ADU Construction · Santa Clarita
ADU Construction in Santa Clarita, CA
Detached and attached ADUs designed around Santa Clarita's ADU handout, Valencia HOA review and the city's fire zone access rule, then permitted and built under one contract.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with the City of Santa Clarita
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Santa Clarita, CA
ADU Construction for Santa Clarita Homeowners
Simply Construction handles ADU construction in Santa Clarita from the first feasibility check to the final inspection, for owners building a rental, a place for a parent or a guest house with its own kitchen. We manage design, Planning clearance, Building and Safety plan check and construction as one project.
The city's rules are friendlier than many owners expect. Santa Clarita's ADU handout sets no parking requirement for ADUs or junior ADUs, allows each type of unit on the same property, and lets you rent an ADU separately from the main house, though not sell it separately. What slows projects here is usually the layers around the ordinance rather than the ordinance itself.
Local Knowledge
What Shapes an ADU in Santa Clarita
Size limits follow the city's handout. A detached ADU can reach 1,200 square feet, while an attached ADU is capped at 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 square feet for two bedrooms. Plans for an attached unit must show at least a one-hour fire-rated assembly separating it from the main house, and Planning has to clear the project before Building and Safety will begin plan review.
Fire mapping produces the rule most specific to this city. On a lot in a high fire hazard severity zone, the ADU must either front a highway or have two non-overlapping ways of reaching one. That can decide feasibility for a cul-de-sac lot in the canyons before any design starts, so we check it first.
In Valencia, many villages have homeowner associations with their own architectural review, and we run that submittal alongside the city's so neither waits on the other. Out in Sand Canyon and Placerita Canyon the lots are large, but oak protected zones and Los Angeles County Fire's fuel modification review shape where a detached unit can sit.
What's Included
Our Santa Clarita ADU Construction Scope
- Feasibility check covering zoning, fire hazard mapping, the city's highway access test, utilities and HOA rules
- Design of detached, attached or above-garage ADUs sized to Santa Clarita's limits and your budget
- Planning Division clearance and Building and Safety plan check, including required agency sign-offs
- One-hour fire-rated separation details for attached units, drawn and built to the approved plans
- Utility planning for sewer, water and electrical service, including panel upgrades where the existing service is too small
- Full construction through final inspection, with Title 24 energy compliance documented for the unit
For the full scope, process and options, see our main ADU construction page, or browse everything we build on our Santa Clarita service area page.
Planning Considerations
Decisions That Shape a Santa Clarita ADU
The 750 Square Foot Line
California exempts ADUs under 750 square feet from impact fees, and that threshold is worth weighing before you settle on a size. A one-bedroom unit just under it can cost less to permit than a slightly larger one. For owners who want two bedrooms, the detached limit of 1,200 square feet leaves plenty of room, and we help you compare the fee difference against the space or rent you gain.
Small Units and Big Summer Heat
A small detached unit in this valley takes the full force of summer afternoons, which regularly climb past 100 degrees. We pay close attention to roof insulation, window placement and shading on the west side, and we size a ductless or ducted system to the actual load. A comfortable ADU is easier to rent and easier to live in, which matters more than any single finish.
Height, Setbacks and Siting
State law lets a detached ADU reach 16 feet, or 18 feet near major transit, with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. On canyon lots the real question is often where the unit sits relative to slopes, oaks and the fuel modification zones around the main house. We site the unit to keep all of those manageable and to give both households some privacy.
Why Choose Us
Why Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
Straight Answers on Feasibility
Some lots cannot fit the project an owner has in mind. We check zoning, setbacks, height limits, easements, slope and utility capacity early, and we tell you plainly what is achievable before you spend money on full drawings. When state law opens a path that the local code seems to block, as ADU and SB 9 rules often do, we explain how it applies to your property.
Written, Line-Item Estimates
Before you commit, you receive a written estimate that breaks the project into its real parts: design and engineering, permit and utility fees, foundation, framing, systems, finishes and site work. Allowances are named and priced, so you can see where your selections move the budget. If the scope changes, the numbers change on paper first, never as a surprise on the final invoice.
More in Santa Clarita
Other Services in Santa Clarita
Nearby
ADU Construction Near Santa Clarita
FAQ
ADU Construction in Santa Clarita: Common Questions
Will the city make me add parking for a Santa Clarita ADU?
No. Santa Clarita's ADU handout states there are no parking requirements for ADUs or junior ADUs. If you convert a garage into an ADU, state law also removes the need to replace the lost parking. Your HOA may still have rules about driveways or street parking, so we check the CC&Rs during feasibility.
How long does the city have to act on my ADU application?
Under state law, a complete ADU application must be acted on within 60 days. That clock starts from a complete submittal, which is why we assemble the Planning and Building and Safety packages carefully and answer plan check corrections quickly. HOA approval follows its own calendar, so we start it early.
Can I build an ADU if my home is in a high fire hazard zone?
Often, yes, but Santa Clarita adds an access test in the high fire hazard severity zone: the property must front a highway or have two non-overlapping ways to reach one. We check that first. If the lot qualifies, we also plan for Los Angeles County Fire's fuel modification review and ignition-resistant construction.
Start Your Project
Planning an ADU in Santa Clarita?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything the City of Santa Clarita will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]