ADU builder · Santa Clarita, CA
ADU builder in Santa Clarita.
Design, permits, financing and construction from one local team. 600+ ADUs delivered across greater LA, including nearby Lake View Terrace, Tujunga & Van Nuys.
Licensed & insured · Construction from $275/sq ft · 5.0★ rated
Building an ADU in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita became a city in 1987 by joining four communities, Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and Canyon Country, and it has annexed more neighborhoods since. ADUs are still fairly uncommon here: the city reported about 41 ADU permits in 2023, 20 in 2024 and 27 in 2025, per state housing reports, far fewer than in the San Fernando Valley next door. Lots here can come with things you don't see as often in LA, such as oak trees, slopes and, in some areas, septic systems, and the city asks about all three on ADU plans.
ADU Resource Center designs, permits and builds ADUs with one in-house team. The projects closest to Santa Clarita are in Lake View Terrace, where we built a 1,200 sq ft, three-bedroom ADU with its own garage, and in Tujunga and Van Nuys. See our Tujunga page for hillside work, or our Granada Hills page for the north Valley.
Your project gets a fixed quote before construction starts and one project manager through the city's final inspection. We can help you set up financing as well.
ADUs in Santa Clarita: quick facts
Updated November 2026
- Who issues ADU permits
- City of Santa Clarita
- Our construction rates
- $275, $300 or $325 per sq ft (basic, mid-range, luxury); garage conversions $235–$285 per sq ft
- Example cost
- A 600 sq ft one-bedroom runs about $165K–$195K in construction
- Size limits under state law
- Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft on many lots; junior ADUs up to 500 sq ft inside the home
- Permit decision
- State law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application
- Who builds it
- ADU Resource Center: design, permits and construction by one team, 600+ ADUs delivered, office in Glendale
ADU rules change. We confirm the current rules for your lot on the free consultation.
Real projects nearby
ADUs we've built near Santa Clarita.
Hear it from our clients
Homeowners on building their ADU with us
More stories on our testimonials page.
Local know-how
What to know before building in Santa Clarita.
City of Santa Clarita permits
Inside city limits, the Planning Division has to clear an ADU before Building and Safety will review the plans. We handle both steps. Every new ADU also gets its own address from the city.
Oak trees and slopes
The city's site plan requirements call for any oak trees and slope setbacks to be shown. If your lot has either, we account for them before we place the unit.
Sewer or septic
ADU plans must say whether the home is on public sewer or a private septic system. On septic, the system's location and parts go on the plans, and we check early whether it can take the added unit.
City or county?
Not every Santa Clarita Valley address is in the city. If your home is in an unincorporated area, LA County handles the ADU permit, and we'll confirm which applies on your consultation. Our financing guide covers ways to pay for the build.
What it costs
ADU cost in Santa Clarita
We build at a flat rate per square foot: $275 (basic), $300 (mid-range) and $325 (luxury) finishes. Here's what that means for common sizes. Construction only; design, permits and city fees are quoted separately on your consultation.
| ADU size | Basic | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 sq ft studio | ~$110K | ~$120K | ~$130K |
| 600 sq ft 1-bedroom | ~$165K | ~$180K | ~$195K |
| 800 sq ft 2-bedroom | ~$220K | ~$240K | ~$260K |
| 1,000 sq ft 2–3 bedroom | ~$275K | ~$300K | ~$325K |
Get a number for your exact size: ADU cost calculator · Browse ADU floor plans · Converting a garage? See garage conversion cost.
Free consultation
Start your Santa Clarita ADU.
Tell us about your property. We'll confirm what's buildable, give you a real price range and walk through financing within 1 business day.
Questions
Santa Clarita ADU questions, answered.
Still have a question? Ask us during your free consultation.
Who issues ADU permits in Santa Clarita, Valencia or Saugus?
If your home is inside Santa Clarita city limits, which include Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and Canyon Country, the City of Santa Clarita issues the permit. The Planning Division clears the ADU first, and then Building and Safety reviews the plans. Some addresses with a Santa Clarita or Valencia mailing address are outside city limits, and those go through LA County instead.
How much does an ADU cost to build in Santa Clarita?
We build at a flat $275, $300 or $325 per sq ft for basic, mid-range or luxury finishes. A 1,000 sq ft luxury ADU runs close to $325K in construction, and a 600 sq ft mid-range unit about $180K. Slopes, oak trees near the build area or a septic system can change the fixed quote, and we price those up front.
There's an oak tree in my backyard. Can I still build?
Often you can, but plan around it. Santa Clarita asks for oak trees to be shown on the ADU site plan, and grading, trenching or building inside an oak's protected zone generally needs an oak tree permit from the city. We locate the trees on the first site visit and place the ADU with them in mind.
My house is on septic. Does that rule out an ADU?
Not necessarily. The city's building plan requirements ask whether the home is on public sewer or a private septic system, and the plans have to show the system. A septic system may need to be evaluated or expanded for the added unit, so we look at it early.
Can I have more than one ADU in Santa Clarita?
The city's ADU guidance says a single-family property can have each type of ADU, so a detached ADU plus a junior ADU inside the house is often possible. A junior ADU can be up to 500 sq ft. Rules change, so we confirm what your lot allows on the consultation.
Free consultation
Ready to build your ADU in Santa Clarita?
Tell us about your property and we'll confirm what's buildable, give you a real price range and lay out financing on one free call.
