Chapter 05 · The Places · Santa Cruz County

ADU builder in Santa Cruz.

Coastal lots and a strict permit climate make Santa Cruz a place where doing it right the first time matters. That's our whole model. $180K–$557K all-inclusive, with a permitting budget built in. Most homes are delivered in 4 to 9 months once permits clear.

Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Co. · 40 min from factory · Homes delivered

40 min from our Salinas factory

Approximate Santa Cruz build neighborhood, never exact addresses.

Santa Cruz ADU Rules

What applies on your lot.

1,200

ft² max · detached ADU

3 ft

min. side / rear setback

60-day

ministerial permit clock

Parking · Santa Cruz
No parking is required for an ADU outside the Coastal Zone, and parking removed to build one need not be replaced. Inside the Coastal Zone, one off-street space is required near the shore (the city maps exactly where).
Local fees · Santa Cruz
ADUs under 750 sq ft fall below the school impact fee threshold; larger units pay school fees based on unit size.

Sourced from Santa Cruz's own published ADU standards. Full rulebook with citations →

Why Us for Santa Cruz

We're local. Actually.

Our family-run team is based right here. Our factory sits in Salinas, 40 minutes from Santa Cruz, 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

40

minutes from our factory

4–9

months to keys

4.9/5

stars on Google

05 Our Local Team

Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County

Popular in Santa Cruz

These three models fit most Santa Cruz 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 →

From Our Families

Real families, real reviews.

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

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

Santa Cruz ADU FAQ

Questions about building in Santa Cruz.

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

How big can an ADU be in Santa Cruz?
A new detached ADU may be the larger of 10% of net lot area (up to 1,200 sq ft) or 850 sq ft for a studio or 1 bedroom and 1,000 sq ft for 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 Santa Cruz?
Detached new-construction ADUs need only 3 ft interior side and rear setbacks; any portion over 16 ft tall must sit back at least 4 ft. 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?
No parking is required for an ADU outside the Coastal Zone, and parking removed to build one need not be replaced. Inside the Coastal Zone, one off-street space is required near the shore (the city maps exactly where). We verify your lot's parking situation as part of the feasibility study.

How much are Santa Cruz ADU permit fees?
Permit and impact fees vary by city, ADU size, and utility connections. ADUs under 750 sq ft fall below the school impact fee threshold; larger units pay school fees based on unit 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 Santa Cruz?
Our factory is in Salinas, about 40 minutes from Santa Cruz. We've delivered homes here and know the local conditions well.

Santa Cruz rule sources: City of Santa Cruz, Accessory Dwelling Units

Your Santa Cruz Property

Let's see if your Santa Cruz 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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