CA ADU build progress pics, costs&anything else you want to know

[David A.]

I wanted to share my experience planning, permitting and now building a 3 bed / 2 bath 800 square foot detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) / back house / laneway house at one of my single family rental properties. This project is in Los Angeles county but was built using the state wide ADU standards so you could do the same in any city in California. ADUs are an exciting topic but the end-to-end process can be vague, complicated and full of surprises at times. Feel free to follow along, I plan to touch on the points below but let me know if there's anything else you want to know about.

• Existing property / lot and working with existing tenants 
• California-wide magic ADU requirements
• Site plan, floor plan and fitting it all in
• Planning and permitting office
• Surveyors, designers / architects, engineers, and T24 energy calculations 
• Am I required to have solar panels?
• Soft costs, city and impact fees before you can even break ground
• Contractors and bids, draws
• Build timelines, progress and hang ups
• End result and how to come check it out in person 

Expectation:

 Current reality (as of 7/16/17):

[David A.]

Going a little out of order but the soft costs before breaking ground: 18k 

Here was the cost break out and order these came up in. Not included are the solar plan and permit fees, any lot maintenance while it was vacant or existing hardscape (fences, gates).