A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateTrusted ADU Builders for Los Angeles Homeowners
Finding an ADU builder in Los Angeles who puts the price in writing before swinging a hammer shouldn’t be this hard. But you’ve probably already learned how rare it is. Fielding ADU Los Angeles builds accessory dwelling units, garage conversions, and room additions under The Garrison Standard: a written price handed to you before any work starts, permits pulled by the book, and a written one-year guarantee that most contractors won’t put on paper. Reed Calloway leads our Los Angeles team, and every project gets the same treatment. If the work fails within 365 days, we come back and fix it at no charge. Call (213) 732-1415 for a free estimate.
ADU Construction
ADU Construction is the full build-out of an accessory dwelling unit on your property, from foundation and framing through electrical, plumbing, drywall, and finish work. You need it when you’ve decided to add a rentable unit, a home for aging parents, or a workspace in the backyard and you want a single contractor accountable for the whole job. Fielding ADU Los Angeles handles conventional construction and prefab platform installation, with your price locked in writing before day one. A detached ADU in Los Angeles typically runs $180,000 to $350,000 depending on size, site conditions, and finishes; garage conversions usually land between $90,000 and $160,000 before permit fees.
Conventional Build vs. Prefab Installation
Conventional ADU construction gives you full control over layout and materials. We build stick-frame units with James Hardie siding and standard interior finishes.
Prefab platforms like Abodu and Cover arrive as factory-built modules we anchor, connect, and finish on site. Prefab often trims the construction timeline by weeks and works well on tight Los Angeles lots with tricky access.
Permitting and Setbacks
Los Angeles has specific ADU size limits, height limits, and setback requirements that change by zone. We handle the plans, the permits, and the inspections so you don’t have to decode the municipal code. If your lot needs a setback variance, we file that paperwork too.
Detached ADU
A Detached ADU is a standalone unit built in your backyard, separate from the main house, with its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom. You need one when you want rental income, privacy for extended family, or a workspace that doesn’t share walls with the main home. Fielding ADU Los Angeles designs and builds detached units from the ground up, handling everything from foundation to final paint. Detached ADUs in Los Angeles typically cost $180,000 to $350,000, with higher-end units near $400,000 when you add premium fixtures or complex site work on hillside lots in Silver Lake or Ladera Heights.
Site Work and Foundation
Every detached ADU starts with grading, drainage, and a foundation engineered for your soil. Los Angeles lots vary widely; some of the hillside parcels we build on require retaining walls and deeper footings, which adds to cost before framing even starts.
We include all excavation and foundation work in the written price. No surprises when the crew shows up and discovers the soil is different than expected.
Utility Connections
A detached ADU needs its own water, sewer, and electrical service. We run new lines from the street or tap into the main house where code allows, and every connection is inspected and permitted. That’s part of why the price goes into writing before work starts; utility routing changes the number, and we’d rather tell you upfront than discover it mid-job.
JADU
A JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) is a smaller unit of up to 500 square feet created inside the existing footprint of your home, often by converting a bedroom, garage, or basement and adding a kitchenette and separate entrance. You need a JADU when you want rental income or a private space for family without the cost and lot requirements of a detached structure. Fielding ADU Los Angeles converts underused space into legal, permitted JADUs with their own address, meter, and entry. JADUs in Los Angeles typically run $60,000 to $120,000, making them the lowest-cost path to a legal second unit in the city.
Converting a Garage into a JADU
An attached garage can become a JADU without the setback and site work a detached ADU requires. We insulate, run electrical and plumbing, add a kitchenette and bathroom, and install a separate entrance.
The trade-off is size; a JADU maxes out at 500 square feet. For most homeowners, that’s a studio or small one-bedroom, which rents well in neighborhoods like Palms and Westwood.
Owner-Occupancy Rules
Los Angeles requires the property owner to live in either the main house or the JADU. That rule doesn’t apply to detached ADUs, so if you plan to rent both units, a detached ADU is the better path. We’ll walk you through the rule during the free estimate, because it changes which structure makes sense for your block.
ADU Plans
ADU Plans are the architectural drawings and engineering documents the city of Los Angeles requires before you can pull a building permit for your unit. You need formal plans whenever you build a new ADU, a JADU, or convert a garage; the city won’t issue a permit without them. Fielding ADU Los Angeles produces plans in-house, submits them to the Department of Building and Safety, and manages revisions until the permit is in hand. Plan sets and permit fees for an ADU in Los Angeles typically run $8,000 to $20,000 depending on complexity and whether you need structural engineering for hillside lots in areas like Silver Lake.
Plan-Ready Without an Architect
You don’t need to hire your own architect before calling us. We design the unit, draft the plans, and coordinate with the structural engineer; one team handles it from start to finish so the drawings and the build don’t fight each other.
For prefab units from Abodu, Cover, or Dvele, the manufacturer supplies the core plans and we adapt them to your lot and the city’s requirements. That can cut design time by several weeks.
What the City Reviews
Los Angeles checks your plans for setback compliance, height limits, lot coverage, fire safety, and utility routing. A set of plans that misses one of these goes back for revision, which burns weeks. We’ve been through this process enough times to submit clean sets the first pass, and that speed is part of why homeowners in Gardena and Huntington Park call us after getting stalled elsewhere.
ADU Contractor
An ADU Contractor is the licensed general contractor who manages the entire build: plans, permits, subcontractors, inspections, and the final walkthrough. You need one when you want a single accountable party rather than juggling an architect, a plumber, an electrician, and a framer yourself. Fielding ADU Los Angeles operates as the single responsible contractor on every project, with background-checked, uniformed crew members on site and a written price before work begins. General contractor fees inside a Los Angeles ADU project typically land between 10% and 15% of total build cost, but we roll that into one written number rather than charging it as a separate line item.
Why the Written Price Matters
Most contractor disputes in Los Angeles start with a price that moved after demolition. Fielding ADU Los Angeles puts the full project price in writing before any work starts, and the number you approve on day one is the number on the final invoice. Change orders only happen if you ask for something new.
That policy is The Garrison Code: show up in the window, price in writing, build by the book, leave it clean, stand behind it for a year.
Who Shows Up on Site
Every crew member on your Los Angeles ADU project is background-checked before they set foot on your property and arrives in uniform. You’ll know who belongs there. The same team that starts your build sees it through to the final inspection; no rotating cast of subcontractors you never meet.
ADU Design
ADU Design is the process of shaping the unit’s footprint, layout, and finishes to fit your lot, your budget, and the way you plan to use the space. You need design work before plans can be drawn and permits pulled, and getting it right prevents wasted square footage down the line. Fielding ADU Los Angeles designs ADUs around the constraints that actually matter in Los Angeles: narrow side yards, hillside setbacks, garage conversions, and the city’s size caps. Design fees for a Los Angeles ADU typically run $3,000 to $8,000 when done separately, but we include design in our written project price so you don’t get billed twice.
Designing for the Rental Market
If you’re building an ADU to rent, the design should target what tenants in your neighborhood actually pay for. In Palms and Westwood, a 550-square-foot one-bedroom with a separate entrance and its own laundry rents better than a studio without one. We design for rentability, not just for the permit counter.
In Downtown Los Angeles and Culver City, where lots run small, we lean toward vertical layouts and efficient kitchens that leave room for a real living area.
Prefab Design Options
Platforms like Abodu, Cover, and Dvele offer pre-designed floor plans that speed up the design phase. We adapt those plans to your lot, the city’s setback rules, and your budget, then handle the whole install. That’s a strong route when you want design resolved in weeks, not months.
Backyard ADU
A Backyard ADU is a detached accessory dwelling unit built in the rear yard of your Los Angeles home, typically where a lawn, old garage, or open space now sits. You need one when you want rental income or family housing without converting space inside the main house. Fielding ADU Los Angeles builds backyard ADUs from foundation to final coat, and we’ll tell you honestly if your yard can hold one before you spend a dime on plans. Backyard ADUs in Los Angeles typically run $180,000 to $350,000, with the final number depending on size, soil conditions, and whether we’re replacing an existing structure or building new.
Replacing an Old Garage
Many Los Angeles backyards hold a garage that’s too small, too old, or too far gone to convert. Tearing it down and building a new backyard ADU in its footprint can be cheaper than a full conversion when the existing slab and framing won’t meet current code. We’ll price both paths and tell you which makes sense for your lot.
In neighborhoods like Willowbrook and Commerce, where garage slabs date back decades, replacement often wins on cost per square foot.
Lot Coverage and Setbacks
Los Angeles limits how much of your lot can be covered by structures, and a backyard ADU counts toward that total. We measure your lot, check the zoning, and design a unit that fits the city’s rules without eating the whole yard. If your lot is tight, a JADU inside the house may be the smarter play; we’ll lay out both options in the free estimate.
Brands We Service
We install and finish ADUs from Abodu, Cover, and Dvele, three of the prefab platforms Los Angeles homeowners ask about most. With Abodu, we handle site prep, foundation, and final finishing on their pre-designed units, which typically arrive in a few weeks rather than the months a conventional build takes. For Cover, we manage the panelized wall and floor system, then complete the interior and exterior work; the precision-cut panels reduce on-site waste and speed up framing. With Dvele, we coordinate the high-performance modular shells, which ship with electrical and plumbing largely pre-installed, and we finish the exterior siding, deck connections, and interior details.
We also build conventional ADUs using James Hardie siding, which holds up to Los Angeles sun and termite pressure better than wood lap siding. Whether you have an Abodu, a Cover, a Dvele on order, or a conventional build in mind, our team is ready to handle the site work and the finish.
Signs You Need a Pro Right Now
- Your garage slab is cracked and sinking. A converting garage with a failing slab will fail inspection, and pouring a new one after framing starts will add weeks and thousands in change orders. A pro can assess the slab before you commit.
- Your backyard slopes toward the house. Unless the drainage is fixed, a new ADU will push water into your foundation. Proper grading and drainage should be in the plan before the first trench is dug.
- Your existing garage has old knob-and-tube wiring. The city won’t let you convert a garage into a living space without bringing the electrical up to code. Rewiring is a defined cost; surprise rewiring is a budget killer.
- You’ve already been told your lot can’t hold an ADU. Every so often, a homeowner is told no by a contractor who didn’t want the job. The city’s ADU rules changed substantially in recent years, and many lots now qualify. A second look is free.
- Your prefab unit is delivered but not connected. A prefab shell sitting in the yard is not an ADU. It needs utility connections, interior finishes, and final inspections, and leaving it half-done invites weather damage and code violations.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Free on-site walkthrough. We visit your Los Angeles property, measure the lot, check the zoning, and talk through what you want to build. You get a realistic assessment of what fits the site and what the city will allow.
- 2
Written price and scope. Before any work starts, you get a written price with the full scope of the project. This is the number you approve, and it’s the number on the final invoice. No allowances that drift upward.
- 3
Plans and permits. We draw the plans, submit them to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, and manage revisions until the permit is issued. You don’t chase the city; we do.
- 4
Construction and inspections. Our background-checked, uniformed crew builds the unit, pulling each inspection as required. You get updates at each stage so you always know where the project stands.
- 5
Final walkthrough and written guarantee. We walk the finished unit with you, confirm everything matches the written scope, and hand you the written one-year guarantee. If something fails inside 365 days, we come back and fix it at no charge.
How Much Does ADU Builders Cost in Los Angeles?
A garage conversion to a JADU in Los Angeles typically runs $60,000 to $120,000 before permit fees. A full garage conversion to a complete ADU lands between $90,000 and $160,000. A detached backyard ADU runs $180,000 to $350,000 depending on size, finishes, and site work; hillside lots in Silver Lake or Ladera Heights with retaining walls and deeper footings trend toward the top of that range. Prefab units from Abodu, Cover, or Dvele can compress the construction timeline, but the all-in number depends on your site prep and foundation work, which is included in the written price we give you.
Three things move the price more than anything: soil conditions under the foundation, how far your utility lines need to be routed, and the finish level you choose. A basic unit with builder-grade finishes costs far less than one with custom cabinets and high-end tile. The way to avoid overpaying is to get a written price that includes site work, permits, utilities, and finishes from the start, so nothing appears later as an “unforeseen condition.” Our free estimate includes a line-item written price covering all of that. Call (213) 732-1415 and we’ll walk your lot and hand you the number before you commit to anything.
Our Service Area Near Los Angeles
Fielding ADU Los Angeles builds across the city, from West Hollywood to Beverly Hills, and into Gardena, Downtown Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Willowbrook, Silver Lake, Westwood, Commerce, Ladera Heights, and Palms. We’re local to Los Angeles, which means we know the zoning quirks, the permit office’s expectations, and the soil conditions in each neighborhood before we ever set foot on your lot. If you’re inside the city limits, we’ll come out for a free estimate. This is our home market; see our ADU Builders in Los Angeles page for more on how we work in your area.
Serving Los Angeles, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Los Angeles area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADU Builders in Los Angeles
An ADU builder is a licensed contractor who handles the full construction of an accessory dwelling unit, from plans and permits through framing, utilities, and final finishes. In Los Angeles, that means managing the city’s Department of Building and Safety requirements, zoning rules, and inspections. Fielding ADU Los Angeles acts as your single accountable builder, with a written price and a written one-year guarantee. Call (213) 732-1415 to talk through what fits your lot.
A garage conversion typically takes three to five months from permit submission to final inspection. A detached ADU usually runs six to ten months, and prefab units from Abodu or Cover can shorten the on-site construction phase by several weeks. The biggest variable isn’t the build itself; it’s the city’s plan review and permit timeline. We submit clean plan sets to reduce back-and-forth, and we’ll give you a realistic schedule during the free estimate. Call (213) 732-1415 for a timeline specific to your project.
A JADU conversion typically runs $60,000 to $120,000, a garage conversion to a full ADU runs $90,000 to $160,000, and a detached backyard ADU runs $180,000 to $350,000. These numbers include the build itself, and we put every line item in writing before work starts. Site conditions, utility routing, and finish level are the three big cost drivers. Call (213) 732-1415 for a free, no-obligation estimate with a written price.
Yes. We install and finish units from Abodu, Cover, and Dvele, handling site prep, foundation, utility connections, and interior finishes. If you already have a prefab unit ordered, we can complete the installation and permit work. If you haven’t chosen a platform yet, we’ll compare prefab against conventional construction for your specific lot. Call (213) 732-1415 and we’ll walk through your options.
A live person answers our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; no voicemail and no callback queue. If you have a construction defect, a plumbing leak in a unit we built, or an inspection question that can’t wait until morning, call (213) 732-1415 and you’ll reach a person. If the issue falls under our one-year written guarantee, we’ll schedule the correction at no charge.
Every ADU we build in Los Angeles is covered by The Garrison Standard: a written one-year guarantee covering workmanship defects. If something fails inside 365 days, we return and correct it at no charge. The guarantee is spelled out on paper, including what it covers, how long it runs, and exactly how we make it right. That’s a year in writing, not a handshake. Call (213) 732-1415 to get your project built under the same standard.
Know roughly how you want to use the unit: rental income, family housing, or a workspace. That changes the design, the plumbing needs, and the right size. Have your property’s parcel number or address handy so we can pull zoning information before the visit. And if you’ve already had a contractor tell you the lot won’t work, tell us; we’ll verify it against the current Los Angeles ADU rules during the free estimate. Call (213) 732-1415 to schedule your walkthrough.
Schedule Your ADU Builders Service in Los Angeles Today
You want a written price, a permitted build, and a contractor who shows up. That’s exactly how Fielding ADU Los Angeles works. Call (213) 732-1415 now to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate with Reed Calloway and the team. We’ll walk your lot, talk through your options, and hand you a written price before you decide anything. One year in writing, one number from start to finish.
Written by Reed Calloway, Owner at Fielding ADU Los Angeles, serving Los Angeles since 2006.
