Many East Palo Alto homes sit on lots well suited to a backyard ADU or garage conversion — a practical way to house family or earn rental income. Parts of the city are in FEMA flood hazard areas near San Francisquito Creek and the bay, which can require raised floors for new construction. We check your parcel’s flood status and utilities early and guide you through the City of East Palo Alto’s permit process.
You’ll get a fixed construction price and one project manager.
We handle every permit. Here's the short version of what East Palo Alto typically requires for common projects:
Detached, attached and garage ADUs for rental income or extended family.
Turn an existing garage into a legal ADU, in-law suite or home office.
Add a private suite of up to 500 sq ft inside the home you already own.
From refreshes to estate kitchens, typically $60K to $250K+.
Walk-in showers, primary suites and accessible bathrooms.
Bedrooms, primary suites and guest houses that match your home.
Whole-house renovations planned from 4–5 months to 12+ months.
One team for design, city approvals and construction.
2026 ranges for planning purposes. Your fixed price follows a site visit.
Most run about $150,000–$250,000 for a garage conversion and $275,000–$600,000 for a detached unit; flood-zone requirements can add foundation costs.
Often, yes. State law limits when cities can deny permits to legalize older unpermitted ADUs, except for health and safety issues. We inspect the unit and outline the upgrades needed.
Some neighborhoods are. If yours is, new construction may need to be built above the base flood elevation, and we design and price for that from the start.
A Junior ADU inside the home or a garage conversion is usually the lowest-cost option, often a fraction of the cost of a new detached ADU.
Most East Palo Alto kitchen remodels fall into three levels: about $60,000–$95,000 for a refresh, $95,000–$150,000 for a signature remodel with semi-custom cabinetry and layout changes, and $150,000–$250,000 or more for an estate-level custom kitchen, plus city permit fees.
Construction for a single-room addition typically takes 3–4 months, and a primary suite addition 4–6 months, plus time up front for design, engineering and permits.
Planning a project in East Palo Alto? Tell us about your property and choose your project type. We’ll review your ideas and follow up within one business day to schedule a free consultation.
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