ADU Construction · Studio City
ADU Construction in Studio City, CA
Guest houses, rental units and home studios behind Studio City homes, planned around state ADU protections, the lot's slope and the fire zone before any drawings are made.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with LADBS
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Studio City, CA
ADU Construction for Studio City Homeowners
ADU construction in Studio City works most simply in the valley-floor neighborhoods north of Ventura, where level backyards leave room for a detached unit. Simply Construction designs, permits and builds accessory dwelling units of every type: detached backyard units, attached additions, and units built over or in place of a garage. We handle the LADBS permit, the utilities and the construction through final inspection, and we look hard at hillside lots before promising anything there. Every unit starts with a parcel review and a site walk.
Local Knowledge
ADU Planning in Studio City
State law does much of the work here. Los Angeles has to allow a qualifying unit of 800 square feet, set as close as 4 feet to the side and rear lines, even where its own floor area limits would say otherwise. Detached units can generally go to 1,200 square feet, and a unit under 750 square feet carries no impact fees. On the flats, the questions are more practical: how the sewer line from the back of the lot reaches the street connection, whether the electrical service needs an upgrade, and how to protect privacy between the new unit and the neighbors.
Height is a design lever. State law generally caps a detached unit at 16 feet, rising to 18 feet within a half mile of major transit with up to 2 more feet there to match the main roof pitch, and lets an attached unit go to 25 feet or the height of the house, whichever is less. In the hills south of Ventura, slope, fire department access and the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone decide whether a unit is feasible at all.
What's Included
What Our Studio City ADU Service Covers
- Feasibility review using the parcel's zoning, hazard maps and a site walk
- Unit layout planning for a backyard cottage, an attached suite or a unit built over or from the garage
- LADBS plan check, including the sanitation and fire department sign-offs
- Sewer lateral, water, gas and electrical service work, with panel upgrades as required
- Construction of the foundation, shell, kitchen, bathroom and interior finishes
- Final inspection and handover of equipment manuals and manufacturer warranty documents
For the full scope, process and options, see our main ADU construction page, or browse everything we build on our Studio City service area page.
Planning Considerations
Designing a Unit That Works
Rental unit or family space
A unit meant for a long-term tenant needs its own path from the street, separate utility metering if you want the tenant to pay directly, and sound separation from the main house. A unit for family, guests or a home office can share more with the main house. Deciding the primary use first keeps the design and the budget aligned, and it avoids paying for features the unit will never need.
Placing the unit on the lot
On many flat lots, the ADU and the main house end up sharing one backyard. We study sun, sightlines into neighboring yards, and where trees and outdoor space will go before settling the footprint. A modest unit placed well often serves the property better than the largest unit the rules allow, both for the people living in it and for the household in front.
Why Choose Us
Why Studio City 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 Studio City homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
Permits Handled With LADBS
Most delays on large residential projects start at the permit counter. We prepare the drawing set, coordinate structural and Title 24 energy calculations, answer plan-check comments and schedule inspections with LADBS, so you are not the one chasing corrections. For ADUs, state law requires the agency to act on a complete application within 60 days, and a complete, well-coordinated submittal is what starts that clock.
Care for Your Street and Your Neighbors
Large projects happen next door to people who live there. We plan staging, dumpster placement, deliveries and working hours around Studio City rules, keep the site secured at the end of each day, and give you notice before loud or disruptive phases such as demolition, concrete pours or crane lifts, so you can give your neighbors a heads-up too.
More in Studio City
Other Services in Studio City
FAQ
ADU Construction in Studio City: Common Questions
Are ADUs allowed on hillside lots in Studio City?
Sometimes. Hillside lots in the fire zone face closer review of fire department access, street width and sprinklers, and slopes add retaining walls and soils work. Some lots can't support a unit, while others simply need more design effort and budget. We review the parcel and walk the site before you spend money on plans.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU?
For a standard ADU, state law no longer lets cities require the owner to live on the property. A junior ADU is different, because the owner has to make either the main house or the junior unit their home. If you are building on a property you plan to rent out entirely, we will steer the design toward a standard ADU.
Can my ADU be a studio or office instead of a rental?
Yes. An ADU is permitted as a complete dwelling, but you decide how to use it, whether as a guest house, an office, an editing room or a place for family. Building it to full ADU standards keeps the rental option open for later and generally makes it a stronger asset when you sell.
Start Your Project
Planning an ADU in Studio City?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything LADBS will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]