What does Bay Area new construction cost?

Typical custom single-family $700–$1,200 per sq ft all-in. Peninsula, hillside, and high-finish exceed this.

How long does it take?

Brief-to-keys typically 26–42 months: 8–12 months design + permit, then 18–30 months construction.

Do you do small developments?

Yes — 2–6 unit small residential under SB-9 lot splits, duplex / triplex infill, small townhouses.

Can I tear down and rebuild on my Bay Area lot?

Usually yes. We confirm zoning, FAR, height limits, and any historic or design-review overlays during feasibility before signing the design-build contract.

Do Bay cities require all-electric or reach-code construction?

Many do — Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto, and others have reach codes above Title 24 (all-electric, EV-ready, solar). We design to the local reach code from day one, not retrofit at permit.

Desk 01 · HQ · Bay Area · New construction

Bay Area New Home Construction. ground-up, engineered.

We build new single-family homes from the ground up across the Bay Area — custom architecture on Peninsula hillside lots, infill new construction on flat East Bay parcels, and small residential developments (2–6 units) under SB-9 and local zoning.

Licensed California contractor · CSLB #1156772 · Bay Area desk · city-by-city review

Begin a Bay Area new home construction brief →← Back to Bay Area desk

Every project is design-build: architecture, structural, MEP, civil, city permits, construction, landscape, closeout — single contract. Typical project size $1.4M–$5M+.

Bay Area permit notes · New Construction

What we resolve before drawings begin.

01
City plan check + civil + design review
Full city plan check, civil drawings, grading permit, and (often) design review board engagement. We coordinate the set.
02
Title 24 + CALGreen + reach codes
Many Bay cities have local reach codes above Title 24 (all-electric, EV-ready, solar). We design to them from day one.
03
Geotech + drainage
Every new build = soils + drainage. Hillside builds = caissons + slope stability.

ADU intel · the build stack we ship · Bay Area spec

A 2025 LA detached ADU is 12–16 weeks of construction over 6–9 months of permit and design. The fastest path is the pre-approved-plan path — when the design fits.

The manufacturers we actually specify.

4 brands · ordered by frequency on jobs

ZIP System (Huber)
premium
USA
Structural sheathing with integrated weather barrier
Eliminates a separate WRB step + tape system catches install errors visually. Our preferred default on ADU walls and roof decks.
Mitsubishi / Daikin / LG
premium
Japan · Japan · Korea
Mini-split heat pumps for ADU HVAC
Right-sized inverter heat pumps hit Title 24 and CalGreen with zero ductwork — the cleanest, cheapest HVAC for an ADU < 1,000 sf.
Rinnai / Navien
workhorse
Japan · Korea
Tankless water heaters
Wall-mount tankless saves 9 sq ft of floor and qualifies for SoCalGas rebates when CSA-approved gas units are still permitted; we switch to heat-pump electric where local code requires.
Square D / Eaton
workhorse
USA
Sub-panel + load center for ADU service
Standard 100A or 125A sub-panel from main; tap conductor sizing per CEC 705.12(B).

Material tiers · what you're actually choosing between.

CA installed pricing · 2025

Material	Lifespan	Installed in CA	Best for	Trade-offs
2x6 stick-frame on continuous footing	75+ years	$340–$520 / sq ft turnkey	Most LA infill ADUs.	12–16 weeks construction once permits issue.
Panelized / off-site framing kit	75+ years	$320–$480 / sq ft	Tight side-yard sites or fire-rebuilds.	Crane access required; not feasible on every lot.
Modular box (Abodu / Cover / Boxabl)	50+ years	$300–$500 / sq ft delivered + sitework	Owners who want speed and accept the design constraint.	Crane + crane-truck access required; foundation still has to be poured first.

Specification gotchas we resolve before contract.

01
Pre-approved plans (LA + city catalogs).
LA City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach all maintain pre-approved plan catalogs. Plan check drops to 30 days or less when the plan is in the catalog.
02
Utility separation (SB 9 / AB 2221 nuance).
Separate utility meters are no longer required to permit, but they're often required for refinance or sale. We pull the right meter strategy for the owner's exit plan.
03
Fire setbacks + sprinklers.
ADUs under 1,200 sf often don't trigger sprinklers; over 1,200 or with specific roof tie-ins, NFPA 13D applies.

Sources · CA HCD ADU handbook (2025) · LADBS ADU information bulletin

Other Bay Area services.

All Bay Area services →

Bay Area city directory · 172 cities served

New Home Construction, written for your city.

Each link opens a dedicated page calibrated to the city's permit authority, lot conditions, and price band — not a generic regional landing.

Bay Area · New Construction FAQ

Questions Bay Area homeowners ask first.

Start a Bay Area new construction brief. We'll review the lot, engage architecture + soils, and write a design-build contract.

What does Bay Area new construction cost?
Typical custom single-family $700–$1,200 per sq ft all-in. Peninsula, hillside, and high-finish exceed this.
Bay Area cost anatomy →LA vs. Bay Area costs →
How long does it take?
Brief-to-keys typically 26–42 months: 8–12 months design + permit, then 18–30 months construction.
Bay Area permit timeline →
Do you do small developments?
Yes — 2–6 unit small residential under SB-9 lot splits, duplex / triplex infill, small townhouses.
Can I tear down and rebuild on my Bay Area lot?
Usually yes. We confirm zoning, FAR, height limits, and any historic or design-review overlays during feasibility before signing the design-build contract.
Do Bay cities require all-electric or reach-code construction?
Many do — Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto, and others have reach codes above Title 24 (all-electric, EV-ready, solar). We design to the local reach code from day one, not retrofit at permit.
Title 24 compliance →

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

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About New Home Construction in Bay Area

What we resolve before drawings begin.

City plan check + civil + design review

Title 24 + CALGreen + reach codes

Geotech + drainage

A 2025 LA detached ADU is 12–16 weeks of construction over 6–9 months of permit and design. The fastest path is the pre-approved-plan path — when the design fits.

ZIP System (Huber)

Mitsubishi / Daikin / LG

Rinnai / Navien

Square D / Eaton

Pre-approved plans (LA + city catalogs).

Utility separation (SB 9 / AB 2221 nuance).

Fire setbacks + sprinklers.

Other Bay Area services.

New Home Construction, written for your city.

Questions Bay Area homeowners ask first.

Begin your projectin twenty minutes.

New Construction in Bay Area. Tell us the parcel.