What an all-in ADU price includes, and what it doesn't
Adam Mayberry, AIA · 
When you build an ADU, the price of the building is only part of the cost. Utility connections, design and permit fees are real costs too, and they're easy to leave out of a quote. Our configurator adds them up so the number you see is the one you plan around. Here's what goes into it.
1. Construction
Each plan starts with a base construction price for our standard finishes: integrated-color stucco, an asphalt shingle roof and Andersen 100 windows. Each choice you change adds to or takes from that base. For example, vertical wood siding or a standing seam roof adds cost, while corrugated metal siding or roofing lowers it. The configurator shows the exact amount for your plan next to every choice.
2. Utilities
Most ADUs need at least one new utility connection. You choose these as on/off pills in the configurator:
- New electric meter, $6,500. This assumes overhead service and caps PG&E fees at $1,200.
- Dedicated water meter, $25,000. This includes a new backflow device and a home-run line to the new meter. We confirm it at a site visit.
- Private water flow meter, $3,500. A Wi-Fi sub-meter so you can bill a tenant for water without a second city meter.
3. Soft costs
Every ADU carries design and city costs. Ours are listed, not hidden:
- Architecture, structural and engineering: $8,500
- Plan check and permit fees: $8,500 to $23,500, depending on the plan's size
- School and parkland fees, which apply to our 900 and 1,200 sq ft plans
4. What's included as an allowance
Every quote includes allowances for typical site work: 75 feet of utility trenching, a 100A electrical subpanel, a slab-on-grade foundation, restoration of rough grade, fencing around the work area and daily clean-up. If your lot needs more, like a longer trench or a sewer pump, we tell you at the site evaluation, before you sign.
What isn't included
Landscaping beyond rough grade, tree removal, and anything your specific site needs beyond the allowances. That's why every price is confirmed after a free site evaluation.