A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateTrusted ADU Builders for Orange County Homeowners
Building an accessory dwelling unit, a separate living space on your existing property, should be straightforward. You want a real price in writing, a crew that shows up, and a guarantee that means something. That’s what Lodgewick ADU Orange County does. We’re the ADU company of the Kingswell family, established in 2010, and led by Russ Delmar. We specialize in ADUs, garage conversions, and home additions across Orange County. Every project operates under The Kingswell Guarantee: a written price before work begins, a defined arrival window, a clean job site, and a written guarantee on every job. Call (350) 203-6060 for a free estimate.
Key Takeaways
- Written price first. You get a fixed price in writing before any work starts, with no changes at the door.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the work isn’t right, we come back and make it right, free of charge, within the guarantee period.
- Specialists, not generalists. We focus exclusively on ADUs, garage conversions, and home additions in Orange County.
- Live person on every call. A real human answers (350) 203-6060, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ADU Construction
ADU Construction means building a complete accessory dwelling unit from the ground up or transforming existing square footage into a separate, legal living space. You need it when your Orange County lot has unused space and you want rental income, a place for aging parents, or room for adult kids without the cost of moving. Lodgewick ADU Orange County handles the entire build: permits, foundation, framing, utilities, finishes, and final inspection. ADU Construction in Orange County typically runs $180,000 to $420,000 depending on size, site access, and finish level. A garage conversion to an ADU generally costs $120,000 to $200,000. Every project gets a written price before work starts, under The Kingswell Guarantee.
Permit and Inspection Handling
Orange County cities like Santa Ana, Fullerton, and Laguna Niguel each have their own ADU submittal requirements. We prepare the drawings, submit the plans, and manage the inspection schedule from start to finish. You won’t be chasing the building department or wondering where your permit stands.
Site and Foundation Decisions
Slab-on-grade, raised foundation, pier-and-beam, or a conversion of an existing garage slab all change the cost and timeline. We evaluate the soil, drainage, and setback requirements for your specific Orange County lot before quoting a single number. That’s why our written price holds: the site work is already accounted for.
Detached ADU
A Detached ADU is a standalone structure, separate from the main house, with its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and utilities. Homeowners choose a detached unit when privacy matters most, or when the existing home has no room for an attached conversion. Lodgewick ADU Orange County builds detached units from 400 to 1,200 square feet, matching the structure to your setback rules and lot shape. Detached ADU construction in Orange County typically costs $220,000 to $450,000. The wide range reflects site conditions: slope, utility trenching distance, and foundation type. You’ll get a fixed written price before we start.
Utility Runs and Trenching
A detached unit needs separate water, sewer, electrical, and often gas service lines. On larger Orange County lots, trenching from the street or main house can add $15,000 to $40,000. We include every foot of trench, every conduit, and every connection in the written quote.
Detached Unit Zoning in Orange County
Most Orange County cities allow a detached ADU up to 1,000 square feet or 50% of the primary dwelling, whichever is larger, under state law. Cities like Anaheim, Costa Mesa, and Lake Forest have adopted local ordinances that may add design standards. We handle the code research for your specific address.
JADU
A JADU, or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit, is a smaller living space created within the walls of an existing home, usually from a spare bedroom or attached garage, with its own entrance and a small kitchen. It’s capped at 500 square feet under California law. JADUs work well for homeowners who want rental income from space they already have, without the cost of new construction. Lodgewick ADU Orange County converts bedrooms, bonus rooms, and attached garages into legal JADUs. JADU construction in Orange County typically costs $70,000 to $150,000 depending on kitchen scope, entrance work, and whether plumbing needs to move. The written price is yours before any demolition starts.
Attached Garage JADU vs. Bedroom Conversion
Converting an attached garage into a JADU usually costs more because you’re dealing with the garage door replacement, floor insulation, and utility relocation. A bedroom conversion is often faster and less expensive. We’ll walk you through both options for your specific Orange County home.
Owner-Occupancy and Rental Rules
Most Orange County cities require the property owner to live in either the main house or the JADU. Some have additional parking or design standards. We stay current on each city’s rules and tell you exactly what applies to your address before you commit.
ADU Plans
ADU Plans are the architectural drawings, structural calculations, energy compliance documents, and site plans your city requires before issuing a building permit. Without a complete, code-compliant plan set, your project stalls before it starts. Lodgewick ADU Orange County works with drafters and engineers who know Orange County submittal standards in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, and beyond. ADU plan sets for Orange County typically cost $6,000 to $18,000 depending on the complexity of the design, the site, and the city’s review process. You’ll get a written scope and price before any drawing begins.
What a Complete Plan Set Includes
Site plan, floor plan, elevations, electrical layout, plumbing layout, structural drawings, Title 24 energy calculations, and a materials schedule. Cities reject incomplete sets, and every resubmittal adds weeks. We send complete packages the first time.
Plan Review Timelines in Orange County Cities
Standard plan review in most Orange County cities takes 30 to 60 days once submitted. Some cities offer over-the-counter ADU review for pre-approved plan sets. We’ll tell you which track applies to your project so you’re not surprised by the calendar.
ADU Contractor
An ADU Contractor is the licensed, responsible party who manages the entire build: permits, subcontractors, materials, scheduling, and inspections. Choosing the wrong contractor is the most common reason Orange County ADU projects go over budget or stall for months. Lodgewick ADU Orange County operates as your single point of responsibility. Russ Delmar leads the project personally, and every technician on your property is background-checked and in uniform. Full ADU builds in Orange County range from $180,000 to $450,000 as a general contract, with garage conversions running $120,000 to $200,000. Your price is written before work begins.
Subcontractor Coordination and Quality Control
Foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, paint, flooring, and finish work all require different trades. We schedule them in sequence, inspect the work at each stage, and hold the subs to the written scope. You’re not chasing anyone down.
Change Orders and Price Protection
The Kingswell Guarantee means the written price holds unless you request a change in scope. If you add a window or upgrade a countertop, we put the new price in writing before the change begins. No surprises at the end of the job.
ADU Design
ADU Design means deciding how the unit looks, functions, and fits your lot: the floor plan, roofline, window placement, kitchen layout, storage, and exterior finish. Good design makes a 650-square-foot unit feel livable and keeps the resale value of your property intact. Lodgewick ADU Orange County designs for real Orange County lots: narrow side yards in Costa Mesa, sloped backyards in Laguna Hills, wide lots in North Tustin. Design fees are typically bundled into the full project cost, though standalone design work runs $3,000 to $8,000. Every design decision gets documented in the written plan set before permitting.
Matching the Main House Without Copying It
Your ADU should feel like it belongs on the property without looking like a miniature of your home. We consider roofline, exterior material, window style, and finish color so the unit complements the existing house. The result is a backyard structure that adds value instead of looking like an afterthought.
Kitchen and Bath Layouts That Work
In a small unit, the kitchen and bathroom locations drive the entire floor plan. We favor layouts that keep plumbing on shared walls, maximize counter space, and give the unit a sense of separation between sleeping and living areas. The design works for tenants, parents, and adult kids alike.
Backyard ADU
A Backyard ADU is a detached unit built in the rear yard of your property, typically where a garage, garden, or empty lawn area sits today. It’s the fastest way to add fully independent living space without touching the main house. Lodgewick ADU Orange County builds backyard units across Orange County, from Midway City to San Juan Capistrano. Backyard ADU construction typically costs $220,000 to $450,000 depending on size, site access, and foundation work. The written price you receive covers the entire build, including utility trenching and site restoration. No separate charges appear later.
Site Access and Delivery Logistics
Narrow side gates, overhead power lines, and tight turn radii all affect how materials and equipment get to your backyard. We plan the access route before construction starts and include any special handling in the quote. Nothing about the build is left to chance.
Backyard ADU vs. Garage Conversion
A backyard ADU adds new square footage while keeping your garage intact. A garage conversion costs less but removes parking and storage. We’ll help you compare both options for your specific Orange County lot and budget before you decide.
Brands We Service
We work with leading prefab ADU manufacturers and materials, so you have options beyond a fully custom stick build. We’re hands-on with Abodu units: we handle the site work, foundation, utility connections, and finish details that turn a prefab delivery into a permitted, move-in-ready home. We’ve also completed projects using Cover and Dvele systems, where the unit arrives as factory-built modules and we manage the on-site assembly and connection.
For homeowners weighing a prefab ADU against a conventional build, we’ll give you an honest comparison of cost, timeline, and finish quality. Whether you go with Abodu, Cover, Dvele, or a fully custom stick-built unit, we can manage the entire project from site prep through final inspection.
Signs You Need a Pro Right Now
- Your garage is full of stuff and you’re out of space. A garage conversion or ADU can add real living square footage without a move. The longer you wait, the more you spend on storage units and the more cramped the main house feels.
- You’ve gotten quotes that changed after the work started. Contractors who won’t put a price in writing are a financial risk. A written price before work begins is the only way to know what the job actually costs.
- Your parents or adult kids need a place of their own. A JADU or detached ADU keeps family close while giving everyone their own entrance, kitchen, and privacy. It’s a permanent solution, not a temporary fix.
- You’ve been turned down or delayed by the permit office. Orange County cities have specific ADU requirements, and incomplete plan sets get bounced back for weeks. A contractor who knows the local review process saves you months.
- You need rental income to make the mortgage work. A legal ADU in Orange County can rent for $1,800 to $3,200 per month depending on the city and unit size. Every month of delay is money you’re not earning.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call (350) 203-6060 and talk to a real person. You reach a live human, not a voicemail system. We ask about your lot, your goals, and your timeline, and we schedule a free site visit. The call takes about 15 minutes.
- 2
Free on-site evaluation. We walk your Orange County property, measure the space, evaluate the site conditions, and talk through your options. You get honest guidance on what’s feasible and what it will cost, in broad terms.
- 3
Written plan set and fixed price. We prepare the ADU plans, submit the permit package, and give you a written line-item price for the entire build. That price is fixed under The Kingswell Guarantee. No changes at the door.
- 4
Construction with a defined arrival window. Your crew shows up when we say they will, in uniform, with background checks on file. We manage every trade, every inspection, and every scheduling detail. The job site is cleaned daily and left tidy at the end.
- 5
Final walkthrough and written guarantee. We walk the finished unit with you, verify everything against the scope, and hand you the written guarantee. If anything fails within 365 days, we come back and fix it. Free.
How Much Does ADU Builders Cost in Orange County?
A typical detached ADU in Orange County runs $220,000 to $450,000 depending on unit size, site conditions, and finish level. Garage conversions fall between $120,000 and $200,000, while JADUs inside the existing home cost $70,000 to $150,000. ADU plan sets alone run $6,000 to $18,000. These are real Orange County numbers, not national averages.
What moves the price: lot slope and soil conditions, utility trenching distance, foundation type, kitchen and bath finish selections, and whether the city requires architectural design review. The best way to avoid overpaying is to get a written line-item price before work starts. If a contractor won’t put the full scope in writing, walk away. Our free estimate includes the written scope, the fixed price, and a copy of The Kingswell Guarantee. Call (350) 203-6060 to get started.
Our Service Area Near Orange County
Lodgewick ADU Orange County serves the entire Orange County area, including Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, North Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, Coto de Caza, Midway City, and Santa Ana. For a closer look at what we do in specific cities, see our ADU Builders in Anaheim and ADU Builders in Costa Mesa pages. We schedule site visits within a defined arrival window and keep you updated throughout the build.
Serving Orange County, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Orange County area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADU Builders in Orange County
An ADU builder is a contractor who specializes in accessory dwelling units: separate, legal living spaces on your existing residential lot. This includes detached backyard units, garage conversions, and JADUs inside the main home. Lodgewick ADU Orange County has specialized in ADUs, garage conversions, and home additions since 2010.
Most detached ADU builds in Orange County take 6 to 10 months from design to final inspection. Garage conversions are typically faster, around 4 to 6 months. Your timeline depends on city plan review speed, site conditions, and finish selections. We’ll give you a written schedule with your fixed price.
Detached ADUs run $220,000 to $450,000, garage conversions $120,000 to $200,000, and JADUs $70,000 to $150,000 in Orange County. The price depends on unit size, site access, foundation type, and finish level. Call (350) 203-6060 for an exact written quote, free of charge.
Yes. We have hands-on experience with Abodu, Cover, and Dvele units, managing the site work, foundation, utility connections, and finishing that turn a factory-built module into a permitted home. We’ll compare prefab and custom options honestly for your lot and budget, then manage whichever you choose.
Every project includes the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If the work isn’t right within the guarantee period, Lodgewick ADU Orange County comes back and makes it right, free of charge. That commitment is handed to you before construction begins.
Yes. We prepare the complete plan set, submit it to your Orange County city, and manage every inspection through final sign-off. Cities like Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, and Santa Ana all have different submittal standards, and we know what each one requires.
Start by knowing how you’ll use the unit: rental income, family housing, or a home office. Then check your lot size, setbacks, and budget range. From there, call (350) 203-6060 and we’ll walk the property with you, explain what’s feasible, and give you a written price. The estimate is free.
Schedule Your ADU Builders Service in Orange County Today
You’ll get a real person on the phone, a free site visit, and a written price before any work begins. No pressure, no vague quotes, no changes at the door. Call Lodgewick ADU Orange County at (350) 203-6060 to schedule your free estimate. We answer live, 24/7.
Written by Russ Delmar, Owner at Lodgewick ADU Orange County, serving Orange County since 2010.
