Detached ADU
A detached ADU is a free-standing home in your back yard with its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and address. It is the highest-value ADU you can bui
Garage conversionGarage Conversion
A garage conversion ADU is the cheapest legal path to a rental unit in Los Angeles, because the slab, the walls and the roof already exist. State law
AttachedAttached ADU
An attached ADU shares one or more walls with your existing house but has its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom. It suits deep, narrow Los Angeles lo
JADUJunior ADU (JADU)
A junior ADU, or JADU, is a unit of up to 500 sq ft carved out of the existing walls of your house. It needs an efficiency kitchen and its own entranc
Ground-upGround-Up Construction
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 r
Floor plansADU Floor Plans
ADU floor plans have to solve two problems at once: fit the setbacks on your actual lot, and lay out well enough that someone will pay rent to live in
PrefabPrefab / Modular ADU
A prefab ADU in Los Angeles is built in a factory and set on a foundation you pour on site. The unit itself is faster and the price is fixed, but roug
Design & permitsDesign & Permits
An ADU permit in Los Angeles is where most projects lose three to six months. LADBS has to approve the drawings, Building and Safety has to clear stru
FinancingFinancing & Returns
ADU financing in Los Angeles is the first real hurdle, because an ADU is a $100,000 to $300,000 decision and almost nobody pays cash. The financing qu
CasitaCasita / Granny Flat
Casita, granny flat, backyard cottage, guest house, in-law suite: in Los Angeles these all describe the same permitted thing, an accessory dwelling un
Two-storyTwo-Story ADU
A 2 story ADU in Los Angeles exists for one reason: the footprint does not fit but the floor area is still wanted. On a narrow Los Angeles lot, a 600
Above garageADU Above Garage
An ADU above the garage is the only configuration that adds a dwelling without losing a single parking space or a square foot of yard. The catch nobod
LegalizationUnpermitted ADU Legalization
An unpermitted ADU is not a rare problem here. Los Angeles has tens of thousands of unpermitted garage conversions and backyard units, and the law has
MultifamilyMultifamily ADU
A multifamily ADU is the most underused right in Los Angeles, and it belongs to duplex and apartment owners. A duplex, triplex or apartment building c
Not sure which one fits?
That is what the free lot check is for. Send the address and we will tell you which of these your parcel actually supports, at what size, and roughly what it costs.
Free 48-hour lot check
One address is all we need.
Common questions
How much does an ADU cost in Los Angeles?
A garage conversion runs roughly priced from the site assessment, and a detached new build $400 to $600 per square foot. A typical 750 sq ft detached ADU in Los Angeles lands between $300,000 and $450,000 all-in, including design, permits and utility connections.
How long does the whole process take?
Nine to twelve months from first call to certificate of occupancy for a detached unit. Roughly three to five months of that is design and LADBS plan check, and five to seven months is construction. Garage conversions run about three months shorter.
Can I build an ADU on any lot in Los Angeles?
Almost. State law requires Los Angeles to allow at least one ADU on any single-family or multifamily lot. The practical limits are physical: setbacks, existing structures, slope, protected trees, fire access and whether the utility service can carry the load.
Do I need to add parking?
In most of Los Angeles, no. State law removes the parking requirement for any parcel within half a mile of a transit stop, which covers the large majority of the city. Garage conversions never require replacement parking anywhere.
How big can my ADU be?
Up to 1,200 sq ft detached. Attached ADUs are limited to 50 percent of the main house's floor area, with a minimum of 800 sq ft always allowed. A junior ADU is capped at 500 sq ft inside the existing walls.