Before you spend a dollar or call a contractor, find out if your lot can even support an ADU. Enter your address and we'll check zoning, lot size, and setbacks — then match you with a vetted, CSLB-licensed LA builder who confirms it on-site. No cost, no commitment.
See if your property qualifies — freeWe match you with vetted, California-licensed ADU builders in your area — no guesswork, no cold-calling contractors.
The #1 question we hear is "is my lot even big enough — is it legal here?" The good news: in California there is no minimum lot size for an ADU, and they're allowed on virtually every single-family and multifamily lot. We pull your address and tell you straight whether you likely qualify — for free.
Enter your details and we'll run your free zoning & setback pre-analysis.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted by phone, text, and email about your project. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply.
1-800-ADU-Pros is a referral and pre-qualification service — not a contractor. We do the desk research, then hand you to a vetted, licensed builder for the on-site work.
We pull your address and assess feasibility on paper — the fast, free first filter.
If it looks viable, a vetted, CSLB-licensed builder visits to confirm the real-world details.
California's statewide ADU laws override most local restrictions. Here are the rules that determine eligibility on almost every LA property.
California removed minimum-lot-size barriers under state ADU law. If you own a single-family or multifamily lot, lot size alone almost never disqualifies you.
The state caps required side and rear setbacks for a detached ADU at 4 feet. Existing structures converted to an ADU need no added setback.
State law guarantees at least 800 sq ft / 16 ft of height regardless of local limits; the City of LA allows detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft.
If your property is within roughly a half mile of transit, the parking requirement for your ADU is waived under California ADU rules.
A common myth: building an ADU does not reassess your whole home. Only the new ADU is assessed (about 1% of its value/yr); your main home keeps its Prop 13 basis.
ADU permits are ministerial — no public hearings. The 60-day clock is the statute; *real-world custom builds run 3–6 months (see the timeline note below).
Which one fits your property changes what you can build — and how fast. Many LA lots can do both at once.
| ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) | JADU (Junior ADU) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A fully independent second home — detached in the backyard, attached to the house, or a garage conversion. | A small unit (up to 500 sq ft) carved out of the existing house's footprint, per California HCD. |
| Max size | Up to 1,200 sq ft detached in the City of LA (800 sq ft guaranteed statewide). | 500 sq ft maximum, within the walls of the primary dwelling. |
| Kitchen | Full kitchen. | Efficiency kitchen allowed; may share a bathroom with the main house. |
| Owner-occupancy | Generally not required for ADUs permitted in the current window. | Owner must live on the property (main house or the JADU). |
| Best for | Rental income, an aging parent, or a backyard guest house with its own front door. | Lower-cost conversion of a spare bedroom or attached space — fastest path. |
California requires cities to approve or deny a complete application within 60 days, but that statute is routinely missed on custom builds — real LA custom permitting runs about 3–6 months, with correction loops being the slow part. Pre-approved LADBS Standard Plans can hit 21–30 days. Any builder promising "permits in 60 days" on a custom design is over-selling.
The CalHFA ADU Grant (up to $40,000 toward pre-development costs) is paused / out of funds — its last round was fully allocated in December 2023, with no confirmed relaunch. Beware any page or rep treating it as money you can count on today. We'll help you map the financing path that actually exists, and flag the grant if it reopens.
California law caps a contractor's deposit at $1,000 or 10% of the contract — whichever is less — so on any real ADU the cap is effectively $1,000. "Pre-construction retainers," "material lock-in," or "onboarding fees" that ask for more are red flags. Every builder in our directory is CSLB license-verified, so you can confirm active status, bond, and complaint history yourself.
Once your property pre-qualifies, we route you to a pre-screened builder in your area for the free on-site feasibility visit. Every builder's CSLB number is shown on their profile.
✓ CSLB #989378 · Class B · Active
Serves: Woodland Hills, West Hills, Van Nuys, Granada Hills, Encino & Sherman Oaks
★ 4.9 / 5 across Yelp, Google & Houzz
View profile →
✓ CSLB #1030158 · Class B · Active
Serves: Valley Village, the San Fernando Valley & greater Los Angeles
★ Reviewed on Yelp, Google & Houzz
View profile →
✓ CSLB #1047699 · Class B · Active
Serves: the San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, the San Gabriel Valley & LA County
View profile →
Qualifying is step one. These guides walk you through the rest of the journey — and every one of them funnels back to your free property check.
The most common questions LA homeowners ask before they qualify their property.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll run your free zoning & setback pre-analysis, then match you with a pre-screened, California-licensed ADU builder for a free on-site feasibility assessment.
Request an intro to a verified builderBy submitting, you agree to be contacted by phone, text, and email about your project. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply.