Brentwood ADU Builder | Custom ADUs by Kavo
Brentwood · 90049 · 90272

Brentwood ADUs, built for the way you live.

We design and build premium custom ADUs across Brentwood — detached guest houses, pool-house combinations, home-office studios, and full second residences. From first sketch to final inspection, one team handles every step.

800–1,200
sq ft typical
Average Brentwood ADU size we build
5K–10K+
sq ft lots
Typical lot size in our service area
8–10
months
Sign to keys for a standard detached ADU
$2.8K–$4K+
per mo
Typical 1BR ADU rental income in Brentwood
Why Brentwood

The neighborhood was built for ADUs before the term existed.

Brentwood homes were built on the kind of lots that make great ADU projects possible — generous backyards, mature landscaping, deep setbacks, and the architectural quality that translates directly into beautiful backyard homes. Whether you're in flat Brentwood Glen, hillside Brentwood Heights, or one of the historic blocks near San Vicente, the same opportunity exists: a thoughtful detached ADU that adds real value without compromising what already works.

We've worked on lots from 5,000 sq ft to over an acre across the 90049 and 90272 zip codes. Most Brentwood ADUs we build aren't about maximizing density — they're about getting one more dwelling exactly right. A guest house for visiting family. A pool-side studio. A home office finally separated from the main residence. The Brentwood lot gives you room to do it well; our job is making sure the result looks like it always belonged there.

What we build here

Four kinds of Brentwood ADU we know well.

Brentwood lots support a range of approaches. These are the four project types that come up most often when homeowners in this area call us.

Detached guest house

One- or two-bedroom standalone ADU, typically 800–1,200 sq ft, with full kitchen and bath. The most common Brentwood project — used for visiting adult children, in-laws, or eventual rental.

Most common · 800–1,200 sq ft

Pool-house combination

ADU paired with pool deck or cabana. Half-bath plumbing, full kitchen, room enough to host. Done right, looks like part of the original landscape architecture.

Lots with existing pools · 600–900 sq ft

Detached home-office studio

Smaller-footprint ADU built specifically for remote work — large windows, soundproofing, a galley kitchen, and a 3/4 bath. Increasingly popular post-2020 Westside.

Compact lots or hillside · 400–700 sq ft

Full second residence

Two-bedroom, two-bath ADU at the maximum allowable size (1,200 sq ft under standard LA rules). Used for multigenerational living or as a high-yield rental.

Larger lots · 1,000–1,200 sq ft

Hillside ADU

Brentwood Heights and the canyons north of Sunset come with slope, retaining-wall, and view-protection considerations. We've navigated the Hillside Construction Permit process and know what shortens it.

Sloped lots · Site-specific design

Garage conversion (ADU)

Less common in Brentwood than in older neighborhoods, but still viable when an existing detached garage has good bones. Typically faster and less expensive than a new build.

Existing detached garage · 400–600 sq ft
Recent work

A backyard family room in Brentwood.

Two-bedroom detached ADU on a flat 8,500 sq ft lot south of Sunset. Indoor-outdoor living with floor-to-ceiling glass on the garden side, custom millwork throughout, and a kitchen built around imported Italian tile. Permitted in under three months under LA's 60-day standard plan rules; delivered in nine.

The owners use the ADU as a multi-generational space — visiting adult kids in the bedrooms, grandparents in the primary, and an indoor-outdoor "family room" extension during weekends. Exactly what a thoughtful Brentwood ADU should be.

See more of our portfolio →

Permitting

What to know about building an ADU in Brentwood.

Brentwood ADUs fall under City of Los Angeles jurisdiction — LADBS for building, LA City Planning for zoning. There's no HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) covering Brentwood proper, which keeps the design-review process simpler than it would be in, say, Highland Park. But Brentwood has its own things to navigate:

Hillside areas (Brentwood Heights, canyons): Lots above the Mandeville Canyon turn-off or in the hillside grading zone trigger the Hillside Construction Regulation (HCR) — affects haul routes, grading limits, and construction hours. We design around these constraints from day one rather than discovering them in plan check.

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ): Portions of Brentwood north of Sunset fall inside the VHFHSZ. Ignition-resistant construction is required — Class A roofing, ember-resistant venting, exterior wall assemblies, defensible space. Adds modest cost; we factor it into the initial quote.

LA's 60-day standard plan program: If your project fits one of LADBS's pre-approved standard plans, permits issue in 21–60 days instead of the historic 8–16 weeks. We use standard plans where it makes sense and custom design where it doesn't — and tell you which path makes sense for your lot during the free site visit.

Brentwood FAQ

Common questions from Brentwood owners.

What's the typical investment for a Brentwood ADU? +
Brentwood ADU investment varies significantly by lot conditions, scope, and finish level. A standard 800-sq-ft detached ADU on a flat lot, finished to our standard spec (European hardware, real tile, full appliance package), starts in the mid-to-upper $300s and can reach the $500s for larger or more complex projects. Hillside lots and fire-zone construction add 10–20%. After your free site visit, we deliver a transparent written quote within seven days.
Do I need design review or HOA approval in Brentwood? +
Most of Brentwood has no HPOZ or formal design-review board, so no neighborhood-wide design approval is required. However, several Brentwood subdivisions (Brentwood Park, Brentwood Hills Estates, certain blocks of Brentwood Glen) have private HOA covenants that may regulate setbacks, height, or exterior materials. We check your address against any applicable HOA before we begin design and incorporate those rules from day one.
Can I build an ADU in a Brentwood hillside lot? +
Yes, and we do these regularly. Hillside ADU projects (Brentwood Heights, canyons north of Sunset, areas in the Hillside Construction Regulation overlay) come with additional considerations: haul-route review, grading limits, geotech reports for cut-and-fill, retaining-wall engineering, and view-protection rules. They take a few extra weeks at the front end but the resulting ADUs often turn out to be the most striking — built into the slope with view-oriented glazing. We design around the constraints rather than fighting them.
How long will my Brentwood ADU project take? +
From signed contract to keys, typically 8–10 months for a standard Brentwood ADU. Design takes 4–6 weeks. Permits are usually 6–10 weeks (faster if we use a pre-approved standard plan). Construction runs 5–6 months. Hillside or fire-zone projects can add 1–2 months to the timeline. We give you a realistic schedule before you sign — and we hit it.
Will an ADU add value to my Brentwood home? +
In Brentwood, where land values dominate, a well-built ADU typically adds resale value approximately equal to the cost of construction — and sometimes more for very desirable configurations (guest suites with separate entry, pool houses with full plumbing). Equally important: as a rental, a Brentwood 1BR ADU typically commands $2,800–$4,000+/month, making it one of the strongest yield-to-cost ratios on the Westside.
Do you handle the entire project, or just the build? +
Both — that's the entire point of Kavo. Our in-house architect designs your ADU, we navigate permits with LADBS and LA City Planning (and any applicable HOA), and our construction team builds it. One contract, one project lead, one accountable point of contact from sketch to keys. You don't coordinate architects, contractors, and inspectors yourself. That's the work.
Start here

Thinking about an ADU in Brentwood? Let's walk your lot.

Free site visit. Honest feasibility review. Written quote within seven days. No pressure, no automated follow-up, no fine print.

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