- General ADU Information
- ADU Regulations in California
- Building an ADU
- ADU Permits
- ADU Financing
- Design and Customization

Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale
Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Woodside
Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Union City
Malibu, Santa Clarita, Newbury Park, Newhall, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Baldwin Park, Thousand Oaks, Stevenson Ranch, Santa Clarita, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Hansen Hills, Tarzana, San Fernando, Lake View Terrace, North Hills, Agua Dulce, Sun Valley, Woodland Hills, Agoura Hills
Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Century City, Beverly Hills, Huntington Park, Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Playa Del Rey, Marina Del Rey, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Tujunga, Pasadena, Glendale, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka, Chatsworth, Encino
Valley Glen, Panorama City, Van Nuys, Burbank, Toluca Terrace, North Hollywood, Baldwin Park, El Monte, San Gabriel, Temple City, Pearblossom, Castaic, Pacoima, Arleta, Reseda, Granada Hills, Mission Hills
- Increased Demand for Space: The rise in remote work has led to greater demand for additional living spaces.
- Enhanced Property Value: Adding an ADU can significantly boost your property’s value in high-demand areas.
- Rising Rental Prices: Rents in the Bay Area have increased by nearly 100% over the past several years, making an ADU a lucrative rental option.
- Supportive Legislation: California has enacted laws that simplify the ADU development process, making it easier for homeowners to invest.
- Rental Income: An ADU can provide extra income, making your property more appealing.
- More Space: It adds square footage, which attracts buyers looking for larger homes.
- Versatility: An ADU can be used for guests, a home office, or multi-generational living, making your property more flexible.
- Market Appeal: Properties with ADUs are often more sought after, leading to increased resale value.
- AB 68: Landlords can add two units to their existing lot, including an attached or detached ADU up to 1,200 square feet and a Junior ADU (JADU) up to 500 square feet.
- AB 434: All cities must have a pre-approved ADU plan scheme in place by January 1, 2025. These plans will be designed by architects and available online, with potential fees for access and modifications.
- SB 477: Consolidates state law governing ADUs and JADUs into a new Government Code Chapter and mandates public access to related reports online.
- Detached Cottages: Standalone structures that provide privacy and can be customized to match the primary home’s design. Ideal for larger yards.
- Garage Conversions: Existing garages transformed into living spaces, maximizing the use of available structures without the need for new construction.
- Basement Apartments: Utilizing existing basement space, these units often require minimal changes and can be a cost-effective solution.
- Attached Additions: Expanding the primary residence by adding a unit directly to it, which can provide seamless integration while maintaining accessibility.
- Junior ADUs (JADUs): Smaller units (typically up to 500 square feet) created within the existing footprint of a home, often by converting a portion of the primary living area.
- Tiny Houses: Compact living spaces that can be mobile or stationary, offering a minimalist lifestyle. These may be suitable for smaller lots or specific zoning areas.
- Can not build an ADU before you have a city proven plan for the main house
- We can refer you to LADC to do the main house plan + ADU location. Get income/ live there before main house get build
- Share existing plan
- Discuss with ADU managers on incurred design fee & permit fee & see if LLH can cover some as Credit. Case by case discussion.
- If the craning plan involves craning the unit over a property that is not yours, we will require a neighbor sign-off document from the affected neighbors.
- Neighbor sign-off template
- Discuss with the customer after contract & before submit permit to the city
- Appliances : follow appliance maintenance
- Cabinets/ kitchen : 1 year warranty
- Structure - 10 year bases , follow State requirement/ Same as standard structure warranty.
- Plumbing & Electrical - 2 years
- Doors and windows - 5 years
Traditional Stick Build : To schedule inspections during ADU construction, contact your local building department. Inspections are required at various stages, including foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical, and final inspection, to confirm adherence to building codes and regulations.
Prefab with LiveLarge ADU service: we take care of everything.
After securing all necessary permits and passing inspections, you can legally occupy and use your ADU as planned—whether for rental income, family housing, or other purposes. Ensure you continue to follow all local regulations and requirements.
LiveLarge Prefab ADU is built under supervision of HCD California Department of Housing and Community Development https://www.hcd.ca.gov. Each LiveLarge prefab ADU will receive an insignia from HCD supervisor and it is categorized as a real property, different from a mobile home which only belongs to personal property.
A construction loan is designed specifically for financing the construction of new buildings or renovations, including ADUs. These loans often come with variable interest rates and require a detailed construction plan. Upon completion of the ADU, the construction loan may be converted into a traditional mortgage.Stick build this works
For prefab - heloc loan / home equity loan/cash-out refinancing
Yes
- The loan is different from a typical home purchase loan.
- Most clients use a HELOC or Home Equity Loan when they purchase ADUs. We can refer you to a loan originator and discuss this further if you have more questions.
- Crosscountry mortgage
- For serious clients reach out to Hong Hu, saying Mick sent you: (408) 781-5509
- We offer an ADA compliance upgrade package for L-350, L-500, L-750, L-1190
- For L-795, we are not able to offer a full ADA compliance package due to hallway width and door size, but are able to accommodate ADA shower bar / ramp.
No
- Because it is a pre approved plan by the State. This is what allows us to move quickly through the permitting process. As such, we are not able to change the designs that have already been approved.
- Adding approved window - need to go through title 24 requirement. We have a max out window for daylight.
- We are using 3 layer insulation glass operable windows, max energy efficiency for ADU floor plan.
- Structure: A crawl space foundation elevates the home off the ground, typically by 1 to 3 feet, creating a small space between the ground and the floor of the home. LLH crawl space height?
- Access: The crawl space allows easy access to plumbing, electrical wiring, and HVAC systems, making repairs and maintenance more convenient.
- Ventilation: Crawl spaces are often vented to prevent moisture buildup. Need to be properly sealed, so they can be prone to moisture issues, mold, and pests.
- Insulation: They can be insulated, but care must be taken to prevent moisture from entering the space.
- Cost: Generally more expensive than slab foundations due to the additional materials and labor required for construction.
- Usage: Common in areas with a high water table or where the soil expands and contracts, as they help to keep the structure stable.
- Structure: A slab foundation is a solid concrete pad poured directly on the ground, with the house built on top of it.
- Access: Since there is no space beneath the home, access to plumbing and electrical systems embedded in the slab can be difficult and costly if repairs are needed.
- Moisture Resistance: Slabs are less prone to moisture issues compared to crawl spaces, as they are solid and do not have a space where moisture can accumulate.
- Insulation: Slab foundations can be insulated, but typically provide less natural insulation compared to a crawl space.
- Cost: Slab foundations are generally less expensive to build than crawl spaces due to the simplicity of construction.
- Usage: Common in warmer climates where frost heave is not a concern and where a level, stable foundation is needed.