What does an ADU actually cost to build?
Real construction costs, permit fees, and zoning rules for accessory dwelling units — itemized by city, calculated for your project.
ADU Cost Calculator
Itemized estimate by state, type, size, and finish level.
OPEN TOOL →Garage Conversion Calculator
Living space or full ADU — itemized by scope and garage size.
OPEN TOOL →Rental Payback Calculator
Coming soon — break-even timeline if you rent your ADU.
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Garage Conversion vs Detached ADU: Which Should You Build?
Cost, timeline, rental value, and the 750 sq ft fee rule — an honest comparison of the two main ADU paths.
READ GUIDE →How to Finance an ADU: HELOCs, Renovation Loans & What Actually Works
The real financing options for a six-figure ADU project — home equity, cash-out refis, renovation loans, and the grant programs worth checking.
READ GUIDE →The ADU Permit Process, Step by Step (2026)
From feasibility to certificate of occupancy: what actually happens at each permitting stage, how long it takes, and where the money goes.
READ GUIDE →Is an ADU a Good Investment? The Honest Math
Rental yields, property value, the costs spreadsheets forget, and when an ADU genuinely pays — without the industry gloss.
READ GUIDE →Garage Conversion Requirements: What Code Actually Demands
Ceiling height, slab condition, egress windows, insulation and utilities — the code requirements that decide whether a conversion is cheap or expensive.
READ GUIDE →How Long Does It Take to Build an ADU? (Realistic Timeline)
Phase-by-phase timelines from feasibility to certificate of occupancy, why permitting varies from same-day to six months, and what actually causes delays.
READ GUIDE →ADU Rental Income: What to Realistically Expect
How to build a rental projection that survives contact with reality — comparables, vacancy, maintenance, utilities, debt service, and taxes.
READ GUIDE →Garage Conversion Cost in Los Angeles: Why Quotes Range $40K–$265K
LA garage conversion quotes vary 6x because they describe four different builds. Scope-by-scope costs, LADBS permit fees, the JADU option, and which number applies to you.
READ GUIDE →ADU costs & rules by city
Sacramento, CA
Costs, permit fees & zoning rules
VIEW GUIDE →San Diego, CA
Costs, permit fees & zoning rules
VIEW GUIDE →San Jose, CA
Costs, permit fees & zoning rules
VIEW GUIDE →Los Angeles, CA
Costs, permit fees & zoning rules
VIEW GUIDE →San Francisco, CA
Costs, permit fees & zoning rules
VIEW GUIDE →Oakland, CA
Costs, permit fees & zoning rules
VIEW GUIDE →