ADU Construction
in Burbank, CA
Detached ADUs, garage conversions, and JADUs on Burbank lots — permitted through the City of Burbank's own Building Division and ADU ordinance, not LADBS, by one local team.
Right Image Builders is a licensed ADU contractor building across Burbank — Magnolia Park, the Rancho equestrian district, and the Media District. We handle detached ADUs, garage conversions, and Junior ADUs, permitted through the City of Burbank's Building Division and its own ADU ordinance — Burbank does not use LADBS. Licensed & insured, CSLB #1021284, based a short drive west in Valley Glen. Free feasibility visit: (818) 210-4544.
Burbank ADUs,
By Burbank's Own Rules
Building an ADU in Burbank starts with one fact most contractors miss: Burbank is its own city. Your unit is permitted through the City of Burbank's Building Division under Burbank's own ADU ordinance and fee schedule — not through the Los Angeles system, and not using LA's pre-approved Standard Plans. State ADU law still gives you the right to build; Burbank just administers it on its own terms.
An ADU is a complete small home — foundation, framing, a full kitchen and bath, its own systems and address — so the local permitting and utility coordination matter as much as the construction. We manage all of it as one contract with one point of contact: design, City of Burbank submittal, corrections, utilities, the build, and final inspection.
Burbank's older lots reward it. Many 1920s–40s homes have a detached garage ideal for conversion, and the flatter lots suit ground-up detached units. In the Rancho equestrian district, horsekeeping setbacks add a wrinkle we design around. Based a short drive west in Valley Glen, we'll tell you at the free feasibility visit exactly what your Burbank lot supports — before you spend on plans.
Three Paths
to a Second Unit
Detached ADUs
A standalone backyard home up to 1,200 sq ft, designed to complement Burbank's traditional and Spanish architecture. On typical Burbank lots most detached units land in the 600–1,000 sq ft range.
Garage Conversions
The most cost-effective Burbank path. We convert an existing detached garage into a legal ADU — foundation and slab upgrades, framing, insulation, windows, a full kitchen and bath, and code systems, all permitted through the City of Burbank.
Junior ADUs (JADUs)
A JADU up to 500 sq ft carved from the existing house with an efficiency kitchen — the lowest-cost way to add a legal, rentable unit without new square footage.
Rancho District Site Planning
In Burbank's equestrian Rancho District, horsekeeping and its setback rules shape where an ADU can sit. We design placement around those local standards so the unit is both legal and livable on an equestrian lot.
Utilities & Site Work
Water, sewer, and electrical connections; addressing; grading and drainage; and the exterior work that ties the ADU into the property — the coordination that quietly makes or breaks an ADU timeline, handled in-house.
Design, City Permits & Build
One contract from concept to keys: design and engineering, City of Burbank submittal and corrections under its ADU ordinance, construction, and final inspection — a single team accountable for the whole unit.
Its Own Ordinance,
Its Own Counter
The defining fact of a Burbank ADU is jurisdiction. Burbank is an independent city, so your unit is reviewed under Burbank's own ADU ordinance and permitted at the City of Burbank Building Division — not LADBS, and not with LA's Standard Plans. State law guarantees your right to build; Burbank sets the local development standards and fees. A contractor who assumes the LA process will hit a wall at Burbank's counter.
The neighborhoods shape the work. Magnolia Park and Burbank's traditional streets have older lots with detached garages that convert cleanly. The Rancho District is Burbank's equestrian enclave, where horsekeeping setbacks affect where an ADU can go. The Media District near the studios draws professionals building rental and guest units.
Location can help too: parts of Burbank sit near Metrolink and Amtrak service around the Downtown Burbank station, which can waive added-parking for an ADU within a half-mile of transit — subject to Burbank's rules for your exact address. Based a short drive west in Valley Glen, we permit Burbank correctly the first time.
Burbank ADU
Cost Ranges
| ADU Type | Typical Range | What's Involved |
|---|---|---|
| JADU | $90K–$155K | Up to 500 sq ft carved from the existing home with an efficiency kitchen and bath. The lowest-cost legal unit. |
| Garage Conversion | $135K–$205K | Convert an existing garage to a full legal ADU — foundation/slab upgrades, framing, kitchen, bath, and code systems. |
| Detached ADU | $255K–$420K+ | Ground-up standalone unit, typically 600–1,000 sq ft on a Burbank lot, including utilities and site work. |
ADU costs vary widely with size, finishes, site conditions, and City of Burbank fees. Ranges are for planning only; your fixed-price proposal follows the free feasibility visit.
Three Steps.
Zero Surprises.
Free Feasibility Visit
We visit your Burbank property, confirm what your lot allows under Burbank's ADU ordinance, check any Rancho setbacks and transit-parking rules, and recommend the right path — detached, garage conversion, or JADU.
Design, Plans & City Permits
We design the unit and carry the submittal and corrections through the City of Burbank's Building Division — with a fixed-price proposal set before construction.
Build & Deliver
One crew builds to final inspection sign-off, utilities connected and address issued. You get a rentable, legal second home — final payment only after your walkthrough approval.
Start Your Burbank
ADU
Tell us about your lot and your goals and we'll get back to you within 4 business hours. We'll confirm what your property allows under Burbank's ordinance before you spend anything on plans.
Prefer to talk it through?
(818) 210-4544Questions We
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Let's Build Your
Burbank ADU
Free feasibility visit. Fixed-price proposal. One local team from design and City of Burbank permits through to a finished, rentable unit.
(818) 210-4544