Built to a standardyou can verify.

Detached ADUs start at $149,000 in the San Fernando Valley, and garage conversions start at $85,000. Where you land above that comes down to four things: how far utilities have to be trenched, whether the site is accessible to equipment, whether a pre-approved standard plan fits your lot, and your finish level. We walk you through all four at the consultation so the number stops being a mystery.

Not in the City or County of Los Angeles. AB 1033 allows cities to opt in to separate ADU condo sales, but LA has not adopted it. A handful of California cities have. If separate sale is central to your plan, tell us at the consultation. It changes what we'd recommend building.

For an ADU using an LADBS pre-approved standard plan, often 6 to 10 weeks. For a custom design, plan on 3 to 6 months through plan check with corrections. Additions and whole-home work vary widely with structural scope and whether the property is in a hillside or fire hazard zone. We give you a jurisdiction-specific estimate at feasibility, not a generic one.

The lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the contract price. That is the legal maximum in California for home improvement work, and we don't exceed it. Everything after that is tied to completed milestones. If any contractor asks for 30% or 50% up front, that alone is a reason to walk. CSLB explains it here.

Yes. Rebuilds in wildfire zones trigger Chapter 7A requirements: ignition-resistant exteriors, ember-resistant vents, Class A roofing and tempered glazing. The City of LA's expanded self-certification pathway has cut approval times substantially for Palisades rebuilds. We'll tell you at feasibility whether a like-for-like rebuild or a redesign gets you into the house faster.

CSLB License #1092889, active, with a contractor's bond, general liability and workers' compensation coverage. You can confirm all of it, including any complaint history, directly with the State at cslb.ca.gov. We'd rather you checked.