Solid ADU
ADU plans and permits in Los Angeles: from feasibility check to LADBS approval
Want an ADU but dreading the paperwork? We check feasibility, match you with licensed architects and engineers who produce your drawings, structural calculations and Title 24 energy report, and guide the full LADBS plan check with you, all the way to a permit you can build on.
- Free feasibility check on your lot before you commit to anything
- Drawings, structural and Title 24 calcs by licensed architects and engineers
- We guide the LADBS process and track every plan check correction for you
- Clear fixed proposal up front, response within 24 hours
No obligation · Response within 24 hours · Your details are only used to contact you.
- [YEARS] years of experience
- [PROJECTS]+ completed projects
- Response within 24 hours
- Free feasibility check
- Vetted, CSLB-licensed contractors
Before a single wall goes up, every ADU in Los Angeles needs an approved set of plans and a building permit from LADBS, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. That means architectural drawings, structural calculations, a Title 24 energy report and a plan check review by the city. For most homeowners, this paper phase is the most confusing part of the whole project. It is also where projects stall.
The good news: California state ADU law makes an ADU a permitted use on most residential lots, and it requires the city to act on a complete application within 60 days. So the question is rarely whether you can get approved. It is whether your application is complete, code compliant and answered quickly when the plan checker sends corrections. That is exactly the process we guide you through, step by step.
Solid ADU is a free matching and project guidance service for Los Angeles homeowners, with garage conversion and ADU projects as our specialty. Your plans come from licensed architects and structural engineers in our network, professionals who design ADUs that the CSLB-licensed contractors in our network actually build. That keeps plan sets practical: dimensioned for real crews, engineered for how LA garages and lots are actually constructed, and written to move through LADBS plan check with as few corrections as possible.
The result: an approved plan set and a building permit in hand, plus one point of contact who keeps every party moving. It starts with a free feasibility check of your property, and you get a clear answer before you spend anything.
What the licensed contractors in our network can do for you
Free feasibility check
We review your lot before you commit: zoning, lot size, existing structures, setbacks, utilities and access. You get a straight answer on what kind of ADU your property supports and what the path to a permit looks like.
Site measurement and as-built drawings
Your design team measures your property and existing structures and draws them up as they stand today. Accurate as-builts are the foundation of a clean plan set, especially for garage conversions where the existing structure carries the design.
ADU design and floor plan
A licensed architect designs the layout around how the unit will actually be used: rental, family member or home office. You review the floor plan and elevations and approve the design before anything goes to the city.
Permit-ready architectural drawings
The full plan set LADBS requires: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, construction details and code notes. Drawn to city standards so the plan checker can review it without guesswork.
Structural engineering and calculations
A licensed structural engineer calculates foundations, framing and seismic loads and produces the structural sheets and calculations LADBS requires. For garage conversions this covers new openings, infilled garage doors and any strengthening of the existing structure.
Title 24 energy calculations
Title 24 is California's building energy code. Your design team produces the required energy compliance report covering insulation, windows, heating, cooling and water heating, matched to the products the project will actually use.
LA ADU Standard Plan Program guidance
LADBS maintains a list of pre-approved ADU standard plans. Because the design itself is already reviewed, plan check focuses on site-specific items, which can save time. We advise honestly on whether a standard plan or a custom design fits your lot and goals better.
LADBS plan check submission
Your design team prepares and submits the complete application through the city's online system, including all required forms and clearances. We coordinate the package and check it for completeness, because a complete, well-organized submission is the single biggest factor in a fast review.
Plan check corrections handled
Almost every application gets a corrections list from the plan checker. Your design team responds to each comment, revises the drawings and resubmits until the set is approved. We track every round and translate the city's comments into plain English, so you always know where your application stands.
Permit issuance and city fees
Once the plans are approved we guide the permit through issuance with you and tell you exactly which city fees apply and when. City fees always go straight to the city, never marked up or hidden in a proposal.
Inspection guidance through final sign-off
During construction, LADBS inspects the work in stages: foundation, framing, rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical, insulation, drywall and a final inspection. Your contractor schedules these inspections, and we stay involved through final inspection so the project closes out properly.
Does this sound familiar?
Most homeowners who call us are not short on motivation. They are stuck on the process. Sound familiar?
- You do not know if your lot even qualifies for an ADU, and every website tells you something different.
- You want to convert your garage but have no idea what the city requires structurally or where to start.
- A draftsman or online plan service got you halfway, and now the application is stuck in plan check corrections nobody is answering.
- Contractors are happy to quote the construction, but nobody wants to own the drawings and the permit paperwork.
- You have heard about setbacks, height limits and parking rules and cannot tell which ones apply to your property.
- Your garage was partially converted years ago without permits, and you are worried that blocks you from doing it right now.
- Every month without a permit is a month without rental income, and the process keeps dragging.
- You are comparing quotes and cannot tell what is actually included: who does the engineering, who does Title 24, who deals with LADBS?
How we solve it
We run the approval phase the way a good project should be run: one point of contact, licensed professionals for every discipline and no loose ends between parties.
- One point of contact: the same person guides your project from feasibility check to approved permit, so nothing falls between parties.
- Free feasibility check first: you know what your lot supports before you spend a dollar or sign anything.
- A clear fixed proposal: you see exactly what is included, from drawings and engineering to plan check handling, before any paid work starts.
- Architecture, structural engineering and Title 24 coordinated as one package, so the sheets agree with each other and the plan checker has less to flag.
- Your design team submits to LADBS and answers every correction, while we track the review and give you updates in plain English, not forwarded city letters.
- Honest advice on the fastest route, including the LA ADU Standard Plan Program when a pre-approved plan genuinely fits your lot.
- Guidance through construction inspections to final sign-off, so the permit you worked for turns into a legal, finished unit.
Why choose Solid ADU
Know before you spend
The feasibility check is free and comes first. If your lot has a real obstacle, you hear it up front, with options, instead of discovering it after paying for drawings.
One coordinated plan set
Drawings, structural calculations and Title 24 energy report come together as one coordinated package. No chasing three separate firms whose sheets contradict each other in plan check.
We know the LADBS process
We guide ADU applications through the city's process every week: the online submission system, the clearances, the way plan checkers write corrections. That familiarity is what keeps applications moving.
Plans that get built
The architects and engineers in our network design for the CSLB-licensed contractors who build these plans. Their sets are dimensioned and detailed for real construction, which prevents the expensive gap between what was approved and what can actually be built.
A predictable path
State law requires the city to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days. Our job is keeping your application complete and every correction answered fast, so that clock works in your favor.
A fixed proposal, no hourly meter
You get a clear fixed proposal for the plans and permit work before anything starts. City fees are listed separately and go straight to the city, so there are no surprises.
How we work
1
Free feasibility check
Call us or leave your number, and we respond within 24 hours. We look at your lot, your garage or backyard, and your utilities, and we talk through what you want: rental income, space for family, or a home office. You get an honest picture of what is possible before you spend anything.
2
Matched with the right contractor
We match you with vetted, CSLB-licensed contractors from our network whose track record fits your type of ADU, your lot and your budget. We verify licenses, insurance and past work, so you do not have to.
3
Compare clear fixed proposals
You receive clear fixed proposals with the scope, schedule and price spelled out. No fine print and no surprise costs. You compare, ask us anything, and pick the contractor you feel confident with, at your own pace.
4
Plans and LADBS permits
Your contractor's team prepares the complete permit set: architectural plans, structural calculations and the energy compliance documents California requires. We guide you through the LADBS permit process and keep you posted on plan check and corrections. Nothing is submitted until you approve the design.
5
Your contractor builds, we stay involved
Your licensed contractor builds your ADU and schedules every required city inspection along the way. We stay involved as your single point of contact, so you always know where things stand.
6
Final inspection and handover
LADBS signs off with the final inspection and your ADU is approved for occupancy. You walk the finished unit with your contractor and receive it clean and ready to use, backed by a workmanship warranty from your licensed contractor.
Materials and finishes
A permit application is really a stack of documents. These are the pieces LADBS expects, in plain language, and all of them are covered in the scope you approve.
Site plan and as-built drawings
A scaled drawing of your lot showing property lines, existing buildings, the new ADU and distances to the lot lines. As-builts document the existing structures, which matters most for garage conversions.
Architectural plan set
Floor plans, exterior elevations, building sections and construction details, plus the code notes plan checkers look for. This is the core of the application and later the instruction manual for the crew.
Structural sheets and calculations
The engineer's framing and foundation plans with supporting calculations for gravity and seismic loads. Required for new construction and for garage conversions that add openings or change the structure.
Title 24 energy report
The energy compliance report required with every application, covering insulation values, windows, heating, cooling and water heating. Newly built ADUs generally also need rooftop solar under Title 24, while converting existing space usually does not; we confirm what applies to your project.
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing layouts
Drawings and notes for the systems inside the unit: panel and circuits, water and drain lines, heating and ventilation. Clear MEP information prevents both plan check comments and field surprises.
The permit package itself
The application forms, owner information, required clearances from other departments and the fee schedule. Your design team assembles and submits it as one complete package, with us checking completeness, because incomplete packages are the main cause of slow reviews.
What does ADU plans & permits cost?
What ADU plans and permits cost depends heavily on the project. A garage conversion using the existing structure is a very different scope than a new two-story detached ADU on a sloped lot. That is why you will not find standard prices here: they would be wrong for your situation more often than right.
The main drivers are the type and size of the ADU, how much structural engineering the design needs, which reports the city requires for your specific lot, and the city's own plan check and permit fees, which go straight to the city without markup. After the free feasibility check you receive a clear fixed proposal for the design and engineering work, so you see the full picture in one document before deciding. Our matching and guidance is free for homeowners: you only pay for the professional work you approve.
Want to know where your property stands? Request your free feasibility check or call (747) 774-7310. You get a response within 24 hours and you commit to nothing.
These factors determine the price:
- New construction or a conversion of existing space, such as a garage
- The size of the unit and the complexity of the design
- One story or two, and whether the ADU sits above or attached to another structure
- How much structural engineering the project needs, including the condition of an existing garage
- Whether your lot is in a hillside area or another zone that requires extra reports or clearances
- Soils or geology reports, when the location of the lot requires them
- A custom design versus a pre-approved plan from the LA ADU Standard Plan Program
- The scope of the Title 24 energy report and whether solar requirements apply
- Utility connections: electrical capacity, water and sewer routing to the new unit
- LADBS plan check and permit fees, which are set by the city and paid to the city directly
- Design changes after submission, which trigger revised sheets and rechecks
Want a real number for your specific project instead of a guess? Start with the free feasibility check and receive a clear fixed proposal.
Leave your phone number for a free feasibility check. No obligation, no pressure.
How long does it take?
How long the approval phase takes depends on the project and on the city's review. The design and drawing phase typically moves as fast as decisions are made: the sooner the floor plan is approved by you, the sooner engineering and Title 24 can finish. For the city review, state law requires action on a complete ADU application within 60 days, and correction rounds add time on top of that.
Two things genuinely speed the process up: submitting a complete, coordinated package the first time, and answering corrections within days instead of weeks. Both are exactly why homeowners bring us in: a coordinated design team on one side, and one point of contact keeping everyone moving on the other. Where a pre-approved standard plan fits your lot, that can shorten the review further.
Before the design work starts you receive a realistic schedule for each phase: design, engineering, submission and review. When the city's timeline shifts, you hear it from us directly, with what it means for your project and what is being done about it.
ADU Plans & Permits in your neighborhood
We guide ADU plans & permits projects across all of Los Angeles and match you with the right licensed contractor. Check the page for your neighborhood or get in touch right away.
View all neighborhoods
Don't see your neighborhood? View our full service area or give us a call. If you are in the city of Los Angeles, chances are we cover your area too.
Frequently asked questions about ADU plans & permits
Is the feasibility check really free?
Yes, completely. We review your lot, the zoning rules that apply and the realistic ADU options, and you get a clear answer at no cost and with no obligation. Only when you approve a clear fixed proposal does paid design work begin.
Can I get an ADU approved on my lot?
In most cases, yes. California state ADU law makes ADUs a permitted use on most residential lots, and LADBS reviews applications against objective standards rather than neighborhood opinion. The feasibility check tells you what applies to your specific property, including anything that needs extra attention, such as hillside rules.
How long does LADBS plan check take?
State law requires the city to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days. In practice the total timeline depends on how complete the first submission is and how quickly corrections are answered. That is the part good guidance controls: complete packages in, fast correction responses back.
What is the LA ADU Standard Plan Program?
It is a city program with pre-approved ADU designs. Because LADBS has already reviewed the design itself, plan check for your project focuses on site-specific items, which can save review time. A standard plan is not right for every lot or every goal, so we advise per situation and are honest when a custom design serves you better.
Do I need an architect and a structural engineer?
Your application needs professional drawings, and structural calculations by a licensed engineer whenever the design changes or adds structure, which includes most garage conversions. We match you with both from our network of licensed architects and engineers, so you do not have to find, vet and coordinate them yourself.
What is Title 24 and why does my ADU need it?
Title 24 is California's building energy code. Every ADU application must include an energy compliance report showing the insulation, windows, heating and water heating meet the standard. Your design team produces this report as part of the plan set, matched to what will actually be installed.
Does my ADU need solar panels?
Newly constructed ADUs generally need rooftop solar under Title 24. Converting existing space, such as a garage conversion, generally does not trigger that requirement. We confirm exactly what applies to your project during the feasibility check, before you make any decisions.
My garage was already converted without permits. Can you still help?
Usually, yes. We review the situation in the feasibility check, and your design team assesses what exists, what can be kept and what has to be corrected, then designs the legalization path into the plan set. Unpermitted work makes the project more involved, not impossible, and getting it legal protects you at sale, with insurance and with tenants.
Do garage conversions have to meet new setback rules?
Generally no. A conversion within the existing footprint can typically stay where the garage stands today, even close to a property line, which is one reason garage conversions are such a strong option in Los Angeles. New detached ADUs generally need modest side and rear setbacks. We confirm the exact rules for your lot in the feasibility check.
What does the plans and permits service cost?
That depends on the type and size of the ADU, the engineering scope and the reports your lot requires, so there are no standard figures. After the free feasibility check you receive a clear fixed proposal for the design and engineering work, with the city's own fees listed separately and paid to the city directly. Our guidance itself is free for homeowners.
Can I use the plans and build with my own contractor?
Yes. The approved plan set and permit are yours. Many homeowners have us match them with a vetted, CSLB-licensed contractor from our network so they can compare clear fixed proposals, but you are free to take the approved set to a contractor of your choice.
What inspections happen after the permit is issued?
LADBS inspects the construction in stages: foundation, framing, rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical, insulation, drywall and a final inspection. After the final sign-off the unit is legally complete. Your contractor schedules this inspection sequence, and we stay involved through final inspection so nothing is closed up before it is checked.
What happens after I send a request?
You get a response within 24 hours. We ask a few questions about your property and your goals, run the free feasibility check and walk you through the findings. If you want to move forward, you receive a clear fixed proposal. You decide at your own pace.
Is your question not listed? Call us at (747) 774-7310. You will talk to someone who guides projects through the LADBS process every week.
Often combined with
Garage Conversion
Your garage is likely the fastest and most cost-effective route to a legal ADU. The structure, slab and roof are already there, so you are converting instead of building from scratch. We check feasibility, guide your plans and permits, and match you with vetted, CSLB-licensed contractors who build your ADU. One point of contact from first idea to final inspection.
Detached ADU
Thinking about a detached ADU in your Los Angeles backyard? We check feasibility, guide your plans and permits, and match you with vetted, CSLB-licensed contractors who build your new unit. One point of contact and clear fixed proposals, from the first sketch to the final LADBS inspection.
Attached ADU
Thinking about adding a rentable unit onto your house, or turning part of it into one? Solid ADU checks feasibility, guides your plans and permits, and matches you with vetted, CSLB-licensed contractors who build your attached ADU. One point of contact from first idea to final inspection, and clear fixed proposals before anything starts.
Ready to turn your ADU idea into an approved permit? Call Solid ADU at (747) 774-7310 or request your free feasibility check. You will hear from us within 24 hours.
Fill out the form and get a response within 24 hours, with no obligation. Rather talk it through right away? Call (747) 774-7310.