A Detached ADU: Your Own Backyard Home, Built Start to Finish.
A detached ADU is a fully independent home on your property — its own entrance, its own kitchen, its own life. ADU Cities has designed and built more than 100 ADUs across Southern California in the last four years, handling everything in-house: design, engineering, permits, and construction.
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Why Detached Is the Most Popular Choice
Real Rental Income
A detached ADU functions as a true second home — exactly what long-term tenants and renters look for. In Southern California’s rental market, a permitted detached unit is one of the strongest income-producing improvements a homeowner can make.
Total Privacy — For Everyone
Your tenant gets their own entrance and outdoor space; you keep yours. That separation is what makes detached ADUs work so well for multigenerational families too.
Design Freedom
Without an existing structure dictating the layout, we design from a blank page — vaulted ceilings, big windows, open kitchens, covered patios — around your goals, style, and budget.
Property Value Appraisers Recognize
A detached ADU adds a second dwelling to your property on paper — not just square footage, but a home. Permitted living space is one of the most reliable value drivers in Southern California.
What to Know Before You Build
Lot size and layout
Most single-family lots in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties can accommodate a detached ADU — but the right size and placement depend on your lot’s shape, existing structures, and access. That’s exactly what the free consultation evaluates.
Setbacks and placement
Every city has its own setback rules. These vary by city, so anyone quoting you a number without knowing your address is guessing. We pull your city’s actual requirements during design and place the unit where it works best for privacy, light, and access.
Utility connections
A detached ADU needs its own electrical, plumbing, and sewer connections — one of the biggest cost variables in any project. Because we’re licensed across multiple trades (CSLB #1138550), we assess this honestly during your consultation and itemize the connection plan in your quote. No surprises mid-project.
Design that fits your property
Our designers match rooflines, materials, and architectural details to your main house, so the ADU reads as a natural extension of your property — not a box dropped in the backyard.
Common Questions
Straight answers before you even call.
How long does a detached ADU take to build?
Most detached ADU projects run about 4–8 months from signed agreement to move-in, depending on your city’s permit timeline and the size of the unit. We give you a real schedule before construction starts and weekly updates while we build.
How much does a detached ADU cost?
Most ADU Cities projects fall between $52,000 and $200,000. Detached units involve new foundations and full utility connections, so they sit toward the middle-to-upper part of that range. Your exact price is confirmed in a written, itemized quote.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes — all of it. Plans, engineering, city submittal, corrections until the permit is issued. Permitting is where most homeowners get stuck; it’s what we do every week.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We work with financing partners offering options including 0%-interest programs for qualified homeowners. Many clients finance the build and let rental income cover the payment.
Let’s See What Your Backyard Can Become.
We’ll evaluate your lot, confirm what it qualifies for, and give you an honest read on cost and timeline — free, no obligation, no pressure.