Accessory Dwelling Units California
Aka Granny Flat
Welcome to USModular Home Builders, Southern California’s premier full service design and build general contractor for the construction of your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). We have built hundreds of units across Southern California using prefabricated construction and are experienced and knowledgeable in dealing with all aspects of the building process.
With 75 combined years in general contracting and real estate development we learned a few things along the way.
We handle all aspects of your project from initial site visit, to creation of budget/contract through permits and construction, utility connections and finally handing you a set of keys for your new ADU…all with minimal disruption to residents of primary dwelling unit as the ADU is set into your backyard in ONE DAY!!!!!
What is an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit-aka granny flat-aka companion unit is a second small dwelling on the same parcel of land as your single-family house. An ADU can be up to 1,200 sq ft and can be built as:
- Detached stand alone building
- Attached to primary dwelling
- Converted garage
- Converted space within the primary dwelling (Junior ADU)
Why Build an ADU?
- Additional Space for family members – grandparents, kids , relatives
We recently built an ADU for family in Orange County. It was built for the homeowners Mom, who was living in a 1 bedroom apartment – 10 miles from family and they were spending $1,500 a month on rent. Grandma moved into The Bungalow ADU and is now closer to her daughter and grandkids. She feels safer, and has more social connections with family. The family has a net savings over $1000 month in rent. A true ADU success story.
- Rental Income – turn a single family rental property into a 2 income property.
An Investor with a single family income property in San Diego put it best when he asked us – “where can I buy a 2 bedroom rental property for under $120,000 in San Diego? Nowhere! But I can build a 2 bedroom ADU for this price – it’s a no brainer”
How much does it Cost to build an ADU?
There are many local and site specific factors to determine the complete cost to build an ADU Including access to the back yard, topography, utility location, sewer or septic, local fees including sewer capacity fee, school fees, permits etc. But we have created the cost to build an ADU that assumes we have access to backyard on a level lot and sewer is available within 100 ‘ of house. Starting cost for our 398 sq ft 1 bedroom ADU (Federal Building Code) is $78,000 which includes the ADU, transportation to site, roll set/ installation on permanent foundation, connection to utilities. The local fees are city or county specific and typically range from 5-15% of the quoted construction cost.
New 2020 California Laws:
ADUs are less expensive, faster and easier to build!!!
California is in a housing crisis – both of physical houses and affordability. ADUs help the crisis by getting more homes and lowering cost to build as land and utility infrastructure is already in place (2 of the biggest costs to build a new home). New State of California ADU laws include:
- ADUs can be up to 1,200 sq. ft. regardless of the size of primary dwelling unit (as long as you meet setbacks and FAR)
- Setbacks reduced to 4’ side and rear yard
- Parking requirement for ADU waived
- No owner occupancy of primary dwelling unit (great for investors)
- 60 day review process by local building department
- Waiver of local development fees for ADUs less than 750 sq. ft.
- Multifamily homes eligible for ADU
- Fire Sprinklers ONLY required if Primary Dwelling Unit has them in place
Why build an ADU with prefabricated construction?
This is a question we get asked daily. For us it’s a pretty easy answer – because we can build better, faster, greener and for less in our factory than a site built ADU. Same reason that we drive cars built in a factory – they have a more precise process building on a production line, indoors, by a team of workers that work in sync …than assembled in your back yard. Another important reason to consider prefabricated is the site construction is site construction time – as site built projects will take months of daily hammering, sawing, dumpsters, and port-o-potties with 10+ different workers walking into backyard to this time period. With prefabricated construction – the ADU is built in a factory – we set unit in backyard in ONE DAY. Once set we have a very small crew- to do finish work and utility connections.
How long will it take to build an ADU?
A lot depends on you. How long you take to choose style, code and floor plan will determine length of project. Once the ADU plan is chosen and contract is signed – typically time from is 5-8 months to get permit and build a project. Much of this time is spent on the State and Local approval of the building plans. Once we have permit in hand – the USModular team will act very fast and typically can complete a project within 2-3 months.
What is process to build an ADU with USModular?
Phase 1: Planning
- Site visit to determine setbacks, accessibility , utility location /availability, FAR
- ADU submittal requirements
- New construction of ADU with Modular (CBC/Local) or Manufactured (HUD/Federal))
- Develop conceptual budget for ADU and site construction
Phase 2: Construction Contract
- Finalize construction budget and contract
Phase 3: Plan Design and Submittal
- Site plan design
- ADU approval through State approved 3rdparty and local jurisdiction
- Build (Fabrication) the ADU at Factory while prepping onsite construction necessary to meet local ADU requirements, including, utilities, foundation
- Coordinate with the local building department for inspections
Phase 4: Final Inspection
- Walk through ADU with client make adjustments as needed
- Obtain Certificate of Occupancy
How do we start?
We thought you would never ask!!!!
Review the series of floor plans that we offer:
- Custom Cottage – Affordable, Federal Building Code
- California Series – Mid Range – Federal and Local Building Code – More flexibility
- California Dreaming – Modern/Contemporary plans – Cool look for modern homes
Email info@usmodularinc.com or call us 951-679-9907 to discuss your project. If you want to proceed we can schedule a site visit to further review the project.
List of California City / County ADU Requirements
Here is a list of California City and County ADU regulations specific for each area.
Alhambra
Alison Viejo
Alpine
Anaheim
Arcadia
Artesia
Azusa
Banning
Barstow
Beaumont
Bellflower
Belmont
Berkeley
Beverly Hills
Calabasas
Calistoga
Campbell
Carlsbad
Cathedral City
Chula Vista
Corona
Coronado
Costa Mesa
Culver City
Del Mar
Desert Hot Springs
Diamond Bar
Downey
Duarte
East Palo Alto
El Cajon
El Segundo
Escondido
Fountain Valley
Fullerton
Garden Grove
Glendale
Hemet
Highland
Huntington Beach
Irvine
Jurupa Valley
La Habra
La Mesa
La Quinta
Lake Elsinore
Lancaster
Lemon Grove
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
Menifee
Monterey Park
Moreno Valley
Murrieta
National City
Norco
Norwalk
Oceanside
Ontario
Orange
Orange County
Palm Desert
Palm Springs
Palmdale
Pasadena
Perris
Pomona
Poway
Ramona
Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Mirage
Redlands
Riverside
Salinas
San Bernardino
San Clemente
San Diego (City)
San Diego (County)
San Gabriel
San Jacinto
San Marcos
Santa Ana
Santa Clarita
Santee
Simi Valley
Temecula
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Palms
Upland
West Covina
Yorba Linda
Yucaipa