Value
Adds 25–35% to lot value.
That's well above the build cost in most LA-area neighborhoods — the asset side of the trade is favorable before you count a dollar of rent.
+25–35%
Start here
California ADU navigator
Build an ADU without guessing.
Real permit fees, real timelines, real local rules — drawn directly from each California city's planning portal. The data you wish you had before the first contractor call.
By the numbers
The state of the California ADU.
Four figures that explain why this is the biggest housing story in California — and why the friction is paperwork, not zoning.
2024 permits, statewide
28,330
ADU permits issued in California in 2024 — up from ~1,200 a decade ago.
HCD · APR
Typical build cost
$360k mid
Turnkey 800 sqft detached ADU at standard finishes, LA-area, 2026 pricing.
Calibrated 2026-05
Permit timeline
10–22 wks
Realistic permit window across LA-area cities, application to issuance.
City portals · 2026-05
Impact-fee exemption
750 sqft
Statewide threshold below which most school & park fees are waived.
HCD · ADU Handbook
Atlas
Pick a city.
Every California city has its own rulebook. Open a dossier to see permit fees, timelines, notable local rules, and rent ranges — drawn directly from each city's planning portal.
DOSSIER 01
Los Angeles County
Glendale
34°08′ N · 118°15′ W- Permit fee$4,500
- Timeline8–14 wks
- Rent (1-bed)$1800–$3000
- Median lot6000 sf
Los Angeles County
Long Beach
33°46′ N · 118°11′ W- Permit fee$4,200
- Timeline8–14 wks
- Rent (1-bed)$1600–$2800
- Median lot5200 sf
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles
34°03′ N · 118°14′ W- Permit fee$6,500
- Timeline12–26 wks
- Rent (1-bed)$1800–$3500
- Median lot5500 sf
Los Angeles County
Pasadena
34°08′ N · 118°08′ W- Permit fee$5,800
- Timeline10–18 wks
- Rent (1-bed)$2000–$3300
- Median lot7000 sf
Los Angeles County
Santa Monica
34°01′ N · 118°29′ W- Permit fee$8,200
- Timeline14–22 wks
- Rent (1-bed)$2500–$4500
- Median lot5000 sf
How it works
Three steps. No surprises.
Start with your city. Run the numbers. Then — and only then — talk to a builder.
Step 01
Open your city dossier.
Read the permit fee, timeline, notable local rule, and rent range — all sourced from your city's official planning portal.
Browse cities →
Step 02
Run the estimator.
Pick a size and finish tier. See a defensible cost band, line-by-line, with your city's actual permit fees baked in.
Estimate now →
Step 03
Get matched.
We hand-pick three local builders who've actually permitted and finished ADUs at your size and finish tier. No spam, no obligation.
Request matches →
Why an ADU
Three reasons people actually build.
Real-world economics, not contractor pitches. Based on Fannie Mae appraisal data and California rent surveys.
Income
Long-term rent covers carrying cost.
$1,800–$3,500/month across LA-area cities, against $1,400–$2,200/month in mortgage-payment equivalent at typical financed build costs.
$2,400/mo medianFlexibility
You can rent, move, or — soon — sell separately.
AB 976 made owner-occupancy mandates permanently illegal. AB 1033 lets cities allow ADUs to be sold as condominiums. The exits are wider than they used to be.
Two doors. One title (for now).
Next step
Ready to talk to a real builder?
We hand-pick three local contractors who've actually permitted and finished ADUs — not the ones with the loudest ads. No spam. No obligation.