Los Angeles JADU Builder. the smallest legal LA dwelling.
A JADU — Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit — is a separate dwelling carved out of an existing house, capped at 500 square feet, with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen. LADBS permits JADUs under a defined ministerial pathway when the owner occupies either the primary residence or the JADU.
Licensed California contractor · CSLB #1098432 · Los Angeles desk · LADBS
About JADU Builder in Los Angeles
We deliver LA JADUs as a fixed-scope contract: design, LADBS permitting, framing modifications, MEP, kitchenette, and finals. Most LA JADUs land between $90K and $160K all-in.
JADUs pair well with a detached ADU on the same lot — many LA homeowners we work with build both: a JADU inside the house for short-stay family use, and a detached ADU in the backyard for rental income.
What we resolve before drawings begin.
- 01
Owner-occupancy requirement
LA JADUs require the owner to occupy the primary residence OR the JADU. We confirm and document this during permit application.
- 02
Efficiency kitchen requirements
JADU kitchens must meet LADBS efficiency-kitchen criteria — limited counter and appliance footprint. We design within these rules from day one.
- 03
Separate entrance and shared bath option
JADUs need their own exterior entrance. A shared bathroom with the primary residence is permitted, which often saves cost on a complex floor plan.
Other Los Angeles services.
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Los Angeles · JADU Builder FAQ
Questions Los Angeles homeowners ask first.
Start a Los Angeles JADU brief. We'll review LADBS owner-occupancy, kitchenette layout, and how a JADU pairs with a backyard ADU on your specific lot.
What's the difference between a JADU and an ADU in LA?
A JADU is carved from the existing house (max 500 sqft, efficiency kitchen, can share a bathroom). A standard ADU is a fully independent dwelling, can be detached or attached, and is not size-capped the same way.Can I have both a JADU and an ADU on my LA lot?
Yes — LA City and California state law allow one JADU plus one ADU on the same single-family lot, often increasing the property's rental income meaningfully.How long does an LA JADU take?
Typically 7–10 months from brief to finals — faster than an ADU because most work happens inside the existing envelope.What does an LA JADU cost?
Most LA JADUs land between $90K and $160K all-in, depending on kitchen finish, electrical work, and whether a new bathroom is added.
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.
- No obligation
- Reply within 24 hours
- BBB A+ Accredited