Detached ADUs in San Francisco

A small, complete home behind your house: its own foundation, kitchen, bathroom and front door.

Small gray-sided house with a shed roof, front porch and planted yard

Who builds a detached ADU?

Owners who want the most privacy between the two homes: a rental with its own yard, a place for parents, or a home office that can become a rental later.

Wood stud framing against a bright blue sky

What does the work include?

Site survey, design and engineering
Permits and plan check
Foundation, framing, roof and windows
Sewer, water and electrical runs from the main house or the street
Finishes, inspections and final sign-off

What usually drives the cost?

Size and finishes, then the site: how far the sewer line runs, whether the electrical panel needs an upgrade, and how hard it is to get materials into the back yard.

Backyard cottages in San Francisco

A detached ADU must fit the rear yard and, under the Local Program, the buildable area. Replacing an existing rear structure that is a residential unit needs Conditional Use Authorization before demolition.

Is your lot ready for an ADU?

Send your address and a sentence about what you want. We look up the zoning, setbacks and utility routes and reply with the ADU types that fit.

We build in San Francisco, CA.