A Fully Independent Home in Your Backyard

It depends entirely on your lot size and the unit you choose. A 500–700 sq ft ADU typically occupies 15–25% of a standard suburban backyard. Because we design each unit around your existing setbacks, trees, pool, and outdoor space, we often preserve a usable lawn, patio, or garden area alongside the new unit. On small urban lots, we prioritize a compact footprint — sometimes using a two-story configuration to keep ground coverage minimal.

Under California law, a permitted detached ADU can be rented long-term to anyone — it cannot be sold separately from the main house, and it cannot be used as a short-term rental in many cities. Short-term rental rules vary by jurisdiction: some cities allow it with a permit and tax registration, others prohibit it entirely for ADUs. We will tell you exactly what your city allows during the feasibility phase.

You need a separate electrical meter if you plan to rent the unit — this allows the tenant to be billed directly. Gas service depends on the appliances you choose. Water and sewer are typically shared with the main house unless a separate meter is installed, which is possible but adds cost. We design the utility setup around how you plan to use or rent the unit and confirm the exact requirements with your utility provider during permitting.

There is no fixed minimum distance under California law. What matters is meeting your jurisdiction's setbacks from the property line, maintaining fire separation from the main house (usually a minimum of 6 feet or a fire-rated exterior wall), and leaving enough space for construction access. In practice, most detached ADUs sit 10–20 feet from the primary residence, but we have built units as close as 6 feet and as far as 80 feet apart.

Yes. Two-story detached ADUs are permitted in California, subject to your jurisdiction's height limit — usually 16–25 feet depending on the zoning code and proximity to the property line. Two-story configurations are ideal for narrow or small lots where maximizing square footage on a compact footprint matters. Structural engineering for a two-story unit is more complex, but we handle it in-house.

It depends on your market, your construction cost, and how you use the unit. In the Bay Area and Los Angeles metro, most detached ADUs pay for themselves from rental income within 8–12 years. In San Diego and Sacramento, 10–14 years. That is before accounting for property value appreciation, which typically runs an additional 5–10% lift on the total property value once the unit is permitted and appraised.

Yes. Trenching for electrical, water, sewer, and gas lines between the main house and the new unit is included in our construction scope. We coordinate directly with your utility provider for any new service drop or meter installation. This is one of the most common places where inexperienced builders cut corners — we do not. Every connection is inspected and documented.