Guides
What we tell people on the phone, written down
Most of these started as a question a homeowner asked us on the phone. State ADU law, what your lot will actually take, how a permit really moves, and what to ask before you sign anything.
ADU law
August 27, 2026
What California ADU law lets you build
State law sets a floor your city can't go below. Here's what that floor is, what changed in January 2026, and which parts your city still controls.
Choosing
August 13, 2026
ADU, JADU, or garage conversion: which fits your lot
Four ways to add a unit, what each one costs you in constraints, and the questions that decide it before anyone draws anything.
Planning
July 30, 2026
Nine things to check before you spend a dollar
Site conditions decide more ADU budgets than design choices do. These are the ones that turn into change orders when nobody looks first.
Process
July 16, 2026
How an ADU permit actually moves
The six stages between an idea and a building permit, which ones have a legal clock on them, and where the time really goes.
Hiring
July 2, 2026
Ten questions to ask before you sign
Including the awkward ones. Several have legal answers, which makes them easy to check, and a vague answer to one of those tells you plenty.
These are general guides, not legal advice. ADU rules change every January, and every city layers its own on top of the state's. If you want the answer for your address rather than the general one, check which jurisdiction you are under or call us at (626) 498-5455.
Have a question none of these answer?
Ask it. If it turns out other people are asking the same thing, it becomes the next guide.