Building an ADU can be a costly endeavor. That is why you should be aware of everything that goes into building your ADU, including planning and permitting. Read on to see an ADU cost breakdown to get an idea of how much building your own unit will cost you.
Design, Planning, And Permitting
The first step of building an ADU is designing it. You will need to hire professional designers to collaborate with you in order to design your ADU to not only your standards but also your cities standards. You will also need to submit your plans for permits, which will cost money as well. Especially if you don’t get your plans approved the first time around, this process can be costly. That is why you should take the time to find a qualified ADU designer to create your designs to save you time and money.
Design, planning, and permit expedite usually costs between $8,000 to $15,000.
City Fees
All cities will have fees for building an ADU. These fees will vary from city to city but usually average between $4,000 to $8,000.
Construction Labor and Materials
Finding the right contractor for your job can be a difficult process. If you go for the cheapest option, you will end up losing money elsewhere because they will probably be underqualified and make mistakes due to it. However, you also don’t want to go for the most expensive option because they probably are overcharging you.
It is important that you do your research on contractors and try to get ones local to your area. Many local contractors will be able to get you deals on materials to keep your costs down.
The top ADU professionals and materials should cost you between $200-$250 per square foot. To make it easier for you to understand how much this is going to be, a 500 square foot, 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit will cost you around $99,800 -$124,750.
Total ADU Cost
All ADUs are going to cost differently due to designs, the material used, size, and appliances. On average though, an ADU will cost you between $113,300 -$138,250.
