Chapter 05 · The Places · Santa Clara County

ADU builder in San Jose.

California's third-largest city has some of the strongest ADU economics in the state. We handle the city's permit process end-to-end. $180K–$557K all-inclusive, with a permitting budget built in. Most homes are delivered in 4 to 9 months once permits clear.

San Jose Santa Clara Co. · 50 min from factory · Homes delivered

50 min from our Salinas factory

Approximate San Jose build neighborhood, never exact addresses.

San Jose ADU Rules

What applies on your lot.

1,200

ft² max · detached ADU

4 ft

min. side / rear setback

60-day

ministerial permit clock

1

parking space max, often waived

Permit timeline · San Jose
The first round of building plan review typically takes about 20 business days, inside the state's 60-day ministerial clock. Overall project timing still depends on permitting, the one step nobody fully controls.
Local fees · San Jose
School and parkland impact fees do not apply to ADUs under 750 sq ft. At 750 sq ft or larger, school district and parkland fees apply, and building permit fees scale with ADU size.

Sourced from San Jose's own published ADU standards. Full rulebook with citations →

Why Us for San Jose

We're local. Actually.

Our family-run team is based right here. Our factory sits in Salinas, 50 minutes from San Jose, and we have built across this region for years. When we say "local," we don't mean a sales rep who covers your area from somewhere else. We mean the people who design, build, and deliver your home are your neighbors.

That matters more than you'd think. When a planning department needs a clarification, we go in person. When an inspector flags something, we are there the same day. No phone tag, no road trips, no "we'll get back to you next week."

40+

years of building experience

50

minutes from our factory

4–9

months to keys

4.9/5

stars on Google

05 Our Local Team

San Jose Santa Clara County

Popular in San Jose

These three models fit most San Jose lots.

BEST VALUE Four Fifty 450 ft² · Studio · 4 months → MOST POPULAR Six Sixty 660 ft² · 1BR · 5 months → BEST FOR RENTALS Six Sixty 2BR 660 ft² · 2BR · 5 months →
See all 14 models →

A San Jose Family

Hear from a San Jose family.

“Everything we would have picked out was already in there.”
Richard & Maria · 660 ft² · 1 Bed · Living closer to family

These are excerpts from real, verified Google reviews. Read more →

San Jose ADU FAQ

Questions about building in San Jose.

The answers below use San Jose's own published ADU standards, cited to official sources. For the full rulebook with citations, see our ADU Rules Lookup, the Santa Clara County ADU regulations guide, or the statewide California ADU laws 2026 overview.

How big can an ADU be in San Jose?
Detached ADUs are allowed up to 1,200 sq ft under state law. Cities may cap size lower, but never below 850 sq ft (studio or 1 bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedrooms). Smaller lots may also qualify for a Junior ADU (JADU) up to 500 square feet. Our 14 models range from 405 to 1,200 square feet, and your free property analysis confirms exactly which sizes your lot allows.

What are the setback requirements in San Jose?
4 ft from side and rear property lines for new construction (0 ft for a conversion within an existing structure). Front setback follows the main home's zoning. We confirm the exact setbacks for your specific lot during the free site visit (step 3 of our process).

Do I need to add a parking space?
At most 1 space per ADU, with broad exemptions: within a half mile walking distance of public transit, when replacing a garage, and for conversions. Most lots qualify for an exemption. We verify your lot's parking situation as part of the feasibility study.

How much are San Jose ADU permit fees?
Permit and impact fees vary by city, ADU size, and utility connections. School and parkland impact fees do not apply to ADUs under 750 sq ft. At 750 sq ft or larger, school district and parkland fees apply, and building permit fees scale with ADU size. Your project price carries a permitting budget built in, and we handle every submission for you. Exact fees are set by your city and county and are itemized in your feasibility study.

How far is your factory from San Jose?
Our factory is in Salinas, about 50 minutes from San Jose. We've delivered homes here and know the local conditions well.

San Jose rule sources: City of San Jose, ADU FAQs · CA Gov. Code 66310-66342 (state ADU law)

Your San Jose Property

Let's see if your San Jose lot can host an ADU.

Our team will pull your property records, check setbacks, and tell you straight in about 30 minutes, free.

See If My Property Qualifies →
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