800 sq ft Detached ADU in Encino
A rear-yard detached ADU built for the owners' parents, with its own address, separate electrical sub-panel and a private entry off the side yard.

- Final cost
- $268,000
- Duration
- 11 months, design to final inspection
- Size
- 800 sq ft, 2 bed / 1 bath
- Permits
- LADBS, permitted and inspected
SCOPE OF WORK
- New foundation and slab in the rear yard
- Two bedrooms, one bathroom, full kitchen and laundry
- Separate 100 amp sub-panel and dedicated water service
- Mini-split HVAC and Title 24 compliance
- New side-yard walkway and privacy fencing
WHAT WE RAN INTO
The sewer lateral ran along the wrong side of the property, and the main panel had no capacity left for a second unit. We rerouted the lateral to the street and upgraded the main service before framing started, so the utility work never held up construction.
THE RESULT
The owners have a permitted, separately metered second unit that appraised as added square footage, and the parents moved in without ever sharing a wall.
DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT WITH 1 SMART BUILD
Licensed, bonded and insured design-build general contractor serving Los Angeles County and Southern California. Tell us about your property and goals, and we'll walk you through feasibility, permitting and a clear plan.
More Projects

Kitchen Remodel with Load-Bearing Wall Removal, Sherman Oaks
A closed-off 1954 kitchen opened into the dining and living rooms with an engineered beam, a 10 ft island and relocated plumbing and gas.

Primary Bath Suite in a 1912 Pasadena Craftsman
A gut renovation of an original bathroom in a historic Craftsman, with a curbless shower, heated floors and period-appropriate fixtures.

Second-Story Addition in Burbank
A 1,050 sq ft second story added over an existing 1940s single-story home, with foundation and framing reinforcement to carry the new load.