ADU Contractor · Tarzana, CA

ADU Construction
in Tarzana, CA

Large-lot detached ADUs, garage conversions, and JADUs on Tarzana lots — flat and hillside — with LADBS permits, Standard Plans, and the Hillside Ordinance handled by one local team.

Right Image Builders is a licensed ADU contractor building across Tarzana — from the big level lots on the north flats and the Vanalden area to the hillside lots in the Tarzana hills south of Ventura. We handle detached ADUs, garage conversions, and Junior ADUs, through LADBS permits, Standard Plans, and Hillside Ordinance requirements to final inspection. Licensed & insured, CSLB #1021284, based in Valley Glen a straight drive east. Free feasibility visit: (888) 357-9992.

CSLB #1021284 Licensed & Insured 12+ Years in the Valley 5.0★ · 87 Reviews LADBS Standard Plans (888) 357-9992

The Right Image Approach

Big Lots Make
Great ADUs

Few Valley neighborhoods are as ADU-friendly as Tarzana, and the reason is the land. The flats north of Ventura Boulevard sit on big, level lots — exactly the kind of parcel where a full-size detached ADU up to 1,200 sq ft is genuinely feasible, with room left over for the yard. It's a different starting point from the tight lots elsewhere in the Valley.

South of Ventura, the streets climb into the Tarzana hills. Those lots are larger and more valuable, and they make excellent ADU sites too — but they're governed by the City of LA Hillside Ordinance, which brings grading, retaining, drainage, and access into the design. Both sides of the boulevard are strong ADU opportunities; they just call for different expertise.

An ADU is a complete small home — foundation, framing, a full kitchen and bath, its own systems and address — so the permitting and site work matter as much as the build. We manage all of it as one contract with one point of contact: design and engineering, LADBS submittal, the pre-approved Standard Plan path where it fits, utility connections, and construction.

Based in Valley Glen, a straight drive east, we'll tell you at the free feasibility visit exactly what your Tarzana lot supports — a full detached unit on the flats, a hillside build to the south, or a cost-effective garage conversion — before you spend a dollar on plans.

Detached ADU in Tarzana — Right Image Builders

Recent ADU · Tarzana, CA

What We Build

Three Paths
to a Second Unit

01

Detached ADUs

A standalone backyard home up to 1,200 sq ft. Tarzana's big level lots on the flats north of Ventura make a full-size two-bedroom detached unit very feasible, and hillside lots to the south support them too with the right engineering — designed to complement the main home. [VERIFY size limits.]

02

Garage Conversions

Convert an existing detached or attached garage into a legal ADU — foundation and slab upgrades, framing, insulation, windows, a full kitchen and bath, and code systems. The most cost-effective path on many Tarzana lots, often with room to spare for a detached unit too.

03

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.

04

Hillside Design & Site Work

For the hillside lots south of Ventura: grading, retaining walls, drainage, and access designed and permitted under the Hillside Ordinance — the specialized site work that makes a Tarzana hillside ADU possible instead of stalled.

05

LADBS Standard Plans

On the flatter north-of-Ventura lots, we use the City of LA's pre-approved ADU Standard Plan Program where it fits to shorten plan check and reduce design cost — a faster, more predictable route to permits.

06

Design, Permits & Build

One contract from concept to keys: design and engineering, LADBS submittal and corrections, utilities, construction, and final inspection — a single team accountable for the whole ADU.

Building in Tarzana

The Lot Decides
the Strategy

In Tarzana, ADU strategy comes down to which side of Ventura Boulevard you're on. North — the flats and the Vanalden area — the lots are big and level, which makes a full-size detached ADU very feasible and a strong candidate for LADBS Standard Plans. There's genuine room here for a comfortable 1,000–1,200 sq ft unit without crowding the yard.

South of Ventura, in the Tarzana hills, the lots are larger, more valuable, and have an upscale, semi-rural feel — but they're governed by the City of LA Hillside Ordinance. Grading limits, retaining, drainage, haul routes, and access all have to be engineered and permitted correctly. Done right, a hillside ADU is a premium asset; done without that expertise, it's a stalled project. We design and permit for the slope from day one.

Everything is City of Los Angeles and permitted through LADBS. From our Valley Glen shop, a straight drive east on the Valley floor, we stay hands-on through grading, framing, and final inspection — whether your Tarzana lot is on the flats or up in the hills.

What It Costs

Tarzana ADU
Cost Ranges

ADU TypeTypical RangeWhat's Involved
JADU $95K–$160K Up to 500 sq ft carved from the existing home with an efficiency kitchen and bath. The lowest-cost legal unit.
Garage Conversion $140K–$210K Convert an existing garage to a full legal ADU — foundation/slab upgrades, framing, kitchen, bath, and code systems.
Detached ADU $260K–$450K+ Ground-up standalone unit; big flat lots support a full 1,000–1,200 sq ft build, while hillside lots south of Ventura add grading, retaining, and access.

ADU costs vary widely with size, finishes, slope, and site work — hillside lots in particular. Ranges are for planning only; your fixed-price proposal follows the free feasibility visit. [VERIFY — owner to confirm current ADU cost ranges before publish.]

How It Works

Three Steps.
Zero Surprises.

01

Free Feasibility Visit

We visit your Tarzana property, read the lot — big flat parcel or hillside — check transit-parking rules, and tell you honestly which path fits your goals, slope, and budget.

02

Design, Plans & Permits

We design the unit, use Standard Plans on flat lots or engineer for the Hillside Ordinance on slopes, and carry the LADBS submittal and corrections — with a fixed price set before construction.

03

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.

Free Feasibility Visit

Start Your Tarzana
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 — flat or hillside — before you spend anything on plans.

Prefer to talk it through?

📞 (888) 357-9992
Request Received
Thank you — a senior member of our team will reach out within 4 business hours. For anything urgent, call (888) 357-9992.

Your information is kept private and never shared. Privacy Policy

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Tarzana ADU FAQ

Questions We
Hear in Tarzana

Can I build an ADU on my lot in Tarzana?+
Most likely yes. California ADU law lets nearly every single-family property in Tarzana add at least one ADU plus a Junior ADU. Tarzana is especially well suited to it: the big level lots on the flats north of Ventura Boulevard have room for a full-size detached unit, while south of Ventura the larger hillside lots are very buildable but bring grading and access considerations under the city's Hillside Ordinance. We confirm exactly what your specific lot allows at the free site visit.
How big can my ADU be in Tarzana?+
Under current California rules, a detached ADU can generally be built up to 1,200 sq ft, and a Junior ADU (JADU) is capped at 500 sq ft within the existing home. The large lots common in Tarzana — especially the level parcels on the north flats — make a full 1,000–1,200 sq ft detached unit very feasible. We size the ADU to your lot, slope, and goals. [VERIFY exact size limits with owner/current code.]
Do you handle permits, and does the Hillside Ordinance apply in Tarzana?+
Yes — Tarzana is part of the City of Los Angeles, so your ADU is permitted through LADBS. If your home is in the Tarzana hills south of Ventura Boulevard, the Hillside Ordinance can add grading, retaining, haul-route, and access requirements to a detached ADU. We know that process and design and permit around it from the start. On the flatter lots north of Ventura we use LADBS pre-approved Standard Plans where they fit to speed plan check.
Can I convert my Tarzana garage into an ADU?+
Yes. Many Tarzana homes have a detached or attached garage that converts well into a legal ADU — we upgrade the foundation and slab as needed, frame new walls, add insulation, windows, a full kitchen and bath, and bring electrical and plumbing to code, all on permit. A garage conversion is typically the most cost-effective path to a legal unit, and on the big flat lots there's often still room for a detached unit as well.
Do I need to add parking for an ADU in Tarzana?+
Sometimes not. State law waives the added-parking requirement for an ADU within one-half mile of qualifying public transit. Whether your Tarzana address qualifies depends on its distance to transit, which we confirm during planning. Where it doesn't apply, the large Tarzana lots usually leave plenty of room to design parking into the site plan without compromising the yard. [VERIFY transit proximity per address.]
How long does an ADU take, and can I rent it out?+
ADU applications in California are reviewed ministerially, generally within about 60 days, and building a detached unit typically runs several months depending on size, finishes, and — on hillside lots — site work. Yes, you can rent it out; a Tarzana ADU is a strong rental-income and multigenerational-housing asset, and the area's large lots make a comfortable full-size unit realistic. We give you a realistic combined permitting-and-build timeline at proposal. [VERIFY current approval timelines.]

Ready When You Are

Let's Build Your
Tarzana ADU

Free feasibility visit. Fixed-price proposal. One local team from design and LADBS permits — flat lot or hillside — through to a finished, rentable unit.

📞 (888) 357-9992
Request Received
Thank you — a senior member of our team will reach out within 4 business hours. For anything urgent, call (888) 357-9992.

Your information is kept private and never shared. Privacy Policy

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