Professional ADU Permits Handled For You
ADU permits are where most backyard projects lose time. H&A My Design prepares the submittal, answers plan-check corrections and schedules every inspection as a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #999603), family-owned for more than 20 years. Serving Southern California and the surrounding areas.
Permit strategy reviewed before drawings are finalised — so the set goes in complete the first time.
What Getting ADU Permits Actually Involves
California has made accessory dwelling units far easier to approve than they used to be, but approval still depends on a complete, coordinated drawing set and fast, accurate answers to the city’s questions. That is where projects either move quickly or stall for months.
Why State Law Helps
Under the current state ADU guidance, a compliant ADU application is reviewed against objective standards rather than discretionary hearings, and local agencies must act on a complete application within a set period.
The Word That Matters: Complete
The clock only runs on a complete application. An incomplete set earns a correction list instead of an approval, which is why we file full packages rather than partial ones.
Why ADU Permits Still Take Time
Review times vary by city. In our experience they typically run from about 6 to 14 weeks, depending on the department, its workload and how quickly corrections are answered.
- Incomplete submittals that invite a first-round rejection
- Slow responses to plan-check correction lists
- Separate consultants who do not coordinate their answers
- Utility or fire clearances started too late
How We Secure ADU Permits Step By Step
Six stages from the first check to the final inspection sign-off.
Pre-Check
Zoning, setbacks, easements, special overlays and the reviewing department confirmed for your address.
Complete Submittal
Architectural, structural and Title 24 documents filed as one coordinated package.
Plan Check
Reviewers check the set against building, zoning, fire and energy requirements.
Corrections
Comments answered by the team that drew the set, then resubmitted promptly.
Issuance
Fees paid and the permit issued, ready for construction to begin.
Inspections & Final
Every stage inspected on site through to final sign-off.
What An ADU Permit Set Contains
A complete set is the single biggest factor in how quickly ADU permits are issued.
Site Plan
The unit on the lot with setbacks, easements, access and utility routes.
Floor Plans & Elevations
Dimensioned layouts and every face of the building with heights and materials.
Structural Engineering
Foundation, framing and connection details prepared with the project engineer.
Title 24 Energy Report
Documentation showing the unit meets California energy standards.
Utility & Sewer Details
Connection routes and capacity for sewer, water and electrical service.
Fire & Access Details
Access paths, separations and any fire requirements for the site.
A Trusted Partner For ADU Permits Near You
Homeowners can apply for their own permits. Most find that coordination, not paperwork, is what defeats them.
We are the licensed applicant
As a licensed general contractor (CSLB #999603) we file, respond and schedule on your behalf.
One team answers corrections
The people who drew the set answer the comments on it, so responses go back complete.
Clearances tracked together
Utility, sewer and fire clearances are managed alongside the building permit, not after it.
Realistic expectations
You get an honest timeline for your city rather than a best-case figure designed to win the job.
How ADU Permits Behave Across Southern California
The same unit can face different requirements two streets apart. These are the local realities worth understanding before you set a start date.
Every City Runs Its Own Department
Property inside the City of Los Angeles is reviewed by LADBS. Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, Thousand Oaks and unincorporated county areas each run their own departments, forms and queues.
Special Zones Add Review
Hillside areas, coastal zones, historic districts and fire hazard severity zones can each add requirements. We identify them at the pre-check rather than discovering them mid-process.
Fire Hazard Areas
Properties in designated fire zones may need specific materials, access or sprinkler provisions depending on the site and the main house.
Fees
Plan check and permit fees are set locally. State law limits impact fees on smaller ADUs, and we identify which fees apply to your project during planning so there are no surprises.
Existing Unpermitted Units
If a unit already exists without permits, California provides routes to bring some of them into compliance. We can review what is on your property and explain whether legalising it is realistic.
What Happens Once ADU Permits Are Issued
Issuance is a milestone, not the finish line. Permits carry obligations right through construction.
Inspections Set The Pace
Foundation, framing, rough-in, insulation and final inspections all sit on the critical path. We book them early and walk each stage before calling the inspector.
Permits Can Expire
An issued permit lapses if work does not start or inspections stop for too long. Keeping the job moving is a compliance matter as much as a scheduling one.
Revisions On Site
If something changes during construction, revised drawings may need to be filed. We handle that rather than hoping it goes unnoticed at final inspection.
Final Sign-Off
Final inspection confirms the unit is complete and legally habitable. An unclosed permit can surface years later during a sale, so we close every one properly at handover.
Records For Your Files
You receive the approved plans and inspection record, which matter for insurance, refinancing and eventual resale.
ADU Projects We Took Through Plan Check
Each of these required a full submittal, correction responses and a sequence of inspections before handover.
Need ADU Permits Without The Headache?
Send us your address and, if you have them, any drawings. We will tell you which department reviews your project, what approvals apply and what a realistic timeline looks like.
ADU Permit Questions
How long do ADU permits take?
It varies by city and by how complete the submittal is. In our experience review typically takes about 6 to 14 weeks, and we give you the realistic expectation for your jurisdiction.
Who applies for the permits?
We do. H&A My Design handles the submittal, plan-check corrections and inspection scheduling as part of your project.
What do ADU permits cost?
Fees are set by the local department and depend on the size and value of the unit. State law limits impact fees on smaller units. We identify which fees apply during planning.
Can construction start before the permit is issued?
No structural work can begin without an issued permit. We plan the schedule around issuance rather than betting on it.
Can you legalise an existing unpermitted unit?
Sometimes. We review what is on the property, what would need to change and whether the route is realistic before recommending it.
Which cities do you file ADU permits in?
Throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Westlake, Pasadena, Glendale, Culver City, the South Bay, Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura County, Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Malibu, Agoura Hills, Simi Valley, Burbank, Granada Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda and the surrounding areas.
Related Pages
Common Reasons ADU Applications Get Corrections
Most correction lists repeat the same handful of issues. Getting them right the first time is the fastest way through plan check.
Setbacks And Separations
Distances to property lines, the main house and other structures must be measured accurately and shown clearly. Small errors here are the most common reason a set comes back.
Missing Utility Information
Reviewers need to see how sewer, water and power reach the unit and that capacity exists. We survey these routes on site before drawing them.
Energy Report Mismatches
The Title 24 report must match the windows, insulation and equipment shown on the drawings. When they are prepared by separate firms, they often drift apart.
Structural Details
Connections, hold-downs and foundation details must be complete and consistent with the calculations. Our engineer and drafting team coordinate them before submittal.
Homeowner Experiences
Hear directly from Southern California clients who trusted H&A My Design with their custom homes, ADUs, and additions.
Walk the finished home — navy kitchen with brass fittings, an open living space and a new double-vanity bathroom.
“We’re extremely happy with the results. Without a shadow of doubt, we’ve already recommended them to other neighbors.”
“Everybody was phenomenal to work with, a pleasure to have. Totally fair and wonderful company and great family.”
“H&A made the entire process transparent. Having one GC manage blueprints, city permits, and the build was night and day.”
“Their Canoga Park showroom made selecting our cabinets, quartz, and fixtures so easy. Finished right on schedule.”
“Converted our garage into a 2-bedroom rental. Flawless craftsmanship and leased immediately after final inspection.”
See the full before and after — the original kitchen, the opened-up living space and the finished bathrooms.
“From 3D plans to final city sign-off, H&A handled everything. No surprise change orders, no stress.”
“Built a modern ADU for my parents. The accessibility and aesthetic details exceeded all our expectations.”
Serving Southern California
Licensed throughout Los Angeles & Ventura Counties. HQ Showroom at 6723 Variel Ave, Canoga Park, CA.
MORE SPACE.
MORE VALUE.
Design, permits, showroom selections, and master construction—managed by one accountable team.