A licensed general contractor
Hire a contractor licensed by the California Contractors State License Board, and verify the license yourself on the CSLB website.
Ventura County & Santa Barbara South Coast
Planning an ADU or home addition in Ventura County?
Garage-to-ADU conversions, backyard ADUs, junior ADUs and home additions. Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed local general contractor for a free consultation.
Free consultationLicensed contractorVentura County
Ventura ADU & Home Additions
More living space, planned right from the start.
An ADU or an addition is a small house built on a lot that already has one. The hard parts are under the slab, inside the walls and at the permit counter, long before the finishes go in.
Ventura ADU & Home Additions helps homeowners plan ADUs, garage conversions and home additions and connects them with a licensed local general contractor who specializes in this work. Your consultation starts with a feasibility review: where the sewer runs and how deep, what the electrical panel can carry, setbacks, utilities, access and the local rules that apply to your lot.
Before you call anyone, our free guides explain what drives the cost of an ADU or addition, how California ADU law works in 2026 and whether an ADU or an addition fits your plans. Each service area page covers the local permit office, pre-approved plans and rules for that city.
FreeConsultation and site visit
LicensedLocal general contractor
LocalVentura County & South Coast
Project types
ADUs and additions, start to finish.
Whatever you are planning, the contractor you are connected with manages the whole project: feasibility, budget, plans and permits, construction and final inspection.
01
ADUs
Accessory dwelling units of every type, from feasibility and permits through final inspection.
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02
Garage-to-ADU Conversions
Reuse an existing garage for the fastest, most economical path to a complete ADU.
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03
Detached ADUs
Freestanding backyard homes with full foundations, framing, utilities and finishes.
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04
Attached ADUs
Units that share a wall with the main house, including attached-garage conversions.
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05
Junior ADUs (JADUs)
Up to 500 square feet created within your existing home, with an efficiency kitchen.
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06
Home Additions
Room additions, kitchen expansions and roof decks built to blend with your home.
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07
Second-Story Additions
Build up instead of out, with structural evaluation, engineering and framing done right.
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08
Primary Suite Additions
Master bedroom and bathroom additions with closets, showers and soaking tubs.
Learn more →How it works
From your request to a finished space.
Most ADU and addition budgets go wrong in the first few weeks, before construction starts. A good process answers the questions that decide cost first.
- 01
Tell us about your project
Use the form or call. Share your city, what you want to build and your timing. There is no cost and no obligation.
- 02
A licensed contractor contacts you
Your request goes to a licensed local general contractor who specializes in ADUs and additions. They follow up directly to schedule a site visit.
- 03
Site visit & feasibility
The contractor walks the property and looks at the existing house, sewer, panel, utilities, access and the local rules that apply to your lot.
- 04
Budget, plans & permits
You get a realistic budget range before paying for full plans. The contractor coordinates design, engineering and permits.
- 05
Construction & final
If you decide to go ahead, you sign a contract directly with the contractor, who manages construction through final inspection.
What to look for
What makes an ADU or addition go smoothly.
Underground first
Sewer depth, slab cuts, panel capacity and water service decide whether an ADU works. They should be checked before design, not after demolition.
Built to match
Additions should match existing roof lines, stucco texture, windows and interior details, so the new space looks original.
Honest numbers early
A real budget conversation at the start means plans are drawn to a number you can afford, not priced after the fact.
Planning guides
Do your homework before you hire anyone.
Plain-English guides to what drives cost, how California ADU rules work and how to choose between an ADU and an addition.
What an ADU or addition really costs
Every factor that moves the price of an ADU or addition in Ventura County, from sewer runs to finish levels, explained in plain English.
California ADU rules, explained
Current state ADU and JADU law in plain English: sizes, heights, setbacks, parking, fees, owner occupancy, permit deadlines and coastal rules.
ADU or home addition?
Side-by-side comparison of cost, permits, rental income, property tax, resale and family use, to help you choose the right project.
Service areas
Across Ventura County and the South Coast.
Every Ventura County city and the unincorporated county, plus Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Conejo Valley communities next door.
VenturaVentura CountyOxnardVentura CountyCamarilloVentura CountyThousand OaksVentura CountySimi ValleyVentura CountyOjaiVentura CountySanta PaulaVentura CountyMoorparkVentura CountyPort HuenemeVentura CountyUnincorporated Ventura CountyVentura CountyCarpinteriaSanta Barbara CountySanta BarbaraSanta Barbara CountyGoletaSanta Barbara CountyWestlake VillageLos Angeles CountyAgoura HillsLos Angeles CountyMalibuLos Angeles County
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How does this service work?
Tell us about your project using the form or by phone. We pass your request to a licensed local general contractor who specializes in ADUs and additions, and they contact you to schedule a free consultation and site visit. If you decide to build, you contract directly with the contractor.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. There is no charge to submit a request or for the initial consultation and site visit, and no obligation to go ahead.
How long does it take to build an ADU?
Garage-to-ADU conversions often take around three months of construction once permits are issued. A new detached ADU usually takes longer because it needs a full foundation, framing and roof. Design and permitting come first and vary by city; California requires local agencies to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days.
How much does an ADU or home addition cost in Ventura County?
It depends mostly on the type of project and the site: a garage conversion reuses an existing slab and walls, while a detached ADU or a second story starts from scratch. Sewer distance and depth, electrical panel capacity, foundation type and how closely the work must match the existing house all move the number. Our ADU and addition cost guide walks through every cost driver.
Should I build an ADU or a home addition?
An ADU is a separate, complete dwelling with its own kitchen and entrance, which suits rental income or a family member who wants independence. An addition enlarges your own home. Our ADU vs. home addition guide compares cost, permits, property tax and resale.
What areas do you serve?
All of Ventura County, including Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Ojai, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Port Hueneme, plus Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Malibu. See all service areas.
How do I verify a contractor's license?
Use the Contractors State License Board's free license lookup. Enter the license number to see the business name, classification, status, bond and workers' compensation information. Always check before you sign a contract.
Free consultation
Tell us what you are planning.
Share a few details about your property and the space you want to add. We will pass your request to a licensed local general contractor who specializes in ADUs and additions, and they will follow up directly.
- Free consultation and site visit
- A realistic budget conversation before you pay for plans
- A licensed general contractor from permit to final