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ADU ROI Calculator · Los Angeles

What will your ADU earn you?

Select a Signature Home, input your expected monthly rent, and see your annual income, cash-on-cash return, and payback period — instantly. Estimated cost to build: $180K–$420K.

1. Choose your Signature Home

Each plan shows its estimated cost to build. The fixed plan price is added in the breakdown below.

Cost Breakdown

Plan price + est. cost to build —
Fixed plan price plus the midpoint of the estimated cost to build
Est. city permit fees —
Est. utility connection fees —
Estimated project cost —

The plan price is fixed. The cost to build and the permit and utility fees are estimates — permit and utility amounts are set by the city and utility company. We walk through these estimates during your free Backyard Review.

View full details for this home →

2. Run the ROI numbers

See what this ADU earns you — monthly, annually, and over time.

$ /mo

Typical for this model: —

%

LA average for ADUs: ~5%. Adjust if you plan on family use.

$ /yr

Rule of thumb: $2,000–$4,000/yr for a new-build ADU.

Fixed plan price in writing Permit-ready fixed-price plans 126 LA projects

Ready to see your ADU on your lot?

15 minutes. Your lot, your goals, your estimate. No obligation.

ADU investment questions

How much does it cost to build an ADU in Los Angeles?
A CALI ADU plan has a fixed plan price from $7,490 to $12,990 and an estimated cost to build of $180K–$420K. City permit fees and utility connection fees typically total $8,000–$18,000 and are set by your city and local utilities.
What is the cost per square foot for an ADU?
Our Signature Homes range from roughly $380 to $550 per square foot depending on the model — and that includes everything, not just construction. Industry averages for Los Angeles ADUs run $350–$600+ per square foot for custom builds, but those numbers rarely include design, permits, or appliances. Our transparent pricing does.
How much rental income can an ADU generate?
In Los Angeles, ADU rental income ranges from approximately $1,800/month for a studio to $4,800/month for a three-bedroom two-story home. The exact amount depends on your neighborhood, bedroom count, and finishes. Use the calculator above to see estimated returns for each Signature Home model.
Is an ADU a good investment?
In most Los Angeles neighborhoods, yes. A Signature Home typically delivers a 5–10% cash-on-cash return with a payback period of 7–12 years — before factoring in property appreciation, tax benefits (depreciation), or annual rent increases. The combination of LA's housing shortage and fixed construction costs makes ADUs one of the strongest residential investments available.
Are there hidden costs with CALI ADU?
Not from us. Your plan price is fixed and covers design, engineering, and permit processing. City and utility fees are paid directly at cost. Site-specific construction costs are identified before you commit.

Not sure which model is right for you?

Take our 60-second quiz and get a personalized recommendation, or use the cost calculator to estimate your total ADU project cost.

Find Your ADU → ADU Cost Calculator →
The CALI ADU permit guarantee

Approved, or every dollar of your plan fee back.

California ADU review is ministerial: a plan that meets state and local standards must be approved. Our plans are engineered to those standards, which is why we can put money behind the outcome.

Money-back permit guarantee
Once our feasibility study says we can permit your ADU, if your city refuses to issue the permit, you get every dollar of your plan fee back.
Unlimited corrections, one fixed fee
If your city comes back with plan-check corrections, we handle every round of revisions and resubmittals at no added fee until the plan is approved.
14-day submission on Signature plans
Choose a Signature Home with no design changes and your plan set is completed and submitted to the city within 14 days. City review itself typically takes 6–8 weeks.

126 Los Angeles ADU projects taken through permitting. Zero denied.