Frequently Asked Questions

You'll first get a site visit and a written price, then we move into design and drafting and submit to Pasadena's Building & Safety Division. Once permits are issued, construction begins, and you'll receive photo updates before and after each major phase. The full process typically takes 9 to 14 months from first call to move-in. Pasadena's permit review is thorough, and hillside neighborhoods like Linda Vista can trigger additional geotechnical review. We handle the permits, the inspections, and everything in between.

Most detached ADUs in Pasadena take 10 to 14 months from design to occupancy. Garage conversions run faster, often 6 to 9 months, because the shell already exists. The variables are Pasadena permit queue times, weather windows (winter rains in the Arroyo Seco can slow foundation work), and how quickly you make finish selections. We provide a written schedule and send photo updates at every major milestone, so you always know where the build stands without having to ask.

Yes, we prepare and submit the full permit package to the City of Pasadena and manage plan check corrections until permits are issued. Pasadena has specific requirements for setbacks, height limits, and historical district compatibility, and we know exactly how to navigate them. If you're in a historic district like Bungalow Heaven or Madison Heights, expect design review as part of the process. We pull the permits and schedule the inspections so you don't have to learn the municipal process.

Yes, and many Pasadena lots are genuinely small by Southern California standards, often under 6,000 square feet in neighborhoods like Washington Square and Muir Heights. A detached ADU needs side and rear setbacks of 4 feet, and we'll work within your lot's actual dimensions. When a detached unit won't fit, a garage conversion or an attached addition can achieve the same square footage. We'll measure your lot, check the zoning, and tell you exactly what's possible before any design work starts.

A JADU (junior ADU) is a smaller dwelling unit, up to 500 square feet, created entirely within the existing walls of your single-family home, usually from a spare bedroom or partial basement. It shares the main house's address and may share its bathroom. A full ADU is a separate, self-contained dwelling with its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom, either attached or detached. In Pasadena, JADUs are cheaper and faster to permit, while ADUs offer more flexibility for long-term rental or family use.

No, not if the scope stays the same. Benson ADU Pasadena gives you the price in writing before anything starts, and that written number is what you pay. Change orders happen only when you choose to upgrade finishes or the city requires something unexpected during inspection, and we'll put any adjustment in writing for your approval before proceeding. That's the whole point of the Relay Visibility Guarantee: you always know what it will cost.

We build to Pasadena's climate, which means UV-resistant siding, rain-rated drainage, and insulation that handles 100-degree summer days and cool winter nights in the foothills. We use James Hardie fiber cement siding on many projects because it holds up to the dry heat and sun exposure we see in neighborhoods like Altadena and the San Gabriel Valley foothills. For prefabricated options, we've worked with brands like Abodu and Cover, which can shorten the on-site timeline considerably.

Yes, we offer prefabricated ADU options from builders that deliver factory-built modules to your property. Prefab can save 3 to 5 months compared to site-built construction because the unit is built in a controlled facility while site work happens simultaneously. The tradeoffs are design flexibility and, sometimes, crane access on narrow Pasadena streets. We'll walk you through the real cost difference for your specific lot so you can decide with numbers, not marketing brochures.

A factory-built ADU is a dwelling unit constructed in a climate-controlled manufacturing facility, then delivered to your site and set on a prepared foundation. It satisfies the same building codes as site-built construction and passes the same Pasadena inspections. The advantages are speed and quality control; the disadvantage is that module sizes must clear Pasadena's streets and alleys, which can be tight in older neighborhoods. We'll verify site access before recommending this option.

We can work with premium modular manufacturers where the project fits. Dvele units, for example, emphasize healthy building materials and smart home integration, and they appeal to Pasadena homeowners who want a high-performance building envelope. The lead time and budget will differ from standard prefab, so we'll compare the options side by side for you. Our job is to match you with the right approach for your budget and your lot.

Every pro working under the Benson ADU Pasadena name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we'll provide proof before any work begins. You're also covered by the Relay Visibility Guarantee, which means a written price, photo updates, and a live arrival time on every visit. We'd rather show you the documents than talk about them: call (626) 658-3527 and ask.

Yes, we pull the permits and schedule every inspection through Pasadena's Building & Safety Division. That includes foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, insulation, and final occupancy inspections. Passing inspection is part of the job, and we walk every inspection with the inspector on site. When the city signs off, you get a certificate of occupancy, which matters for insurance, rental income, and future resale value.

Every pro working under our name is required to meet the licensing and insurance standards their state requires, and we hold the trades to that standard before they step onto your property. You'll always know who is coming to your Pasadena home, when they'll arrive, and what work they'll complete, because the Relay standard demands total visibility. If you have specific screening questions, ask us directly when you call.

Yes, and that's a common Pasadena scenario, especially with the older detached garages behind bungalows in neighborhoods like Villa Parke and Banbury Oaks. We'll evaluate the structure, check for foundation settlement and roof deflection, and tell you honestly whether conversion makes sense or whether a teardown-and-rebuild is the smarter money. We'll give you that assessment in writing, with real numbers for both paths.

We typically schedule a site visit within a few days of your call, during our business hours: Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. From the first visit, we'll produce a written estimate, and once you approve, design work begins. The permit timeline is set by the City of Pasadena, not by us, but we'll keep things moving on our end and tell you honestly where the project stands at every step.

ADU construction is planned work, not emergency work, and a thoughtful timeline produces a better result. You'll want to plan for design, permitting, and construction, and we'll map that whole schedule for you before you commit. There's no benefit to rushing selections or skipping the written estimate, so take the time to see the price in writing and compare it against your budget. We're ready when you are.

Every project is covered by the Relay Visibility Guarantee, which protects the process from day one: a written price before work starts, a live arrival time you can track, photo updates before and after the work, and a digital invoice you can pay from your phone. Workmanship is covered under manufacturer warranties for major systems and materials, and we'll put the specific terms in your contract before you sign anything.

It covers your ability to see exactly what's happening at every step: book in a tap with no phone tag, get a live arrival time instead of a four-hour window, see photos of the work before and after, receive the price in writing before any work starts, and pay from a digital invoice sent by text. It's the standard every Relay Home Co. location is required to meet, and it's the foundation of how we work in Pasadena.

We warranty our workmanship for one year from project completion, and major systems like roofing, HVAC, and water heaters carry their own manufacturer warranties that extend longer. Structural elements are covered by longer standard periods under California contractor law. We'll walk you through every warranty term in your contract before you sign, and we'll honor those terms in the years after the build.

Call (626) 658-3527 and ask for an ADU estimate. You'll get a site visit, a conversation about your goals and your lot, and then a written line-item price you can review on your own time. There's no obligation, and you'll have a real number to plan around, not a vague ballpark. That's how we work: your extra space, planned and priced in writing.

We work throughout Pasadena and the surrounding communities, including El Monte, East Los Angeles, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Duarte, Altadena, Boyle Heights, La Crescenta-Montrose, San Marino, South Monrovia Island, and South Pasadena. Each area has its own planning department and its own quirks, and we know the local requirements well enough to plan accurately from day one. If you're not sure whether your property is in our service area, call (626) 658-3527 and we'll confirm.

Written by Troy Eastman, Owner at Benson ADU Pasadena, serving Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley since 2006.