CALABASAS, CA – September 08, 2026 – As Southern California moves into the fall building season and accessory dwelling units continue to claim a growing share of new housing approvals across the state, Construction by Maya announces expanded complimentary consultations for ADU and garage conversion projects throughout the San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley. The women-led boutique construction company, headquartered in Calabasas and operating under California contractor License #1034501, helps homeowners determine exactly what their lot can legally support before a single dollar goes into design work.
California has spent the past several years rewriting its housing laws to make ADUs dramatically easier to build, overriding restrictive local zoning, capping fees, and forcing cities to approve compliant applications quickly. Construction by Maya notes that most homeowners still budget and design around outdated assumptions about what their city will allow, and that the gap between the law and the assumption is where projects stall.
State Law Now Leans Heavily in the Homeowner’s Favor
Under current California ADU law, cities must allow ADUs on residential lots and cannot impose barriers more restrictive than the statewide minimums. State law preempts local ordinances, which means that even where an older municipal zoning code appears to say no, state law frequently says yes.
The most powerful provision is the statewide safe harbor. Cities must permit at least one 800 square foot ADU, up to 16 feet tall, with 4 foot side and rear setbacks, on virtually any residential lot, regardless of local lot coverage, floor area ratio, or open space rules. Beyond that floor, cities cannot cap detached units below 1,200 square feet, and attached units must be allowed up to at least 850 square feet for a one bedroom or 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms. A junior ADU carved out of the existing home is capped at 500 square feet.
Setback rules changed just as significantly. Required side and rear setbacks for new detached ADUs are capped at 4 feet, and conversions of existing garages or structures require no setback at all, meaning a garage sitting on the property line can keep that footprint.
“Homeowners regularly tell us their city will never approve a backyard unit, and then we walk the lot and find the state has already decided that question for them,” said Hila Hemo, founder of Construction by Maya. “The rules are genuinely favorable. What trips people up is the fine print, the fire zone requirements, the soils report, the utility runs. That is where projects either move smoothly or sit in plan check for months.”
Ministerial Approval and the 60 Day Clock
ADU applications are now reviewed ministerially rather than through discretionary hearings. There is no public hearing, no neighbor veto, and no design review board weighing in, provided the project meets objective standards. Once a complete application is submitted, the city or county must approve or deny it within 60 days, and a missed deadline means the application is deemed approved.
Both the State of California and the City of Los Angeles maintain libraries of pre-approved ADU standard plans. Selecting one can meaningfully shorten plan check and reduce design fees, because the structural and code compliance work has already been vetted.
Parking requirements, which historically killed a large share of backyard projects, have also been relaxed. Cities generally cannot require replacement parking when a garage or carport is converted, and no additional parking can be required when the unit sits within a half mile of public transit. Across much of the transit served Valley, that means no new parking at all.
What an ADU Actually Costs in the Los Angeles Market
Construction by Maya publishes transparent 2026 pricing ranges so homeowners can plan before they commit. A well built detached ADU in the Los Angeles area typically runs $300 to $500 per square foot all in, including design, permits, and construction. A garage conversion, which reuses an existing foundation and walls, comes in lower at roughly $180 to $320 per square foot.
Translated into total project cost, the company reports the following ranges for quality construction with permits, engineering, and mid grade to upper mid finishes:
• Garage conversion, 400 to 500 square feet: $90,000 to $160,000
• Junior ADU within the existing home, up to 500 square feet: $80,000 to $150,000
• Small detached studio or one bedroom, 500 square feet: $180,000 to $260,000
• Mid size detached one bedroom, 750 square feet: $250,000 to $375,000
• Large detached two bedroom, 1,000 to 1,200 square feet: $350,000 to $550,000 and up
Soft costs including architectural design, structural engineering, soils reports, permit fees, and Title 24 energy compliance typically consume 10 to 20 percent of a budget. Site and utility work is the category that surprises homeowners most, with sewer and water line extensions running $5,000 to $20,000 and electrical panel upgrades adding $4,000 to $12,000. The build itself accounts for 60 to 75 percent of the total.
Timelines Homeowners Should Plan For
Construction by Maya advises homeowners to budget their calendar as carefully as their bank account. Design and engineering generally take 4 to 10 weeks. Permitting and plan check run 6 to 16 weeks. Construction takes 4 to 8 months for a detached unit and 2 to 4 months for a garage conversion. Start to finish, most homeowners should plan on 9 to 15 months.
“A low bid that skips the soils report or leaves out the utility run is not a cheaper project, it is a delayed one,” Hemo said. “We give clients a line by line budget at the start because the surprises are what break trust, not the numbers themselves.”
Local Conditions That Change the Answer
Within the statewide framework, Los Angeles area specifics matter considerably. Hillside and fire hazard zones, common in parts of Studio City, Tarzana, and the Conejo foothills, add fire rated construction requirements, sprinkler provisions, defensible space standards, and sometimes access width rules. Coastal and historic overlays can add review steps. Soils reports are frequently required on sloped or expansive soil lots, and hillside grading and foundation work can push costs well beyond standard ranges because of retaining walls, deeper footings, and difficult material access.
Impact fees are prohibited statewide for ADUs under 750 square feet, though larger units may owe them proportionally. Cities also cannot require a new or separate utility connection for an ADU converted from existing space.
Full Scope ADU and Garage Conversion Services
Construction by Maya manages ADU and garage conversion projects end to end, so homeowners are not left coordinating designers, engineers, and building departments on their own. Services include:
• Design consultation and pre-construction consultation
• Contracts, permits, and code compliance handling
• Material and building design guidance
• Financing, scheduling, and budgeting support
• Detailed invoicing and transparent line item pricing
• Full project management through construction
• Inspection and quality assurance
The company also builds room additions, complete home remodels, kitchens, and bathrooms, and offers standalone project management for homeowners running their own builds.
Serving Los Angeles and Ventura County
Construction by Maya serves homeowners across Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Lake Balboa, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and surrounding San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, and West Los Angeles communities. Completed ADU projects include units in Calabasas, Woodland Hills, and Encino.
Contact Construction by Maya
Homeowners considering a backyard unit should confirm lot conditions, setbacks, utility access, and fire zone status before investing in design. Construction by Maya offers a complimentary in-person or virtual consultation to map out what each property can support.
For more information or to schedule a free consultation, contact Construction by Maya at (818) 626-0909 or visit https://constructionbymaya.com. The company’s office is located at 4500 Park Granada UNIT 202, Calabasas, CA 91302, United States. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
About Construction by Maya
Construction by Maya is a women-led, boutique construction and remodeling company based in Calabasas, California, serving Los Angeles and Ventura County. Founded and led by Hila Hemo, the company specializes in kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, complete home remodels, room additions, ADUs and garage conversions, and project management. Operating under California contractor License #1034501, the firm was built around clear scopes, realistic timelines, transparent pricing, and proactive communication, bringing structure to an industry often known for chaos. Every project follows a four-stage process covering consultation and alignment, planning and scope definition, execution and ongoing communication, and completion with a detailed final walkthrough.
Media Contact
Hila Hemo, Founder, Construction by Maya
Phone: (818) 626-0909
Email: constructionbymaya@gmail.com
Website: https://constructionbymaya.com
Address: 4500 Park Granada UNIT 202, Calabasas, CA 91302, United States
Sources
Construction by Maya. “ADU Rules in California: Permits, Setbacks and Size Limits Explained.” Published August 17, 2026. https://constructionbymaya.com/blog/california-adu-rules/
Construction by Maya. “How Much Does an ADU Cost in Los Angeles? A 2026 Price Breakdown.” Published August 17, 2026. https://constructionbymaya.com/blog/adu-cost-los-angeles/
California Department of Housing and Community Development. “ADU Handbook.” https://www.hcd.ca.gov/building-standards/adu/handbook
Planetizen. “ADUs Account for Nearly 28% of Bay Area Housing Permits.” Published July 2026. https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07/138080-adus-account-nearly-28-bay-area-housing-permits
Shovels. “California Housing Market Outlook: Supply Signals from Building Permit Data.” Published April 2026. https://www.shovels.ai/blog/california-housing-market-building-permit-data/
Media Contact
Company Name: CONSTRUCTION BY MAYA INC.
Contact Person: Hila Hemo
Email: Send Email
Phone: (818) 626-0909
Address:4500 Park Granada UNIT 202
City: Calabasas
State: California
Country: United States
Website: https://constructionbymaya.com/