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Service · JUNIOR ADU (JADU)
Add a Junior ADU Inside the Home You Already Own.
A JADU turns an existing bedroom, wing or attached garage into a private suite of up to 500 sq ft — ideal for aging parents, adult children or a live-in caregiver.
What's Included
How We Build a Junior ADU.
A JADU is the fastest, lowest-cost way to add a legal living unit. Here’s what goes into doing one right.
Layout Within Existing Walls
We plan up to 500 sq ft inside your current home or attached garage, with privacy, daylight and sound separation from the main living areas.
Efficiency Kitchen
A compact kitchen with a sink, cooking appliance, counter space and storage — the feature that legally defines a JADU.
Separate Exterior Entrance
A dedicated outside door so the occupant can come and go independently, with an optional interior connecting door to the main house.
Private or Shared Bathroom
A JADU can share a bathroom with the main home or have its own. We price both so you can compare.
Sound Insulation & Safety
Insulated shared walls and solid-core doors for privacy between households, plus the required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Permits & Deed Restriction
We prepare the permit set and guide you through the deed restriction California requires for JADUs, which records the owner-occupancy rule.
INVESTMENT LEVELS
Junior ADU Cost in the Bay Area.
Typical 2026 ranges. Because a JADU reuses existing structure, it usually costs a fraction of a detached ADU.
Bedroom Suite JADU
$55K–$95K
Existing bedroom, shared bath
- Efficiency kitchen
- New exterior entry door
- Sound insulation
- Electrical & lighting
- 2–4 month timeline
JADU with Private Bath
$95K–$150K
Up to 500 sq ft
- Efficiency kitchen
- New private bathroom
- Separate entrance
- Plumbing tie-in
- 3–5 month timeline
Attached-Garage JADU
$130K–$190K
Converted attached garage
- Slab & insulation upgrades
- Door infill & new windows
- Kitchen & private bath
- Heat-pump heating & cooling
- 4–6 month timeline
Recent In-Law Suites
A Look at What We Build.
HOW IT WORKS
Your Junior ADU, Step by Step.
A JADU reuses space you already have, so most take just a few months from design to move-in.
- WalkthroughWe identify the best space for a JADU, such as a bedroom wing or attached garage, and confirm it can meet the requirements.
- Layout & kitchen designWe plan the suite, the efficiency kitchen, the separate entrance and whether the bathroom is shared or private.
- Permits & deed restrictionWe submit plans and guide you through the owner-occupancy deed restriction California requires.
- ConstructionFraming, plumbing, electrical, insulation and finishes. A bedroom JADU is often completed in 2–4 months.
- Final inspection & move-inWe pass final inspection and hand over a legal, ready-to-use living unit.
What Affects JADU Cost
- Private bathroom versus sharing the main home's bathroom
- Plumbing distance for the kitchen and bathroom
- Adding an exterior door and any structural changes
- Attached-garage conversion work such as slab and insulation
- Finish level and appliances
Where We Build
San JoseSanta ClaraSunnyvaleCupertinoPalo AltoMountain ViewLos AltosLos GatosSaratogaCampbellMilpitasFremontNewarkMenlo ParkAthertonEast Palo AltoRedwood CitySan CarlosSan MateoBurlingameMorgan Hill
Related Services
JUNIOR ADU FAQS
The Questions We Hear Most.
A JADU is a living unit of up to 500 square feet created within the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, including an attached garage. It must have an efficiency kitchen and a separate exterior entrance, and it can share a bathroom with the main house.
An ADU can be detached or attached, can typically be up to 1,200 sq ft, and has its own full kitchen and bathroom. A JADU is limited to 500 sq ft inside the existing home, needs only an efficiency kitchen, and requires the owner to live on the property. JADUs cost far less because they reuse existing structure.
Yes. California requires the owner to live in either the main home or the JADU, and a deed restriction recording that requirement is filed as part of the permit process.
Yes. On a single-family lot, California allows an ADU and a JADU together — for example, a detached ADU in the backyard plus a JADU inside the house.
Most Bay Area JADUs run about $55,000–$95,000 when converting a bedroom and sharing a bathroom, and $95,000–$190,000 with a new private bathroom or an attached-garage conversion.
No. California doesn't allow cities to charge development impact fees on ADUs under 750 sq ft, and JADUs max out at 500 sq ft. A JADU also isn't treated as a separate unit for water, sewer or power connection fees. Standard permit and plan-check fees still apply.
Yes, JADUs can be rented long-term. Because the owner must live on the property, owners typically rent either the JADU or the main home, not both.
Often, yes. A JADU keeps parents close while giving them their own entrance and kitchen, and it can be designed with a curbless shower, wider doors and grab-bar blocking for aging in place.
READY TO TAKE IT ON?
Ready to Adda Junior ADU?
Tell us which part of your home you’re thinking of converting. We’ll confirm it qualifies and give you a realistic budget.
GET FREE ESTIMATE
Let's Discuss
Your Project Goals.
Ready to elevate your living space with reliable, premium Bay Area craftsmanship? Tell us about your property and select your target service on the right. Our expert team will review your ideas, answer your questions, and connect with you promptly to plan your free project evaluation.
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