Remodeling & More
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Monterey Park, CA
A private suite with its own entrance and efficiency kitchen, created from space you already have and permitted under Monterey Park's ADU and JADU standards and California law.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Plans, engineering & permits handled
- Written, line-item estimates
- One team from design to final inspection
Junior ADUs (JADU)
Private Living Space Inside the Home You Already Have
We build junior ADUs in Monterey Park for homeowners looking to add a separate living space without putting a new structure on the lot. A junior accessory dwelling unit, or JADU, is created inside the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, including an attached garage, and state law caps it at 500 square feet.
Because a JADU uses space that is already enclosed, the work is mostly interior: a separate entrance, an efficiency kitchen, wiring and plumbing, and sometimes a bathroom. That makes it one of the least disruptive ways to house a relative, a caregiver or a tenant. Our licensed California general contractor team handles the design, the permit application and the construction.
What's Included
What Goes Into a Junior ADU
Feasibility and Layout
We confirm the space qualifies, measure it, and fit the living area, efficiency kitchen, entrance and any bathroom within the 500 square foot limit.
Separate Exterior Entrance
State law requires a JADU to have its own entrance apart from the home's main entry. We frame and weatherproof the new door and add a landing and light.
Efficiency Kitchen
A sink, a cooking appliance, a food preparation counter and storage cabinets, which is how Monterey Park's standards define an efficiency kitchen, on properly sized circuits.
Bathroom, Shared or Private
A JADU can have its own bathroom or share one with the main house. If it shares, the unit needs interior access to the main living area.
Attached Garage Conversion
Building up and insulating the floor, framing in the garage door opening, adding windows and meeting habitable-space standards for heat, light and egress.
Sound and Comfort
Insulation in shared walls, a solid door between the JADU and the house, and heating and cooling through a new ductless unit or a zone of the existing system.
Is It Right for You?
Is a Junior ADU the Right Fit?
You Have an Underused Room or Attached Garage
A spare bedroom suite, a den on an outside wall, or an attached garage you no longer park in can often become a JADU without adding square footage.
You Live on the Property
Owner-occupancy is required on a lot with a JADU, though that residence can be either the main house or the JADU itself. It suits owner-occupants, not absentee investors.
You Want a Smaller Project Than a Full ADU
A JADU avoids new foundations and roof framing. If you need more than 500 square feet or a fully separate structure, an attached or detached ADU fits better.
Family Needs Are Changing
Aging parents, adult children or a live-in caregiver often want privacy and a kitchenette while staying close. A JADU gives them their own door under the same roof.
Our Process
How We Build a Junior ADU
Site Visit and Eligibility Check
We look at the space, possible entrance locations, plumbing routes and the electrical panel, and confirm the property is a single-family home where a JADU is allowed.
Design and Written Bid
We draw the unit to scale and price it by trade, including the entrance, kitchen, bathroom, mechanical work and any garage conversion, with finish allowances labeled.
Permit Application
Plans go to Monterey Park under its ADU chapter and state ADU law, which calls for ministerial review and gives the city 60 days to act on a complete ADU application.
Construction and Inspections
Framing, rough plumbing, electrical and mechanical work are inspected before insulation and drywall go up, then the kitchen, bathroom and finishes are installed and tested.
Final Sign-Off
After final inspections and the recorded deed restriction state law requires, the space can be occupied as a legal junior accessory dwelling unit with permits closed.
Options Compared
Junior ADU Compared With Other Unit Types
Monterey Park allows ADUs in all residential zones, so a JADU is one of several choices, depending on how much space you need.
| Option | Best For | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Junior ADU | Owner-occupants with a spare room or attached garage | Up to 500 sq ft inside the home with its own entrance; owner occupancy and a deed restriction required |
| Attached ADU | Owners who need a full apartment joined to the house | In Monterey Park, up to 50 percent of the main home's floor area or 800 sq ft, whichever is greater |
| Detached ADU | Lots with backyard room for a separate building | Up to 1,200 sq ft in Monterey Park; new foundation, roof and utility runs make it the largest project |
| Converted garage ADU | Detached garages already on the lot | Reuses an existing building; under state law the lost garage spaces don't have to be replaced |
Budget Planning
What Shapes the Cost of a Junior ADU
Because the structure already exists, a JADU's cost depends on what has to change inside it and how far new plumbing and wiring must run. We price from drawings of your actual space and separate code work from finish choices.
Starting Space
A finished bedroom suite needs far less work than an attached garage, which may need a new floor, insulation, windows and a wall where the garage door was.
Bathroom Decision
A private bathroom means new drain, vent and supply lines. Sharing an existing bathroom saves that cost but requires an interior connection to the main house.
Electrical Capacity
An efficiency kitchen plus heating and cooling adds load. If the main panel is near capacity, a panel upgrade may become part of the project.
Heating and Cooling Method
Extending existing ductwork, adding a ductless mini-split or installing a wall unit each carry different equipment costs, permit requirements and comfort tradeoffs.
Local Knowledge
Junior ADU Rules in Monterey Park
Monterey Park regulates ADUs and JADUs under Chapter 21.50 of its municipal code together with Government Code sections 66310 to 66342. The city's standards require a JADU to be converted from space within the primary dwelling, with an attached garage counting as part of the home, and owner-occupancy is required on a property that has one.
The city's handout defines an efficiency kitchen as a sink, a cooking facility with appliances, a food preparation counter and storage cabinets. The number of ADUs and JADUs allowed on a lot depends on how many primary units it holds. We check your lot against these standards before you pay for design.
Why Choose Us
Why Homeowners Choose Simply Construction for Junior ADUs (JADU)
Small Spaces Planned Carefully
Fitting an entrance, kitchen, sleeping area and possibly a bathroom into 500 square feet leaves no room for layout mistakes. We design and build under one design-build contract, so the person who planned the cabinet run is accountable for installing it. Home improvement work over $500 needs a written contract under California law, and our JADU contract spells out every element of the scope.
Payments Follow the Work
California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and prohibits billing for work not yet done or materials not yet delivered. On a JADU, that usually means one payment after framing and rough-in inspections, another after drywall and cabinets, and the balance at final sign-off, so your money never runs ahead of what you can see built.
Applications Filed Complete
State law's 60-day review clock only starts once an ADU application is complete, so a missing sheet or calculation costs time. We assemble full plan sets for Monterey Park and answer plan check comments quickly. We are a licensed California general contractor based here in town, and the CSLB website shows our license, bond and workers' compensation records to anyone who looks.
Service Area
Junior ADUs (JADU) Across Los Angeles & Ventura Counties
We take on junior adus (JADU) projects in every community below. Each link leads to that city's page, where you can see how our full range of services applies there.
San Fernando Valley
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Burbank
A Burbank JADU can be carved from a spare bedroom or an attached garage, up to 500 square feet, with an efficiency kitchen and the owner living in one of the two units.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Studio City
Junior ADUs within Studio City houses or attached garages, giving a relative, caregiver or tenant a private entrance and efficiency kitchen inside the existing walls.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Sherman Oaks
Junior ADUs carved from a bedroom wing or attached garage in a Sherman Oaks house, each with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Encino
Inside an existing Encino home or attached garage, a junior ADU of up to 500 square feet creates a private suite for family or a caregiver without adding a separate building.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Woodland Hills
A junior ADU carved from a bedroom wing or attached garage gives Woodland Hills owners a separate suite of up to 500 square feet without building a new structure.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Toluca Lake
Junior ADUs of up to 500 square feet created from an attached garage or guest wing in a Toluca Lake house, each with a private entrance and an efficiency kitchen.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Valley Village
Junior ADUs up to 500 square feet inside a Valley Village house or attached garage, with a separate entrance and efficiency kitchen for a relative or caregiver.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Tarzana
Junior ADUs inside Tarzana homes, often using a lower level or garage-side wing, so a relative can live on site without new construction on a slope.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Reseda
Junior ADUs up to 500 square feet built inside Reseda homes or attached garages, which can share a lot with a detached ADU under state law.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Northridge
Junior ADUs carved from a bedroom wing or attached garage in Northridge homes near CSUN, each with a private entrance and efficiency kitchen.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Porter Ranch
Junior ADUs inside Porter Ranch homes using a downstairs wing or attached garage, avoiding new grading on a sloped lot.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Granada Hills
Junior ADUs inside Granada Hills homes, placed with care for privacy in open-plan Eichlers and ranch houses alike.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Chatsworth
A Chatsworth junior ADU of up to 500 square feet can go inside an attached garage or bedroom wing, adding a rental or family suite without disturbing corrals or trail easements.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in West Hills
A junior ADU inside a West Hills garage or bedroom wing gives a relative a private suite, capped at 500 square feet, with its own efficiency kitchen.
Glendale, Pasadena & Northeast LA
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Glendale
For a Glendale household with a grown child or a parent moving in, a JADU inside the house provides a private kitchenette and entry without building anything new outside.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Pasadena
A Pasadena JADU suits a large older home with an underused wing or sleeping porch, adding a private entry and efficiency kitchen within the existing footprint and the 500 square foot limit.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Altadena
An Altadena JADU of up to 500 square feet can be planned inside a rebuilt house or carved from a surviving one, with an efficiency kitchen and its own entry.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in South Pasadena
Junior ADUs carved from a bedroom, sleeping porch or attached garage in a South Pasadena house, adding a family or rental suite with little change to the exterior.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in San Marino
Junior ADUs inside San Marino houses or attached garages, giving family or a caregiver a private suite without placing a new structure in the garden.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in La Crescenta-Montrose
Junior ADUs inside La Crescenta-Montrose homes or attached garages, an easier route to a second unit than building on a sloping backyard.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Eagle Rock
Junior ADUs created inside Eagle Rock homes or attached garages, offering a private suite for family or a tenant without new construction in the yard.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Silver Lake
Junior ADUs in Silver Lake homes that use a lower level or attached garage, adding a unit without grading a steep lot.
Westside, Hollywood & the Coast
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Santa Monica
A Santa Monica junior ADU of up to 500 square feet fits inside the home or an attached garage, giving family or a caregiver a private suite without building in the garden.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Beverly Hills
Junior ADUs inside Beverly Hills homes or attached garages, each planned with the separate exterior entrance the city requires and at least an efficiency kitchen.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Pacific Palisades
Designing a JADU into a Palisades rebuild from day one gives you up to 500 square feet of separate living space, with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Malibu
A Malibu junior ADU keeps new living space inside the existing walls, a practical option when septic fields and setbacks leave little room for another structure.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Brentwood
Junior ADUs carved from a wing of a larger Brentwood house, up to 500 square feet, with an efficiency kitchen, a separate entry and no new footprint on a hillside lot.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Bel Air
Junior ADUs of up to 500 square feet inside an existing Bel Air house, adding a separate living unit with no new grading on the slope.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Westwood
Junior ADUs within Westwood houses, up to 500 square feet, suited to graduate students, caregivers or family, without using more floor area.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in West Hollywood
Junior ADUs inside West Hollywood homes or attached garages, adding a separate suite without giving up scarce yard space.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Hollywood Hills
Junior ADUs inside Hollywood Hills homes and attached garages, a way to add a unit without new grading on a steep lot.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Marina del Rey
Junior ADUs for single-family homes on the coastal streets around Marina del Rey, created within the existing house with no added height.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Oakwood
Junior ADUs inside an existing Oakwood bungalow or attached garage, up to 500 square feet, adding a unit with no new height or footprint.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Manhattan Beach
Junior ADUs inside Manhattan Beach homes, often on a lower floor with its own entry, up to 500 square feet and without adding height.
Santa Clarita, Conejo & Las Virgenes
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Santa Clarita
A Santa Clarita junior ADU of up to 500 square feet, built inside the house or an attached garage, can share the lot with a detached ADU under the city's rules.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Thousand Oaks
A Thousand Oaks junior ADU of up to 500 square feet, built inside the house or attached garage, adds a private suite for family without building in the yard.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Calabasas
Inside a larger Calabasas home, a junior ADU creates a private suite of no more than 500 square feet without new footprint, grading or oak tree permits.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Hidden Hills
A Hidden Hills junior ADU sits within the main house, giving a caregiver or relative a private space within the 500 square foot limit, with no new outbuilding needed.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Bell Canyon
A Bell Canyon junior ADU adds as much as 500 square feet of private living space inside the existing house, sidestepping grading and oak tree permits.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Topanga
A Topanga junior ADU carves a private suite from the existing house, capped at 500 square feet, avoiding the grading and habitat issues of a new building.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Oak Park
In Oak Park, a junior ADU of 500 square feet or less inside the house adds a private suite without taking any of a compact yard.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Moorpark
Moorpark junior ADUs, up to 500 square feet, carved from a garage bay or spare bedroom to house a relative or caregiver.
Related Services
Often Paired With Junior ADUs (JADU)
New Construction & Additions
ADU Construction
Detached and attached accessory dwelling units designed, permitted and built under one contract.
Explore ADUsNew Construction & Additions
Garage Conversions
Turn an underused garage into a permitted ADU, suite or living space with real insulation, egress and utilities.
Explore Garage ConversionsRemodeling & More
Bathroom Remodeling
Primary baths, guest baths and ADU baths built with proper waterproofing, ventilation and tile work.
Explore BathroomsWant to know who you would be working with? Read about Simply Construction, see our project gallery, or contact our Monterey Park office.
FAQ
Junior ADUs (JADU) Questions, Answered
How big can a junior ADU be in Monterey Park?
Up to 500 square feet, and it must sit entirely within the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, including an attached garage. That limit comes from state law and appears in Monterey Park's ADU and JADU standards. If you need more room, consider an attached ADU.
Do I have to live on the property?
Yes. Owner-occupancy is required for a property with a JADU, but the owner can live in either the main house or the JADU itself. The owner also records a deed restriction, which keeps the JADU from being sold separately from the home.
Does a JADU need its own bathroom?
No. A JADU may have its own bathroom or share one with the main house. If it shares, the unit must have an interior connection so the occupant can reach the bathroom without going outside. A private bathroom adds cost but gives both households more independence.
Can I rent out a junior ADU?
Generally yes, as long as the owner-occupancy requirement is met. The deed restriction prevents a separate sale of the unit, and cities can limit short-term rentals, so check Monterey Park's current rules before you advertise the space to any tenants or guests.
Does a JADU need separate utility meters or fire walls?
Under state law, a JADU is not treated as a separate dwelling unit for water, sewer or power service, or for fire and life-safety rules, so separate meters and rated separation walls are not required on that basis. It still needs smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and code-compliant wiring and plumbing.
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Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]