ADU Builder in Woodland Hills, Tarzana & the San Fernando Valley

What Is an ADU?

An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is a second, self-contained home on the same lot as a house, with its own place to sleep, cook and bathe. You may know them as granny flats or in-law units. State law has made ADUs much easier to build on single-family and multifamily lots over the past several years, and the City of Los Angeles has its own ADU rules that work alongside state law.

Types of ADUs We Build

Detached Backyard ADU

A new, freestanding home in your backyard. It offers the most privacy. State law generally guarantees that a detached ADU of at least 800 square feet with 4-foot side and rear setbacks can be built, subject to local standards.

Attached ADU

An addition built onto your existing home with its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom. It can make sense when backyard space is limited.

Garage Conversion ADU

Turning an existing attached or detached garage into a legal living unit is often one of the most cost-effective ways to add a home, because the structure is already there. We check the existing foundation, framing and utilities during the feasibility review. In many cases state law also limits the city's ability to require replacement parking when a garage is converted.

Junior ADU (JADU)

A JADU is a smaller unit of up to 500 square feet built inside your existing home, for example by converting a bedroom or an attached garage. It has its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen, and it may share a bathroom with the main house.

Why Homeowners Build ADUs

Rental income: a long-term tenant can help offset your mortgage or other housing costs.

Room for family: keep parents, grandparents or adult children close, each with their own space.

Property value: adding a permitted, livable unit can make a property more useful and appealing to future buyers.

Our ADU Process, Step by Step

1. Free Feasibility Review

We review your lot, zoning and existing structures, then talk through what may fit, a realistic timeline and a cost range, before you spend money on plans.

2. Design & Plans

We work with you on a layout that fits your goals and budget, and prepare the drawings and engineering the city requires. We can handle design in-house or with trusted partner architects and engineers. Where it fits the site, a City of Los Angeles pre-approved standard plan can also shorten plan review.

3. Permits & City Approval

We prepare and submit the permit application, respond to plan-check comments, and keep you updated until the permit is issued.

4. Construction

Our team manages the build from foundation to finishes, with one point of contact throughout.

5. Final Inspection & Move-In

We schedule the required city inspections, complete any corrections and do a final walkthrough with you before handing over the keys.

How long does it take? Most ADU projects take from about 3 months, depending on scope and city review.

Ready to see if an ADU fits your lot? Call 818-818-8366 or WhatsApp us for a free feasibility review.

Licensed contractor: Bardia Ekrami, CSLB #1143589.

ADU Permits & Timeline in Los Angeles

California's ADU law requires cities to review ADU applications ministerially. That means an ADU that meets the objective standards is approved without a public hearing or discretionary review. Under state law, the city must tell you within 15 business days whether your application is complete. Once a complete application is received for a lot with an existing home, the city must approve or deny it within 60 days. In Los Angeles, permits are handled by the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).

That 60-day clock covers the permit decision, not the whole project. Design, corrections, construction and inspections add time. Most ADU projects take from about 3 months overall, depending on scope and city review, and larger or more complex projects take longer. We'll give you a realistic schedule during your feasibility review.

A few other state rules many homeowners find helpful: ADUs of 750 square feet or less are exempt from local impact fees, and cities generally can't require the owner to live on the property for an ADU. Lot-specific rules (hillside, fire zones and similar) are checked during the review.

ADU Pricing

Garage conversions (2-car): start at $90,000.

Ground-up ADUs: start at $290 per square foot.

These are build-only starting prices. Design, permits, city fees and utility upgrades are extra. Starting prices aren't a quote. Your final price is set in your written estimate.

Final price depends on size, site conditions and finishes. We'll give you a detailed estimate after the free feasibility review.

Paying for Your ADU

Most homeowners pay for an ADU with savings, a loan, or a combination of both. If you'd like, we can introduce you to an independent licensed mortgage professional. We don't lend money, and we receive no referral fee. Financing is subject to credit and property approval, and terms vary. We're happy to share the cost details and documents a lender may ask for.

Licensed contractor: Bardia Ekrami, CSLB #1143589.

Areas We Serve

We're based in Woodland Hills and build ADUs and garage conversions for homeowners in Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks and communities throughout Los Angeles.

Not sure if we cover your area? Just ask.

ADU builder pages by city: Woodland Hills · Encino · Sherman Oaks · Tarzana · Calabasas

Frequently Asked Questions About ADUs

Can I build an ADU on my property?

Most single-family and multifamily lots in California can add at least one ADU, and many can also add a JADU. Lot size, setbacks, easements and special zones (such as hillside or fire areas) affect what fits. Our free feasibility review tells you what's possible on your lot.

How long does the city take to approve an ADU permit?

State law requires the city to decide whether your application is complete within 15 business days, and to approve or deny a complete application within 60 days when there's already a home on the lot. Design beforehand and construction afterward take additional time. Overall, most ADU projects take from about 3 months, depending on scope and city review.

Can I convert my garage into an ADU?

Yes. State law allows ADUs inside existing attached or detached garages. In many cases the city can't require you to replace the lost parking.

Do I have to live on the property?

For an ADU, generally no. State law prohibits cities from imposing owner-occupancy requirements on most ADUs. A JADU that shares a bathroom with the main home does require the owner to live on the property.

Are there city fees for an ADU?

Permit and plan-check fees apply. State law exempts ADUs of 750 square feet or less from local impact fees, and larger ADUs can only be charged impact fees in proportion to the size of the main home.

Can I rent out my ADU?

Yes, ADUs are commonly rented long-term. Cities may require rentals to be longer than 30 days, and some ADUs and JADUs must be rented for longer than 30 days under state law, so short-term rentals may not be allowed.

Do you provide financing options?

We don't lend money. If you'd like, we can introduce you to an independent licensed mortgage professional, and we receive no referral fee. Financing is subject to credit and property approval, and terms vary.

How much does an ADU cost?

Garage conversions (2-car) start at $90,000. Ground-up ADUs start at $290 per square foot. These are build-only starting prices. Design, permits, city fees and utility upgrades are extra. Starting prices aren't a quote. Your final price is set in your written estimate. Final price depends on size, site conditions and finishes. We'll give you a detailed estimate after the free feasibility review.

Find out what you can build. Book your free ADU feasibility review.

We'll look at your property's eligibility, timeline and cost, and help with the City, permits and build.

Visit: 19903 Ventura Blvd #2, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Hours: Monday–Saturday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM, Sunday closed.

Tehran Construction & Remodeling

Licensed contractor: Bardia Ekrami, CSLB #1143589.

We speak English and Farsi (فارسی). فارسی صحبت می‌کنیم