Home/New Builds/ADUs & Garage Conversions

ADU constructionin San Francisco.

Accessory dwelling units add a legal second home to a lot: a detached unit, a converted garage or ground floor, or an attached addition. We build ADUs from your architect and engineer's plans and coordinate the permits and utility connections.

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Call us (415) 297-2246 Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm PT

Email Courtney Send Project Details courtney@sfbuildinggroup.com

Detached ADUs, garage and ground-floor conversions, attached units
Permits and utility connections coordinated
Lot and building reviewed before drawings are commissioned

LicenseCSLB #1106131

Service AreaAll of San Francisco

EstimateFree, on-site

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We take projects that need a contractor: remodels, commercial build-outs, new construction and major repairs.

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The Approach

How we run it.

What sets the plan, the estimate and the schedule for this kind of project.

Feasibility before design

Lot, zoning, existing structure and utilities decide what is possible. We review them with you before you spend on drawings.

Conversions and new units priced differently

A garage conversion and a detached unit are not the same job. We scope each on its real conditions.

Utilities and permits planned together

Service connections can drive the schedule. We plan them alongside the permit path.

The Scope

What an ADU project involves.

An ADU is a complete dwelling: its own kitchen, bathroom, egress, fire and energy compliance and, usually, its own utility connections. Converting space inside an existing building and building a new detached unit are different projects with different risks, and both are more involved than their square footage suggests.

We review the lot and the building, price the full scope in writing, and manage construction from permits through closeout.

Site and building review before design starts
Foundation or slab work, or structural upgrades for conversions
Framing, insulation, windows and doors
New kitchen and bathroom, with plumbing and electrical
Heating, ventilation and energy compliance
Fire-safety and egress requirements
Utility connections and site work
Inspections and closeout

In San Francisco

ADUs in San Francisco.

State and city rules allow accessory dwelling units on many residential lots, with limits on size, height, setbacks and the kind of building they can be added to. Detached units, units built inside existing space and units added to the main building each follow different requirements, so the review starts with your specific lot.

Some existing unpermitted units can be legalized. That path involves record research, inspections and bringing the unit up to current standards for light, ventilation, egress and fire safety.

How It Works

How your project moves forward.

See the full process page for what you receive at each step.

Free On-Site Estimate

We walk the lot and building with you, discuss the options and put a written estimate in your hands, with assumptions stated.

Permitting & Planning

We coordinate with your architect and engineer and run permits through SF DBI and Planning, including utility coordination.

Build & Final Walkthrough

Regular walkthroughs and written updates during construction, punch-list resolution before final payment, and a closeout package.

Where We Work

ADUs & Garage Conversions come up in many San Francisco neighborhoods. These pages cover housing stock, permits and typical projects in each area. We work in every neighborhood in the city, listed or not.

Neighborhoods

Other services

The same process applies across everything we build. See the other project types, or the full services overview.

Common Questions

ADUs & Garage Conversions FAQ.

Anything else, ask in the form at the top of the page.

Can my lot have an ADU?

Many San Francisco lots can, but it depends on zoning, the lot, the existing building and its structure. We review those with you at the site visit, and Planning confirms the final answer.

Can my garage be converted?

Often possible, subject to the structure, ceiling height, egress, fire separation and the utilities available. We check these on site before drawings are commissioned.

Can an existing in-law or unpermitted unit be legalized?

In some cases. The path involves permit research, inspections and upgrades to meet current requirements. A site visit is the right first step.

Does an ADU need separate utility connections?

Often it does, and the connection work can set the schedule. We plan it alongside permits and construction.