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The Signature Process

Three paths to a new ADU.
One process. One guarantee.

Whether you build a Signature ADU plan, convert your garage, or commission a custom design, the contract, the process, and the timeline guarantee are the same. Compare the three paths below.

Choose your path

Three services. Pick the one that fits your lot, budget, and timeline.

Every CALI ADU project, no matter which service you choose, is delivered under a fixed-price contract with a written timeline guarantee.

Signature ADU Plan — The Sunset, a 480 sqft one-bedroom ADU in Los Angeles Most Homeowners

Signature ADU Plans

Nine architect-designed, fixed-price floor plans.

Pre-engineered plans from 400 to 1,200 sqft. Single-story and two-story. Same fixed price, same timeline guarantee, same build standard across the lineup.

Price range
$219K — $459K
Timeline
6 – 9 months

Pros

  • Fastest permit path — pre-engineered plans clear plan check in weeks, not months
  • Fixed price in writing — no change orders for scope we should have anticipated
  • Timeline guaranteed — we pay you a daily delay penalty if we miss the contracted finish date
  • All-inclusive — design, engineering, permitting, and construction in one contract
  • 324 interior combinations × 48 exterior styles — every option included in your price

Cons

  • Floor plans can be modified slightly for an added fee — significant layout changes convert the project to a custom build
  • Pre-engineered for typical LA lots — unusual lot shapes or significant slopes may require a custom design

Best for

Homeowners building new on a typical LA lot who want certainty on price and schedule.

See the 9 plans
Spanish-style garage conversion ADU in Los Angeles by CALI ADU Lowest Cost Path

Garage Conversion Plans

Turn your existing garage into a permitted ADU.

Reuse the foundation, framing, and roof you already have. Add a kitchen, bathroom, and HVAC. Keep your yard intact — the entire ADU fits inside the existing footprint.

Price range
From $150K
Timeline
4 – 7 months

Pros

  • Lowest construction cost in the lineup — you save the cost of foundation, framing, and roof
  • Fastest construction phase — existing structure means weeks, not months, of framing
  • Preserves your backyard — the ADU starts in the garage footprint, with optional additions
  • Often qualifies for lower city fees and faster ministerial review

Cons

  • You lose covered parking — California does not require replacement parking, but some buyers value it
  • Starting size matches your existing garage footprint — additions are available for an added cost
  • May require structural upgrades if the existing garage was not built to current code

Best for

Homeowners with a usable attached or detached garage who want the fastest, lowest-cost path to a backyard rental or guest suite.

Explore garage conversions
Custom 2-story ADU in West LA with 600 sqft rooftop deck One of One

Custom ADUs

When the Signature lineup doesn’t quite fit.

A one-of-one ADU designed by our in-house ADU experts for owners with an unusual lot, a specific vision, or a requirement the Signature plans cannot accommodate. Drawn from scratch around your property. Small custom studios can start near $200K; most custom projects land at $300K and up.

Price range
From $300K
Timeline
12 – 18 months

Pros

  • Designed specifically for your lot — every constraint is a design opportunity
  • Architectural freedom — rooftop decks, custom roof lines, integrated garages, anything within code
  • Same fixed-price construction contract once design is finalized
  • Same timeline guarantee on the construction phase

Cons

  • Longer design phase — typically 12 to 20 weeks before permitting starts
  • Higher total project cost — custom design and engineering carry a premium
  • Pricing not fixed until design is complete — Signature plans give you the price on day one

Best for

Tight or unusual lots, multigenerational layouts that need a custom configuration, rooftop decks, attached garages, or any project that needs a building the Signature lineup cannot deliver.

Explore custom designs
The same four steps, every project

The Signature Process.

From the first call to the day you turn the key, every CALI ADU project follows the same four steps. The total project timeline varies by the path you choose — Signature, Garage, or Custom — see each service above for specifics. The process is identical.

01

Backyard Review

A 15-minute video call where we place any Signature Home on your actual lot so you can see exactly how it fits. We cover setbacks, placement options, and which models work for your property.

You receive a site mockup showing your ADU in your backyard.

02

Design & Contract

Choose your model, interior finishes, and exterior style. We finalize the site plan, engineer the foundation, and lock everything into a fixed-price contract.

You receive a finalized site plan and a signed fixed-price contract.

03

Permitting

We submit, track, and expedite your permit through your city's building department. You pay city fees at cost — no markup. Our pre-engineered plans mean fewer corrections and faster approvals.

You receive an approved building permit.

04

Construction & Keys

One project manager from groundbreaking to final walkthrough. Weekly updates. Fixed schedule guaranteed in writing — if we run late, we pay you.

You receive the keys to your finished ADU.

Our Commitment to You

Timeline guaranteed in writing.

Your contract locks in a construction schedule. If we go past it, we pay you a daily delay penalty until we hand you the keys. The same guarantee applies to Signature plans, garage conversions, and custom builds.

Ready when you are

See it in your backyard.

Book a 15-minute Backyard Review and we’ll put any model on your actual lot — before you commit to anything.

Architect-designed · Fixed price · Timeline guaranteed in writing