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A Simple Process
As easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Select
Choose a plan from one of our pre-approved, permit-ready designs.
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2. Submit
We submit your plan to the city of Los Angeles within 3 business days of the site visit.
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3. Build
Once approved, you can start building your brand-new ADU.
3 Paths to an ADU
Whether you're looking to do an ADU garage conversion or a new Detached ADU the proccess and price are the same. Looking to customize one of our pre-approved designs...No problem. Compare the three paths to an ADU below.
Included in
the Pricing
DESIGN TIMELINE
CUSTOMIZATIONS
FULL PLAN SET
CITY SUBMITTAL
CITY CORRECTIONS
2 PRINTED COPIES
OF STAMPED PLANS
FIXED-DESIGN COST
Garage Conversions
3 Days
Limited
✓ Includes structural and T-24
✓
✓
✓
$4,000
Pre-Approved Detached ADUs
3 Days
Limited
✓ Includes structural and T-24
✓
✓
✓
$4,000
Custom Detached ADUs
7 Days
Unlimited
✓ Includes structural and T-24
✓
✓
✓
$4,800
FAQ
How do we get started? To get started the process is quite easy. Reach out to us with your name, email, and property address. We’ll send you a proposal within 24 hours to review. Once you e-sign it, provide the initial deposit, and provide us days and times for the site visit, we go out for the initial site visit. After the site visit your plans will be ready to submit to the city within 3 business days.
How long will it take to get city approval? This will depend largely on where your property is located. If your property is located in what we call a hot zone, it may take up to 2 - 3 months in order to get approval. If your property is outside of a hot zone, it can take as little as 1 week for approval. In the proposal, we’ll outline whether or not your property is in a known hot zone.
What is a hot zone and why does it make approval times longer? Hot zones are areas that the city qualifies as liquefaction zones, methane zones, designated hillside areas, Special Grading Areas, Very High Fire Hazard Zone areas, Flood zones, CUGU zones, DWP encroachment zones, and more. These are zones pre-determined by the city to require additional clearances and approvals to the ensure safety of your future ADU occupants. Getting is what makes the city approval process longer. Which is why before getting started we let you know which ones will apply to you so that there are no surprises.
What other fees can I expect to pay? Outside of our design fees, you can expect to pay city plan check fees from each department. This includes fees to Building and Safety, the Bureau of Engineering, the Planning Department, the Fire Department, and more, where applicable. Additionally, if your home is in a hot zone, the city may require you to additionally pay for items like an arborist report, soil reports, etc.. We again try to do our best in the initial proposal to outline what these may be.
Can we modify a pre-approved plan without paying a custom ADU plan price? Yes! LADBS will allow limited modifications to be made to a plan without triggering the standard (and longer) approval process. Reach out to us to learn what modifications can be made. Any changes of a pre-approved plan in terms of size, will automatically make it a custom ADU plan.
What’s the difference between a pre-approved plan and a custom ADU plan? A pre-approved plan has already been reviewed and pre-approved by the city, which saves a LOT of time during the permitting process. With a pre-approved plan we’re usually able to submit your plans over the counter, and get corrections the same day. With a custom plan, the city is reviewing the plans for the first time and therefore takes the standard processing times. We submit these custom plans online through ePlan, and it can take up to 2 months to receive approval (on average). Custom plans include plans made from scratch as well as pre-approved plans with unlimited modifications.
Do you have contractors you can refer us to? Yes, we have a few contractors who have successfully built and completed multiple versions of our designs, whom we can refer you to based on your location in the city. We have no direct contract nor affiliation with any of these general contractors. We simply love their work and expertise, which is why we refer them to clients.
How does payment work? Payment is broken down into three installments. The first installment is due prior to the site visit. The second installment is due prior to us submitting the plans, and the third and final installment is due once the plans are approved.
Which cities do you work in? Our pre-approved plans are approved in the city of Los Angeles, but we work all throughout the greater Los Angeles area from Porter Ranch to Long Beach, from the Ocean to parts of Orange County. All pricing is shown specifically for the city of Los Angeles, so please contact us directly for pricing for your own city if you're outside of LA.
What’s the next step to get started? The next step is to choose the pre-approved plan you'd like for your property and to reach out to us to get a formal proposal.
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