ADU Construction · Burbank
ADU Construction in Burbank, CA
Detached backyard units, attached ADUs and pre-approved plan builds for Burbank lots, planned under the city's 2023 ADU ordinance and California's accessory dwelling unit laws.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with the City of Burbank
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Burbank, CA
ADU Construction for Burbank Homeowners
Simply Construction offers ADU construction in Burbank for homeowners who want a rental unit, a place for family, or a work space with its own kitchen and bath. We build detached and attached accessory dwelling units under one contract, from site analysis and design coordination through permits, construction and final inspection.
Burbank has both its own ADU ordinance and a library of city-reviewed plans, which gives homeowners two real paths to a backyard unit. We help you decide which one fits your lot, budget and goals before any design fees are spent.
Local Knowledge
How ADU Rules Work in Burbank
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 23-4,002 on November 7, 2023, updating ADU and JADU standards across Burbank's single-family and multifamily zones, and it took effect that December. ADUs are allowed in the R-1 zone, the R-1-H horsekeeping zone and the multifamily zones, and a single-family lot must have one lawful single-family residence. State law sits underneath the local ordinance: the city must act on a complete application within 60 days, and it has to allow at least an 800 square foot unit with 4-foot side and rear setbacks.
Burbank also runs a Pre-Approved ADU Program created under AB 1332. Homeowners can choose from a library of plans the city has already reviewed, with a stated aim of cutting permit issuance for those plans to 30 days. A pre-approved plan still needs site work, utility connections and a foundation suited to your lot, and that is where most of the real planning happens.
Lot character changes the job. On the flat post-war blocks, the main questions are how the unit sits relative to the existing garage and how sewer and power reach the back of the lot. In the Rancho, the unit has to share the property with horsekeeping facilities that carry their own zoning standards.
What's Included
What Our Burbank ADU Builds Include
- Lot review for placement, setbacks, utility routes and access under Burbank's ADU ordinance and state law
- Custom ADU design coordination, or site adaptation of a plan from Burbank's pre-approved library
- Permit submittal and responses to Planning and Building and Safety comments
- Utility planning, including electrical service capacity, sewer connection and water lines
- Foundation, framing, roofing, insulation and Title 24 energy compliance
- Kitchen, bathroom, flooring and finish work, completed through final inspection
For the full scope, process and options, see our main ADU construction page, or browse everything we build on our Burbank service area page.
Planning Considerations
Choosing the Right ADU Path in Burbank
Pre-approved plans versus a custom design
Burbank's pre-approved library can shorten review of the building itself, but those plans are fixed designs. If your lot is narrow, sloped or shaped around a mature tree, a custom unit may fit better and still moves through the state's 60-day review clock. We price both options against your site so the choice rests on real numbers from your property rather than assumptions.
Size and impact fees
State law exempts ADUs under 750 square feet from impact fees, and Burbank's ADU handout notes that larger units may be charged them. That line is worth planning around. A one-bedroom unit kept under 750 square feet can make sense as a rental, while a two-bedroom guest house for family may justify the fee if relatives will live there for years.
Horsekeeping and hillside lots
ADUs are allowed in the Rancho's R-1-H zone, but the unit has to be placed around the corrals, stables and access the lot already relies on. On hillside lots, slope, retaining walls, longer utility runs and fire zone construction add cost. We study those site conditions first, because they move the budget more than finish choices do.
Why Choose Us
Why Burbank Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Licensed, Bonded and Easy to Verify
Simply Construction inc. is a licensed California general contractor, CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]. State law requires a license for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and anyone can check a contractor's license, bond and workers' compensation status on the CSLB website in about a minute. We encourage every Burbank homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
One Team From Plans to Final Inspection
Design, engineering, permitting and construction sit under one contract and one project lead, so nobody points fingers between the designer, the engineer and the builder when a detail changes. You get one schedule, one point of contact and regular progress updates from the first site visit through the final inspection and sign-off on your Burbank project.
Built to Current California Energy Code
New homes and ADUs in California are built to the Title 24 energy code, which has required solar PV on most new single-family homes since 2020, and permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026 fall under the 2025 Energy Code. We plan insulation, windows, mechanical systems and solar into the design from the start instead of treating compliance as a late fix.
More in Burbank
Other Services in Burbank
FAQ
ADU Construction in Burbank: Common Questions
How long does Burbank take to approve an ADU?
State law requires the city to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days. For plans from Burbank's pre-approved library, the program's stated goal is permit issuance within 30 days. Corrections, incomplete submittals and site-specific engineering can extend either timeline, so we aim to submit a complete, coordinated package the first time.
Can I rent out an ADU in Burbank?
Yes, as a longer-term rental. Burbank's rules require rented ADUs and junior ADUs to be leased for extended terms rather than short stays, and every ADU must have its own entrance. We design the unit with a private entry, its own address and a utility setup suited to a long-term tenant.
Does a Burbank ADU need its own parking space?
Often it does not. Burbank's ADU handout says required parking can't exceed one space per bedroom, and a unit within a half mile walking distance of public transit is exempt. A garage converted into an ADU needs no replacement parking under state law. We check which exemptions apply to your address during the first review.
Start Your Project
Planning an ADU in Burbank?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything the City of Burbank will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]