A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateADU Company in Los Angeles, CA
An ADU in Los Angeles typically costs between $180,000 and $420,000 for a detached backyard unit, $160,000 to $310,000 for a garage conversion, and $200,000 to $500,000 for a home addition. What makes Los Angeles jobs different is the housing stock itself: most homes were built before 1979, many are one-story stucco bungalows on long narrow lots, and a surprising number have original 1920s concrete slabs that fail today’s codes. Call (213) 698-7116 for a free estimate on any of these builds.
Why Los Angeles Homes Are Different
Los Angeles is a city of pre-1979 single-family homes, and that age shows up in every ADU project we take on. In neighborhoods like West Adams and Highland Park, the detached garages homeowners want to convert are frequently sitting on original 1920s concrete pads that are far too thin for current building standards. Nearly every one of those conversions requires a full slab replacement before framing can start, and that means the job takes longer and costs more than a homeowner expects if nobody told them upfront.
The climate works in homeowners’ favor. Los Angeles gets almost no hard freezes, and rainfall is light enough that a slab-on-grade foundation with standard insulation is usually sufficient for a backyard ADU. But those rare heavy rain events we do get are intense, so drainage and waterproofing details matter more than people think. A rushed pour or a skipped French drain shows up the first winter it really rains. The housing mix also includes plenty of mid-century ranch and Spanish-style homes, each with rooflines and setbacks that shape how an addition or detached unit should be designed. We match the build to the lot and the house, not a template.
Our Main Los Angeles Services
Most Los Angeles homeowners call us about one of three projects: adding square footage to the main house, converting an existing garage, or building a fully separate ADU in the backyard. Each has its own Los Angeles page with pricing and local detail.
Home Addition Contractor in Los Angeles
A Home Addition Contractor in Los Angeles typically expands the main house with a new bedroom, bathroom, family room, or second-story addition. On Los Angeles lots, the limiting factors are almost always setback requirements and the condition of the existing foundation. Some homes built before 1979 have footings that were fine for their original footprint but need reinforcement before they can carry new square footage. We write the foundation scope into the price before work starts, so there’s no surprise change order when the concrete gets exposed. Additions usually run $200,000 to $500,000 depending on size, access to the build site, and whether you’re going up or out.
Garage Conversion Contractor in Los Angeles
A Garage Conversion Contractor in Los Angeles turns an existing attached or detached garage into livable space, which is often the fastest path to a rental unit or in-law suite. The catch in Los Angeles is the slab. As we mentioned, original 1920s and 1930s garage pads are routinely too thin for today’s codes and end up needing full replacement, which adds real cost and a week or more to the schedule. We always inspect the slab and write the replacement into the quote when we see the telltale signs: hairline cracks across the whole pour, no visible rebar when a corner is chipped, or slab thickness under four inches. Garage conversions in Los Angeles generally run $160,000 to $310,000, with the slab scope spelled out in writing before anyone swings a hammer.
ADU Builders in Los Angeles
ADU Builders in Los Angeles handle detached backyard units, which are permitted faster and cheaper now than they were a decade ago. Los Angeles sits at the center of California’s ADU boom precisely because the state laws AB 68, AB 881, SB 9, and SB 13 stripped away parking requirements, setback rules, and owner-occupancy mandates that used to make second units nearly impossible. That means a detached ADU on a Los Angeles lot can often go where nothing could legally be built before, including over an existing driveway or in a rear yard that was previously off-limits. Detached units run $180,000 to $420,000 depending on size, site access, and whether you choose a prefab manufacturer or a stick-built unit.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service in Los Angeles
We work hands-on with several established ADU manufacturers, including our brands Abodu, Cover, and Mighty Buildings. Each brings a different timeline and price point to a Los Angeles lot, and we help match the right system to your site conditions, budget, and schedule. Parts and finish materials for these systems are generally available quickly in the Los Angeles market, which keeps lead times shorter than in other parts of the state.
Pricing for ADU Company in Los Angeles, CA
| Service | Typical range in Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Detached ADU (backyard unit, stick-built) | $180,000 – $420,000 |
| Detached ADU (prefab, e.g. Abodu, Cover, Mighty Buildings) | $180,000 – $320,000 |
| Garage conversion (attached garage) | $160,000 – $280,000 |
| Garage conversion (detached garage) | $180,000 – $310,000 |
| Garage conversion with full slab replacement | $200,000 – $340,000 |
| Home addition (single-story bump-out) | $200,000 – $360,000 |
| Home addition (second-story addition) | $300,000 – $500,000 |
| JADU (junior ADU within existing home) | $90,000 – $160,000 |
What pushes price up in Los Angeles is almost always site access and the condition of what’s already there. A detached unit that requires a crane or alley access, or a garage conversion that needs a full slab replacement, will land at the higher end of these ranges. Every job gets a written price before work begins, and that price does not change at the door.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Los Angeles
Our crews cover Los Angeles end to end, from the San Fernando Valley to the Westside and down to South LA. Scheduling typically starts with a site visit within a few business days of your call.
- West Adams
- Highland Park
- Silver Lake
- Mar Vista
- Woodland Hills
Service Area – Cities Near Los Angeles
While our main work is in Los Angeles proper, we also take on ADU and addition projects in nearby cities including Lawndale, CA, Culver City, CA, Manhattan Beach, CA, and Venice, CA. Each city has its own permit quirks, and we handle those locally.
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.
FAQs About ADU Company in Los Angeles
Most Los Angeles ADU projects move from signed contract to permit submission within two to four weeks, depending on plan check volume at LADBS. Construction typically runs four to eight months for a detached unit, three to six months for a garage conversion. Call (213) 698-7116 and we can give you a schedule based on your specific lot.
No. California law SB 13 removed owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs statewide through 2030, and Los Angeles follows that standard. You can rent both the main house and the ADU if you choose. Local height and setback rules still apply, but the occupancy restriction is gone for new permits.
For garage conversions, the answer depends on the slab. Many original 1920s and 1930s pads in Los Angeles are under four inches thick with no rebar, which fails current code and requires a full replacement. For backyard ADUs, a slab-on-grade foundation is standard here thanks to the mild, dry climate, and no deep frost footings are needed.
When you’re ready to talk numbers, call (213) 698-7116. We’ll come out, look at your lot, and put a written price in your hands before any work starts. That’s how we run every job in Los Angeles.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local adu pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Los Angeles Customers Say
"Garage conversion into an office and guest room. Fair written price, finished close to on schedule, and they fixed a small drywall crack under warranty months later without any hassle."
- Diana Cho"Added a suite for my dad. They walked us through every cost before a hammer swung and stuck to it. The written price is what we paid, no change orders."
- Ingrid Salazar"A whole backyard ADU from scratch. Terrified me going in, but they kept me updated weekly and there were no nasty surprises. Quality work and a fair price."
- Noreen Fletcher
