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ADU Design-Build · Los Angeles

ADU Builder in Los Angeles

L Square is a licensed ADU design-build firm serving Los Angeles — architecture, permits and construction in-house. We’ve completed 200+ accessory dwelling units across LA and Orange County, and we know how the City of Los Angeles and LADBS actually review a project.

Get a free quote→ (949) 374-7980
A finished detached ADU built by L Square in a Los Angeles backyard

Licensed ADU construction company in Los Angeles

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — a granny flat, backyard cottage, garage conversion or junior ADU — is one of the most effective ways to add rental income, house family, or grow your property’s value in Los Angeles. L Square keeps design, structural engineering, permitting and construction under one roof, so your LA project moves on one contract from first sketch to final inspection.

Licensed · Insured · Bonded · CSLB #1095476 · Los Angeles & Orange County

01

How Los Angeles permitting differs from Orange County

Orange County is a patchwork of small cities that each run their own counter. Los Angeles is the opposite: most of the city is one enormous jurisdiction reviewed by LADBS (the Department of Building and Safety) together with LA City Planning. If your property is in an unincorporated pocket, it’s LA County instead — a different department with its own process. The first thing we confirm is which agency actually reviews your address.

A code-compliant ADU in LA is approved ministerially (by-right) — no discretionary hearing. The City of Los Angeles also offers pre-approved / standard ADU plans that can shorten plan-check when a design qualifies. The wrinkles that move an LA timeline are usually hillside, coastal and older-home conditions (Hollywood Hills, the Westside, Venice, San Pedro), not the review clock itself. Because LA updates its bulletins and fees through the year, we confirm the current rules with LADBS rather than quoting numbers that go stale.

02

Los Angeles neighborhoods & areas we serve

We design and build ADUs across the City of Los Angeles and the surrounding LA County communities, including:

  • Downtown LA
  • Hollywood
  • Silver Lake
  • Echo Park
  • Highland Park
  • Eagle Rock
  • Mid-City
  • West LA
  • Mar Vista
  • Venice
  • Sherman Oaks
  • Studio City
  • Encino
  • Woodland Hills
  • Van Nuys
  • North Hollywood
  • Pasadena
  • Glendale
  • Burbank
  • Culver City
  • Long Beach
  • Torrance
  • Santa Monica
  • San Gabriel

Don’t see your neighborhood? Ask us — we very likely serve it.

03

How much does an ADU cost in Los Angeles?

The short answer

In 2026, most Los Angeles ADUs run $90,000 to $450,000+: a garage conversion is usually $90K–$150K, an attached ADU $150K–$280K, and a detached custom build $200K–$450K+ — roughly $150–$300/sq ft for conversions and $300–$450/sq ft for new detached construction. LA’s older homes, hillside lots and coastal review tend to push more projects toward the upper end.

ADU typeTypical LA range (2026)$/sq ft
Garage conversion$90K–$150K$150–$300
Attached ADU$150K–$280K$250–$400
Detached custom$200K–$450K+$300–$450
JADU (≤500 sq ft)$60K–$130Kvaries

LA pricing is driven by the same conditions we price in Orange County — electrical panel capacity, sewer-lateral distance, lot slope and site access — plus a few LA-specific factors:

  • Hillside & older-home conditions (Hollywood Hills, the Westside) add grading, retaining and structural work.
  • Coastal Zone review (Venice, San Pedro) can add a permit layer — now on a 60-day approve-or-deny clock.
  • LADBS standard / pre-approved plans can shorten plan-check and lower soft costs when a design qualifies.

For honest 2026 ranges by ADU type and the seven conditions that move the price, read our complete ADU cost guide; statewide rules are set by CA HCD, and LA submittal details come from LADBS.

04

Los Angeles ADU rules you can plan around

LA implements California’s statewide ADU law, so the core rules are the same ones we plan around everywhere:

  • Cities must allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU; detached units up to about 1,200 sq ft are broadly permitted.
  • 4-foot side and rear setbacks are allowed for a conforming ADU.
  • Converting a garage cannot trigger a replacement-parking requirement.
  • A standard ADU has no owner-occupancy requirement — you can rent both the house and the ADU.

The 2026 state bills tightened permit timelines and eased a few JADU rules — see our California ADU laws 2026 explainer. For LA-specific submittal details, LADBS and CA HCD are the authorities we work from.

05

Explore more

Detached ADUsCosts, designs and permits for a standalone backyard unit. Garage conversion ADUsThe lower-cost path, and where the hidden gotchas live. Custom ADUsA fully bespoke design tailored to your lot and goals. Our servicesDesign-build, garage conversions, additions and more. The complete ADU guideTypes, timeline, permits and financing, start to finish. ADU cost guideHonest 2026 ranges and the 7 things that move the price.

Quick FAQ

What drives ADU cost in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles ADU cost is shaped by the jurisdiction, access, utilities, fire review, site slope, existing structures and finish level. A simple garage conversion in the City of LA is not the same as a detached unit on a tight hillside lot or a property reviewed by LA County. Before pricing, we want to know the address, ADU type, rental or family goal, utility path and whether there is older unpermitted work that could affect plan check.
Is Los Angeles City the same as LA County for ADUs?
No. The property may be reviewed by the City of Los Angeles, LA County or another local city in the county, and that affects forms, review comments, utility coordination and sometimes fire or public works details. We confirm the jurisdiction before drawings and pricing. It is a small step that prevents a lot of bad assumptions, especially on properties near city boundaries or in hillside and fire-sensitive areas.
Can a Los Angeles garage be converted into an ADU?
Yes, if the garage can be brought up to code as a dwelling. We look at slab condition, framing, ceiling height, water intrusion, fire separation, windows and egress, the utility route and where a full kitchen and bathroom can actually fit. A garage conversion can be a smart LA option, but the existing shell has to support legal living space and pass inspections.
How long do Los Angeles ADU permits take?
Permit timing depends on the reviewing agency, plan completeness, correction rounds, fire or utility comments and the project type. It is better to plan for a managed process than a guaranteed date. A clean submittal, fast correction responses and early utility planning help. We handle the plan set, submittal coordination and inspection path, while being clear that the city or county controls review timing.
Should a Los Angeles ADU be designed for rental or family use?
That choice changes the layout. A rental ADU usually needs durable finishes, privacy, storage, efficient maintenance access and a layout that rents well for the neighborhood. A family unit may prioritize accessibility, quiet, connection to the main house and long-term comfort. We ask that question early because window placement, entry location, bedroom count and finish selections should match the real use, not just the maximum square footage.

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