ADUs in the South Bay
A clearer way to build your ADU.
Hannah Dominick scopes it, budgets it and runs the site herself. One person in charge, from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.
California License B #1089901
NAHB Member
CAPS Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
What is an ADU?
A second home on the same lot.
An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is a complete home of its own on a property that already has a house: its own kitchen, bathroom, living and sleeping space. It can be built four ways.
01
Detached ADU
A new, separate building on your property, often in the backyard.
02
Garage or space conversion
A home created from space you already have, such as a garage, basement or attic.
03
Attached ADU
A new addition built onto your existing home.
04
Junior ADU (JADU)
A unit of up to 500 square feet built inside your existing house, such as a bedroom suite with its own entrance.
Why homeowners build one
More space on the property you already own.
Homeowners across the South Bay build ADUs for the people they love, for the income they can earn and for the flexibility to stay in their home longer.
Family close by
A place for aging parents, adult children or guests, on the same property.
Rental income
A rental income unit, planned and budgeted before anything starts.
Room to age in place
Homes planned around changing needs, led by a CAPS-certified builder.
Space that adapts
A guest suite, home office or future home for family as your needs change.
California flexibility
California has made it easier to build one.
State law now sets what cities must allow. Here is what the California Department of Housing and Community Development says applies to a typical single-family lot.
3
Units on one lot
A converted ADU, a junior ADU and a new detached ADU can be combined on a single-family lot.
800
Square feet, detached
Cities must allow a new detached ADU of up to 800 square feet, with side and rear setbacks of no more than four feet.
60
Days to a decision
Cities must approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days when there is already a home on the lot.
750
Square feet, no impact fees
ADUs of 750 square feet or less are exempt from impact fees. Larger units are charged in proportion to the size of the main home.
0
Replacement parking spaces
When a garage is converted or replaced by an ADU, the city cannot require you to replace those parking spaces.
None
Owner-occupancy requirement
Cities generally cannot require you to live in the main home as a condition of building an ADU.
Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook (updated March 2026). Rules vary by city and by property, local ordinances can add flexibility, and coastal areas have extra steps. This is general information, not legal advice. Hannah confirms what applies to your lot in your Get Clear consultation.
Who builds your ADU
The person you meet is the person who runs your build.
Hannah Dominick spent years as a project manager on large residential builds for established South Bay firms. She started HD to bring that corporate-scale experience to a more personal way of building.
No handoff. She scopes the work, sets the budget, runs the site and walks you through the finish.
NAHB Member · 2024 NAHB CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) · License B #1089901 · @hannahbuildshouses
Before you hire
None of this is bad luck. It is a process problem.
Homeowners tell the same stories about renovation. They are the reason HD works the way it does.
78%
of homeowners went over budget on their last renovation.
44%
went over by $5,000 or more.
39%
believe their contractor cut corners.
01
The low bid that isn't
The number that wins the job is rarely the number you pay. Change orders quietly make up the difference.
02
The handoff
You're sold by one person and built by someone you never met, or never vetted.
03
The black box
Decisions and costs get made out of sight. You hear about them after they have already hit your budget.
The HD Method
From first conversation to final walkthrough.
Five steps, one person in charge. At every step you know what you are getting, what it costs and what happens next.
01
Get Clear
The home, the scope, your priorities. You get: a written scope.
02
Set the Direction
Decisions, timing, who owns what. You get: a line-by-line budget.
03
Get Ready to Build
People, permits and planning lined up. You get: a real schedule.
04
Build With Intention
Steady coordination and attention to craft. You get: a weekly update, every week.
05
Finish With Care
Same involvement to the last detail. You get: a final walkthrough with Hannah.
Transparency
What transparency looks like.
No black box. Every cost, every allowance and every change is visible to you before it moves.
Every cost, one by one
Your budget lists each cost on its own line, in plain English.
Budgeted amounts, up front
Allowances for finishes are set and explained before you sign.
Changes, before they happen
You see the cost and the reason in writing before work moves.
A weekly update
What got done, what is next and what needs your decision.
Selected work
Real projects across the South Bay.
Projects Hannah managed as project manager with established South Bay builders.
Redondo Beach
Two-unit new construction
Palos Verdes
Residence, Espinosa Circle
Manhattan Beach
Residence, 39th Street
ADU questions
Answers before you call.
We understand the questions you may have and want to ease your mind.
Will you be working on my job or subbing it out?
I am involved intimately with every job. I scope the work, set the budget, run the site and walk you through the finish, so you deal with one person from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.
How do I know costs will not mount and I will not get over-charged?
Do I need to get permits or talk to the city?
Do I need to hire an architect?
How does billing work with my project?
How much does an ADU cost, and how long will it take?
Where do you build?
Get clear
Start your ADU project.
Next step: a Get Clear consultation at your property. Bring your plans or ideas, a rough budget range and your timing. You leave with an honest read on scope, cost range and next steps.
© 2026 HD Residential Construction. All rights reserved.
California License B #1089901 · 703 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach
