Service area · Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara’s Design-Build Remodeling Contractor.
Santa Clara’s mid-century ranch homes are ready for their next chapter — ADUs, open kitchens, primary suites and additions. True Builders handles design, permits and construction under one contract. Licensed (CSLB #1110631) and insured.
Local Knowledge, Local Results
Why Santa Clara HomeownersChoose True Builders.
Much of Santa Clara was built in the 1950s and ’60s: single-story homes on flat, regular lots with attached garages. That’s an ideal starting point for garage conversions, rear additions and detached ADUs, but it also means original electrical panels, aging plumbing and older foundations that need to be planned for up front. We scope those conditions before pricing and work through the City of Santa Clara’s building and planning process, including extra review for historic properties in and around the Old Quad.
You get a fixed construction price and one project manager from design through final inspection.
Recent Work
Projects Like Yours.
Santa Clara Permits & Rules
What to Know Before You Build in Santa Clara.
We handle every permit. Here's the short version of what Santa Clara typically requires for common projects:
- ADUs & JADUs — Approved ministerially under California ADU law. Garage conversions need no replacement parking, and side and rear setbacks for new ADUs are capped at 4 feet.
- Remodels — Permits are required when plumbing, electrical or structural elements change; like-for-like cosmetic updates generally aren't.
- Additions — Must meet your zoning district's setbacks, lot coverage and height limits, and second-story additions can receive closer design review.
- Historic properties — Homes on the city's historic resources list, common in the Old Quad, can require review before exterior changes.
- Electrical service — Adding an ADU, heat pumps or EV charging often means a service upgrade coordinated with Silicon Valley Power, Santa Clara's city-owned electric utility.
SERVICES IN SANTA CLARA
Everything Your Santa Clara Home Needs.
From ADUs and garage conversions to kitchens, bathrooms and additions, one licensed team handles design, permits and construction for Santa Clara homeowners.
ADU Builder
Detached, attached and garage ADUs for rental income or extended family.
Garage Conversion
Turn an existing garage into a legal ADU, in-law suite or home office.
Junior ADU (JADU)
Add a private suite of up to 500 sq ft inside the home you already own.
Kitchen Remodeling
From quick refreshes to fully custom estate kitchens.
Bathroom Remodeling
Walk-in showers, primary suites and accessible bathrooms.
Room Additions
Bedrooms, primary suites and guest houses that match your home.
Full Home Remodeling
Whole-house renovations planned from 4–5 months to 12+ months.
Permits & Design-Build
One team for design, city approvals and construction.
Typical Santa Clara Project Timelines
- Detached ADU: typically finished in 6–9 months
- Room addition: 3–4 months of construction for one room, 4–6 months for a primary suite
- Whole-home remodel: 4–5 months for select spaces up to 8–12+ months for a full redesign
Every project gets a fixed construction price after a free site visit.
How a Santa Clara Project Works
- Free consultation & site visitWe review your goals, your lot and Santa Clara zoning rules before anything is designed.
- Design & fixed pricePlans, engineering and a clear, fixed construction price before work begins.
- PermitsWe submit to the City of Santa Clara and handle every plan-check comment for you.
- Build & final inspectionOne project manager from the first day on site through final sign-off.
Also Serving Homeowners Near Santa Clara
SANTA CLARA FAQS
Local Questions, Answered.
What you're building matters most: an office or bonus room without a kitchen costs far less than a legal studio or one-bedroom ADU. Slab condition, distance to the sewer line, electrical panel capacity and finish level also affect the price. We give you a fixed price after a free site visit.
Silicon Valley Power, the city's municipal utility, serves Santa Clara homes. We coordinate any service upgrade or new meter with them as part of the project.
Often, yes, subject to zoning height, setback and floor-area limits and design review. We confirm feasibility for your lot before you pay for full plans.
Plans and permits typically take 8–14 weeks, and construction of a detached ADU usually takes 16–22 weeks once permits are issued, so most detached ADUs are finished in about 6–9 months. Garage conversions typically take about 4–6 months.
Scope is the biggest factor. A same-layout refresh, a signature remodel with semi-custom cabinetry and layout changes, and an estate-level custom kitchen are very different projects. Moving plumbing, gas lines or walls, cabinetry and countertop selections, appliances and city permit fees also play a role. We give you a fixed price after a free site visit.
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.
Ready to Start?
Get Your Santa ClaraProject Quote.
Tell us about your Santa Clara home and what you’d like to build. We’ll reach out within one business day.
GET FREE ESTIMATE
Let's Discuss
Your Project Goals.
Planning a project in Santa Clara? 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.
