How Much Does an ADU Cost in Los Angeles?
If you're thinking about adding an ADU, cost is usually the first question. It's a fair one. An accessory dwelling unit is a real home, with a kitchen, a bathroom, plumbing, power and a foundation, and it's a big decision for any family.
The honest answer is that ADU cost in Los Angeles depends on your lot, your plans and your goals. In this guide, we'll walk through what actually shapes the price, share the starting prices we can confirm, and explain what those numbers do and don't include.
First, What Kind of ADU Are You Building?
The type of ADU has the biggest effect on cost. In Los Angeles, the common options are:
Garage conversion: turning an existing garage into a living space.
Detached ground-up ADU: a new, separate building in your backyard.
Attached ADU: a new unit built onto your house.
Junior ADU (JADU): a smaller unit created within the walls of your existing home. Under state law, a JADU can be no more than 500 square feet.
A conversion reuses a structure you already have. A ground-up ADU starts from scratch, so it needs a new foundation, framing and roof. That's why the two are priced differently.
Our Starting Prices (and What They Mean)
Here's what we can share today:
2-car garage conversions start from $90k.
Ground-up ADUs start from $290 per square foot.
Build timelines start from about 3 months.
Please read this part carefully. These are build-only starting prices. Design, permits, city fees and utility upgrades are extra. A starting price is not a quote. Your final price is set in your written estimate, after we've looked at your property and your plans.
We share starting prices so you can plan, not so you're surprised later. Every lot is different, and we'd rather explain that up front.
What Pushes an ADU Price Up or Down
Size and layout
For a ground-up ADU, the square footage matters most. A studio and a two-bedroom are very different projects. More bathrooms and a bigger kitchen also add plumbing, fixtures and cabinetry.
Site conditions
Flat, easy-to-reach backyards are simpler to build on. Slopes, tight side yards, older trees, or poor soil can add work for grading, foundations and getting materials in. Some LA lots also sit in areas with extra review, such as hillside areas, fire hazard severity zones, or methane zones. LADBS reviews items like methane mitigation, grading and fire-zone requirements as part of the site-specific plan check.
Utilities
Your ADU needs power, water and a way to connect to sewer. Some homes have an electrical panel or service that can handle another unit. Others need upgrades. That's one reason utility upgrades are listed separately from our build-only price. We can't know what your home needs until we look.
Condition of the existing structure
For a garage conversion, the garage itself matters. Was it built with permits? Is the slab and framing in good shape? A garage in good condition is a much better starting point than one that needs major repair.
Finishes
Flooring, cabinets, countertops, tile and fixtures can vary a lot in price. You get to choose where to spend and where to save.
Design, Permits and City Fees
Before building starts, you need plans and a permit. For most homes in the City of Los Angeles, that means plan review with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). We offer design in-house or with trusted partners.
A few things worth knowing:
Impact fees: under California law, ADUs with 750 square feet or less of interior livable space are exempt from impact fees. Larger ADUs may be charged impact fees in proportion to the size of the main house. Other fees can still apply, including permit and plan check fees, school fees for ADUs of 500 square feet or more, and any utility connection charges.
Standard plans: LADBS runs an ADU Standard Plan Program with pre-approved plans. Using one can shorten plan check time, though LADBS still reviews site-specific items for your property. The city also offers one city-owned pre-approved plan (YOU-ADU) free of charge, though it may not work for every site.
Final say: the city makes the final permit decision on every ADU.
We don't publish fee estimates, because they depend on your project and the city's current fee schedule. We'll walk you through what applies to your property.
How to Get a Real Number for Your Property
The most useful next step is a look at your actual lot. Here's how we usually start:
We talk about your goals: family space, rental, a home office, or room for aging parents.
We review your property, including what's on file with the city and what's physically there.
We talk through options, such as a conversion versus a new build.
If you'd like to move ahead, you get a written estimate. That's where your final price is set.
You can learn more about our approach on our ADU services page.
Why Homeowners Work With Us
Tehran Construction & Remodeling brings 10 years of experience building in Los Angeles. We've worked with 237+ clients on more than $52M in projects, and we serve homeowners across Los Angeles from our office in Woodland Hills. Our team speaks English and Farsi, so you can ask questions in the language you're most comfortable with.
We'd rather give you clear, honest information than a quick number that changes later.
Let's Look at Your Lot Together
Curious what an ADU could cost on your property? Start with a free, no-obligation feasibility review. Call or WhatsApp us at (818) 818-8366, email info@tehranconstruction.com, or send us a message here. We're open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM.
Licensed contractor: Bardia Ekrami, CSLB #1143589.
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