What slows projects down most often?
- What is the typical week-by-week breakdown?
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Do you use one crew or subcontractors?
More across the studio · the full FAQ map · the reference desk
California requires anyone bidding on work over $500 to hold an active contractor's license issued by the Contractors State License Board. For ADU construction the relevant classifications are B (General Building) and, less commonly, C-47 (General Manufactured Housing). Before you sign, run the eight-minute check below — then validate the bid against the cost anatomy and the permit timeline.
Step 1: Look up the license
Use the official CSLB License Check tool. Confirm the license is active, the classification covers ADU work, and the business address on the license matches the address on the contract. Mismatches are the single most common red flag.
Step 2: Verify the contractor's bond
California requires a $25,000 surety bond. The CSLB record shows the bonding company and effective date. Bonds get cancelled — verify the date is current. The CSLB Disciplinary Actions page lists recent suspensions.
Step 3: Workers' comp and general liability
Workers' comp is required if the contractor has any employees. Even sole proprietors must show proof or a valid exemption. General liability isn't legally required but every reputable LA ADU builder carries at least $1M per occurrence. Ask for ACORD certificates listing you as additional insured for the project address.
Step 4: Complaint and lawsuit history
- Search BBB Los Angeles for the business name and the owner's name separately.
- Search the LA Superior Court Civil Index for civil complaints.
- Check LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs for unresolved disputes.
- Cross-reference the owner's name against any DBAs the company has used in the last 5 years.
Step 5: References from the last 90 days
Ask for three references on projects that received their final inspection in the last 90 days. Anything older risks being a project where issues haven't surfaced yet. Drive past at least one of them.
Sources
- CSLB License Check · Contractors State License Board
- BBB Los Angeles · Better Business Bureau
- LA County Consumer & Business Affairs · LA County
- LA Superior Court Civil Index · LA Superior Court
- CSLB Disciplinary Actions · CSLB
Next chapter · 01 of 03
Permitting · 7 min read
The LA ADU permit timeline, week by week
License checked. Here's the 14–22 week calendar your vetted contractor will actually run with LADBS.
From signed agreement to building permit in 14–22 weeks: what happens, who is doing it, and the three places projects stall.
FAQ · Process
Common questions on process
The questions readers send us most after this guide.
How long does an ADU project take in Los Angeles?
Most detached ADUs run 9–13 months from contract to certificate of occupancy. Garage conversions are typically 4–6 months. Permitting alone is usually 60–120 days at LADBS depending on whether we use a pre-approved standard plan or a custom design that needs full plan check.Can I move faster with a pre-approved standard plan?
Yes — meaningfully. LADBS Standard Plan ADUs skip the design review portion of plan check and often clear permitting in 30–60 days instead of 90–120. We carry a curated library of standard plans from 480 to 1,200 sq ft.What slows projects down most often?
Three things, in order: (1) utility upgrades — LADWP service upgrades can add 8–14 weeks; (2) sewer capacity studies in older neighborhoods; (3) owner-driven design changes after permit submittal. We flag all three at the feasibility call.What is the typical week-by-week breakdown?
Weeks 1–3: feasibility, survey, schematic design. Weeks 4–8: construction documents and Title 24. Weeks 9–20: plan check at LADBS or your local department. Weeks 21–24: site mobilization and foundation. Weeks 25–40: framing, MEP rough-in, drywall, finishes, and inspections. Final two weeks are punch list and closeout.Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — CSLB #1156772. License, bond, general liability and workers' comp certificates are shared during your consultation; full coverage details are confirmed in writing before signing.Do you use one crew or subcontractors?
We carry our own foreman, framers, and finish carpenters in-house. Specialized trades — MEP, roofing, glazing, solar — are long-standing subcontract relationships, the same crews on every project. You will know every face on your site by week three.
Reference desk · Process
More answers from the California reference desk
City-specific questions pulled from our 5,000-answer FAQ corpus — every link opens a deeper desk page.
How long does a ADU take in Beverly Hills from start to finish?
End-to-end for a ADU in Beverly Hills: feasibility + design 6–10 weeks, City of Beverly Hills Community Development plan check 120–180 days, construction 16–22 weeks, inspections + closeout 2–3 weeks. Realistic total: 9–14 months with a competent team and clean submittals. Add 6–12 weeks for ladwp service upgrades common on pre-1970 panels — budget 8–12 wks..What is the actual construction schedule for a ADU in Beverly Hills?
Once permits issue in Beverly Hills, a ADU runs roughly: mobilization 1 wk, foundation 2–3 wks, framing + dry-in 3–4 wks, MEP rough 3 wks, drywall + finish 5–7 wks, inspections + punch 2 wks. The largest single source of slippage is inspector scheduling; the second is finish-material lead time (60–90 days on premium tile, 8–12 weeks on imported windows).Is there a fast-track path for a ADU in Beverly Hills?
City of Beverly Hills Community Development doesn't run a paid fast-track for residential work, but submittal quality compresses the timeline the same way: a fully bound set with stamped structural, Title 24, and verified site plan typically clears in 120 days rather than the upper end. Express service exists at LADBS for certain scopes — confirm eligibility before paying the fee.Does weather affect ADU schedules in Beverly Hills?
Most Beverly Hills sites lose 5–10 working days a year to weather — Pacific atmospheric-river storms January–March, and red-flag wind days that pause crane work and roof tear-offs. Plan to dry-in (roof on, windows in) before December if the schedule allows; once the building is weather-tight, the finish trades run year-round.How many inspections are required for a ADU in Beverly Hills?
Expect 8–14 inspections from City of Beverly Hills Community Development on a ADU: foundation, underground plumbing, framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, insulation, drywall, energy/HERS testing where required, final building, final electrical, final plumbing. Add utility company inspections for the panel upgrade and meter set. Building inspectors prefer 48–72 hours notice; scheduling lag is the most common late-stage delay.How long does a garage conversion take in Beverly Hills from start to finish?
End-to-end for a garage conversion in Beverly Hills: feasibility + design 6–10 weeks, City of Beverly Hills Community Development plan check 120–180 days, construction 16–22 weeks, inspections + closeout 2–3 weeks. Realistic total: 9–14 months with a competent team and clean submittals. Add 6–12 weeks for ladwp service upgrades common on pre-1970 panels — budget 8–12 wks..What is the actual construction schedule for a garage conversion in Beverly Hills?
Once permits issue in Beverly Hills, a garage conversion runs roughly: mobilization 1 wk, foundation 2–3 wks, framing + dry-in 3–4 wks, MEP rough 3 wks, drywall + finish 5–7 wks, inspections + punch 2 wks. The largest single source of slippage is inspector scheduling; the second is finish-material lead time (60–90 days on premium tile, 8–12 weeks on imported windows).Is there a fast-track path for a garage conversion in Beverly Hills?
City of Beverly Hills Community Development doesn't run a paid fast-track for residential work, but submittal quality compresses the timeline the same way: a fully bound set with stamped structural, Title 24, and verified site plan typically clears in 120 days rather than the upper end. Express service exists at LADBS for certain scopes — confirm eligibility before paying the fee.Does weather affect garage conversion schedules in Beverly Hills?
Most Beverly Hills sites lose 5–10 working days a year to weather — Pacific atmospheric-river storms January–March, and red-flag wind days that pause crane work and roof tear-offs. Plan to dry-in (roof on, windows in) before December if the schedule allows; once the building is weather-tight, the finish trades run year-round.How many inspections are required for a garage conversion in Beverly Hills?
Expect 8–14 inspections from City of Beverly Hills Community Development on a garage conversion: foundation, underground plumbing, framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, insulation, drywall, energy/HERS testing where required, final building, final electrical, final plumbing. Add utility company inspections for the panel upgrade and meter set. Building inspectors prefer 48–72 hours notice; scheduling lag is the most common late-stage delay.How long does a JADU take in Beverly Hills from start to finish?
End-to-end for a JADU in Beverly Hills: feasibility + design 6–10 weeks, City of Beverly Hills Community Development plan check 120–180 days, construction 16–22 weeks, inspections + closeout 2–3 weeks. Realistic total: 9–14 months with a competent team and clean submittals. Add 6–12 weeks for ladwp service upgrades common on pre-1970 panels — budget 8–12 wks..What is the actual construction schedule for a JADU in Beverly Hills?
Once permits issue in Beverly Hills, a JADU runs roughly: mobilization 1 wk, foundation 2–3 wks, framing + dry-in 3–4 wks, MEP rough 3 wks, drywall + finish 5–7 wks, inspections + punch 2 wks. The largest single source of slippage is inspector scheduling; the second is finish-material lead time (60–90 days on premium tile, 8–12 weeks on imported windows).
Sources & further reading
- California Government Code §65852.2 — statewide ADU framework (ministerial review, 60-day clock).
- LADBS — Accessory Dwelling Unit information bulletins and current permit fee schedule.
- HCD — California Department of Housing & Community Development, ADU handbook (2024 update).
- Internal data: aggregated from real California ADU and residential construction projects, 2018–2025.
Continue your read · the editorial path
We chained these chapters in the order LA homeowners actually need them. Each one picks up where the last one left a question open.
02 / 03
Cost · 9 min
The anatomy of an LA ADU build, line by line
Where every dollar of a $325,000 detached 800 sq ft ADU actually goes — soft costs, hard costs, contingencies, and the line items that surprise homeowners most.
Read chapter →03 / 03
Process · 8 min
LADWP, SoCalGas and your ADU: the utility connection map
Power, water, and gas hookups account for $8K–$35K of an ADU budget and 4–14 weeks of schedule. A walkthrough of the actual approval paths in 2026.
Read chapter →
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Process · 9 min
Hillside ADUs in LA: soils, grading, and the geo report
Half of LA's buildable parcels sit on slopes the rest of the country would consider unbuildable. A practical guide to soils reports, the LA Hillside Ordinance, and the engineering decisions that drive cost.
Process · 8 min
Bay Area ADU permit timeline, jurisdiction by jurisdiction
What a realistic permit calendar looks like across SF, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, and the Peninsula — with the parts your contractor controls and the parts they don't.
Process · 10 min
Prefab ADU vs site-built: the honest 2026 comparison
Prefab promises speed and a fixed price. Site-built promises flexibility. Here's what each actually delivers in California.