Frequently asked questions

An ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) is a self-contained home on the same lot as your main house, with its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom. It can be a converted garage, a new backyard unit or a unit attached to your home. Once the city approves it, it is legal living space you can use for family or rent out long term.

No. Solid ADU is a free matching and project guidance service for homeowners, not a contractor. All construction is performed by independent, CSLB-licensed contractors from our network. We check feasibility, guide your plans and permits, match you with the right contractor for your project, and stay involved as your point of contact through the final inspection. You only ever pay your contractor for the build; our service is free for homeowners.

In most cases, yes. California ADU law allows an ADU on most residential lots, and LADBS reviews your application against objective standards. Every lot is different, though: utilities, slope, easements and existing structures all matter. Our free feasibility check tells you what is realistic on your specific property before you commit to anything.

It depends on the type and the site. A garage conversion reuses an existing structure and usually costs less than a new detached unit. Size, utility upgrades such as an electrical panel, the distance to your sewer line, the condition of the foundation and the finish level all drive the number. That is why we do not quote standard prices. After the free feasibility check, the licensed contractors we match you with send clear fixed proposals for your specific project, so you compare real numbers instead of ballpark guesses.

That varies with the project and the number of plan check rounds. A complete, well-prepared plan set moves faster, while every correction round adds time. Los Angeles also offers preapproved standard plans for some detached ADUs, which can shorten review. Your contractor's team prepares a complete submittal and handles the plan check corrections, while we guide you through the process and keep you posted. Your proposal includes a realistic timeline.

Under California ADU law, the city cannot require you to replace the parking spaces you remove when a garage is converted into an ADU. So you will not be forced to build a new carport or add driveway spaces. Your cars will park in the driveway or on the street instead; whether that works for your household is something we talk through during the feasibility check.

Yes. Renting your ADU as a long-term rental is allowed and is one of the most common reasons to build one. Short-term rentals are a different story: Los Angeles home-sharing rules are strict and most ADUs do not qualify, so check the current city rules before you count on that. If rental income is your goal, tell us up front. It shapes which contractor we match you with, and your contractor factors it into the layout and finish choices from the start.

A JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit) is a smaller unit of up to 500 square feet created within the walls of your single-family home. It has an efficiency kitchen and may share a bathroom with the main house, and state law requires the owner to live on the property. A regular ADU can be larger, detached or attached, always has its own full kitchen and bathroom, and has no owner-occupancy requirement. On many lots you can even have both.

Most owners use savings, home equity through a HELOC or cash-out refinance, or a renovation loan. Which route fits you depends on your equity, income and plans; that is a conversation for your lender or financial advisor, and we do not give financial advice. What you do get through us is a clear fixed proposal from a licensed contractor, which is exactly the document a lender wants to see.

A garage conversion is usually the fastest route, because the structure, slab and roof already exist. A new detached unit takes longer, with foundation, framing and utility work from the ground up. Your contractor's proposal includes a realistic schedule from permit issuance through final inspection, and we tell you up front which factors can affect it.

We call you within 24 hours to talk through your property and your goals. If it looks promising, we run the free feasibility check and match you with vetted, CSLB-licensed contractors from our network. You then receive clear fixed proposals to compare. There is no obligation at any point; you decide if and when to move forward, and which contractor you build with.