The short answer
This is the construction side of an ADU project: what happens after the permit is issued and the ground gets broken. ADU construction in Los Angeles runs through eight inspected stages, from the footing pour to the certificate of occupancy.
Typical cost in Los Angeles
$400 to $600 per sq ft
Traditional style at the low end, Modern at the high end
This is the construction side of an ADU project: what happens after the permit is issued and the ground gets broken. ADU construction in Los Angeles runs through eight inspected stages, from the footing pour to the certificate of occupancy. We self-perform framing, and we hold the licensed subcontractors for electrical, plumbing and HVAC on our own payroll schedule so a trade never stalls the sequence.
The eight inspected stages
- Footing and foundation, with a rebar inspection before the pour
- Underground plumbing and sewer lateral, inspected in open trench
- Framing, shear panels and roof sheathing, with a structural observation
- Rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical, all three signed before close-up
- Insulation and Title 24 verification by a third-party HERS rater
- Drywall nail inspection before tape and texture
- Finishes, fixtures, and the final utility connection
- Final building inspection and certificate of occupancy
How we keep the schedule
- Materials ordered at permit issue, not at the stage they are needed
- One superintendent per project, on site daily, reachable by text
- Subcontractors booked in a fixed sequence with penalty dates in their agreements
- Inspection requests filed the afternoon the stage completes
- Weekly photo log and a written schedule update every Friday
What a fixed-price contract covers
- Every line item priced from the permitted drawing set, not from an allowance sheet
- Change orders only for owner-requested scope or genuine unforeseen site conditions
- Soil, utility and structural contingencies disclosed as a named line before signing
- Payment schedule tied to completed inspections, never to calendar dates
- Ten-year written structural warranty and one year on finishes
Get a straight answer on your lot in 48 hours.
Send the property address. We pull the parcel data, zoning, setbacks and any overlay, then tell you whether a ground-up construction works on it, what size fits and roughly what it costs. No site visit needed and no obligation.
Free 48-hour lot check
One field that matters: the address.
What owners ask about the build phase
How long does ADU construction take in Los Angeles?
Five to seven months from permit issue to certificate of occupancy for a detached unit, and three to four months for a garage conversion. Inspection scheduling is the variable that moves it most.
Do I need to move out during construction?
No. A detached ADU is built in the back yard with minimal disruption to the main house. Attached ADUs and JADUs involve short periods of noise and utility shutoff, which we schedule in advance.
Who handles the inspections?
We do. The superintendent files every LADBS inspection request, meets the inspector on site and clears corrections. You do not need to be present for any of them.
What happens if the soil report comes back bad?
Expansive or poorly compacted soil means a deeper footing or a mat slab, which is a real cost. That is why we run the soils review before you sign, not after, and price the foundation from the actual report.
Is the price fixed or an estimate?
Fixed, priced off the permitted set. The only movement is owner-requested scope changes and genuinely unforeseen site conditions, both of which are defined in writing in the contract.
Comparing options? A garage conversion is the cheapest path to a legal unit, a detached ADU earns the most, and the JADU stack can put both on one lot. Cost figures for every type are in the LA cost breakdown.
Areas we build in
Sherman Oaks / Van Nuys / Pasadena / Glendale / Burbank / Santa Monica / Long Beach / Torrance / North Hollywood / Studio City / Woodland Hills / Encino / Northridge / Culver City / Inglewood / Silver Lake and across Los Angeles County.
Where we build
Sources and official references
Every rule, limit and code reference on this page comes from the sources below. Verify anything before you sign a contract.