Room to grow — without leaving home
A permitted, design-built ADU turns space you already own into rental income, a home for family, or the studio you've always wanted — detached, attached, garage conversion or JADU, delivered end to end.
One structure. A dozen lives.
An ADU is the rare project that pays you back — in income, in flexibility, and in the way it lets your family live closer without living on top of each other.
Rental income
A private, permitted unit that can generate meaningful monthly income in LA & Orange County's rental market.
Room for family
An independent, comfortable home for aging parents or adult kids — close by, but with real privacy.
Office or studio
A quiet, separate space to work or create — steps from your door, worlds away from the noise.
Lasting value
Permitted square footage that appraises and stays with your property for good.
A guest house
A beautiful place for guests to land — hotel comfort, at home.
Future flexibility
Office today, rental tomorrow, family suite later. An ADU adapts as life changes.
Four paths to more space
Which one fits depends on your lot, your budget and your goal. Here's the honest difference — we'll help you choose in the first conversation.
Detached ADU
A standalone home in your yard — its own entrance, kitchen, bath and privacy.
Best for maximum privacy, the strongest rent and full independence.
Attached ADU
New square footage that shares a wall with your existing home.
Best for lots with limited yard — connected, but self-contained.
Garage Conversion
Turn an existing garage into a fully legal, comfortable living unit.
Best for the fastest, most cost-effective path to a permitted ADU.
JADU
A junior unit carved from within your home's existing footprint.
Best for the lowest cost and simplest permitting.
See how we build — from studs to finish
Not stock footage. Real Bela job sites — the framing, the systems behind the walls, and the finish we hand over.
An old garage transformed into a full second-story home — a kitchen and light-filled living room, laundry, a walk-in shower bath and two bedrooms, framed up over the existing garage.
Electrical, plumbing and AC ducting organized and set before a single wall closes — the rigor that makes a home last.
Custom millwork stained to match, new floors, fresh paint and recessed lighting — the level of finish we hand over.
What it costs — and what it returns
Every ADU is priced to its type, size and site — most range $150K–$450K+. Two things make it one of the smartest moves a homeowner can make: it can earn rental income, and it adds permitted, appraisable value that stays with your property.
Type & size
A JADU or garage conversion costs far less than a large detached ADU built from the ground up.
Site & utilities
Running water, sewer, gas and a separate electrical panel to a detached unit is a real driver.
Foundation & access
Slope, soil and how easily crews and materials reach the build area all affect cost.
Kitchen & bath
The number and level of kitchens and bathrooms concentrate much of the budget.
Finish level
Standard, premium or fully custom materials and millwork move the number significantly.
Permits & fees
Plan check, school and utility fees vary by city — we map them up front so there are no surprises.
A predictable process from vision to completion
Most ADUs run 6–12 months from first design to final sign-off, depending on type and city review. Explore each phase below to see what happens at every stage.
We visit your property, listen to how you live, and align on vision, scope and a realistic investment range. No pressure, no obligation — just clarity.
- On-site consultation
- Goals & priorities brief
- Preliminary investment range
Our in-house designers translate your vision into full architectural plans and a photoreal 3D model, so every material and detail is decided before construction.
- Architectural drawings
- 3D design & visualization
- Material & finish selections
We handle plan check, structural engineering, HOA and coastal approvals — managing the paperwork and the city so your timeline stays predictable.
- Permit submittal & follow-up
- Engineering coordination
- Locked schedule & budget
Your dedicated project manager runs a clean, respectful site with vetted crews and premium materials — with proactive updates at every milestone.
- Dedicated project manager
- Weekly progress updates
- Quality control at each phase
The final step isn't just a handover — it's the moment your vision becomes home. We walk every detail together, ensure everything meets our standards, and welcome you into a space built to last.
- White-glove handover
- Move-in ready, down to the last detail
- Craftsmanship warranty that stays with you
Real homeowners, real projects
Every story comes from a real homeowner. Watch their experience or read the full Google review.
“I feel lucky and fortunate to have worked with Bela Development on a major renovation project! It was an entire renovation on the house that I grew up in — so many details I wanted to keep, while still modernizing the whole home, inside and out…”
Read full review on Google
Questions, answered
Do I have to own the home to build an ADU?
Yes — an ADU is built on a property you own. The good news is you don't need a huge lot; California's ADU laws are written to make adding one possible on most single-family and many multi-family properties.
Can I rent out my ADU?
Yes. Most owners build an ADU specifically to rent — long-term rentals are permitted statewide. Short-term rules (under 30 days) vary by city, so we'll walk you through what your address allows.
Can I sell the ADU separately from my house?
Generally no — an ADU is part of your property and sells with it (a narrow exception exists in cities that have opted in to condo-style ADUs). What it always does is add permitted, appraisable value to the whole property.
How big can an ADU be?
It depends on type and your city, but as a guide: detached ADUs commonly go up to about 1,200 sq ft, and a JADU is capped at 500 sq ft. State law lets you build at least an 800 sq ft ADU on most lots.
How long does it take?
Most ADUs run 6–12 months from first design to final sign-off, depending on type and city review. California law requires cities to approve or deny a complete application within 60 days, which keeps things moving.
Do I need a big yard or lots of parking?
Not necessarily. Setbacks are modest — often 4 ft from the side and rear property lines — and in many cases, especially near transit, cities can't require added parking for an ADU. We check your specific lot early.
Will an ADU raise my property taxes?
Your home isn't reassessed — only the new construction is added to your assessed value, so you're taxed on the value of the ADU, not the whole property again. We'd still recommend confirming specifics with your tax advisor.
Do you handle design, permits and construction?
Yes — all of it, under one roof. Design, engineering, plan check and construction are one accountable team, which is exactly what keeps an ADU predictable from first sketch to final walkthrough.
Begin with a complimentary consultation
Tell us about your vision and receive expert guidance on scope, timeline and investment — no obligation.