We design and build custom ADUs across Pasadena — Craftsman-matched detached homes, period-respectful garage conversions, granny flats for aging in place, and second-story additions over original carriage houses. One team, every step.
Pasadena was built around the architecture-first idea — Greene & Greene, Heineman, Wright, Smith — and that idea is still the operating principle. A backyard ADU here isn't a separate object; it's a continuation of an existing design language. Deep eaves. Honest materials. Detail that holds up close.
We've worked across 91101, 91103, 91104, and 91106 — Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, Garfield Heights, the Old Pasadena perimeter, and the larger Craftsman lots in the foothills near Altadena. Pasadena ADUs ranked top-5 nationally for ROI in 2026 (12% gross yield on a standard 1BR), but the homeowners who hire us aren't running spreadsheets — they're protecting what their property already is. Our job is to make sure the ADU looks like it's been there as long as the main house.
Pasadena's housing stock supports a wider range of ADU types than almost anywhere in LA County. These are the configurations that come up most.
New construction ADU designed to read as part of the original property — matched eaves, exposed rafter tails, period-appropriate window proportions, real wood siding. Slower to design, much better to live with.
Two-story ADU built over an existing detached garage. Common configuration for Craftsman properties that originally had carriage houses. Adds usable footprint without expanding the lot's footprint.
Converting an original detached Pasadena garage to a permitted ADU. Faster and less expensive than new construction, with character built in. Mindful insulation and ceiling work makes them comfortable year-round.
Single-story detached ADU designed for older parents or homeowners planning to downsize on-property. Zero-step entry, wider doorways, accessible bath, easy reach to the main house.
Smaller footprint ADU for home office, art studio, or guest accommodation. Often built in the deep back-third of a Pasadena lot where a Craftsman has unused garden depth.
Full second residence at maximum allowable size, designed for multi-generational living. Often used as the long-term family home with the main house becoming the rental.
Converted a 1920s detached garage in Madison Heights into a one-bedroom ADU. We kept the original brick chimney and exposed two of the rafter trusses inside, then wrapped everything else in modern insulation and finishes. Italian tile in the bath, German hardware throughout, custom millwork around the original window openings.
The owners' parents stay in the ADU during winter months; the rest of the year it's a guest suite for visiting grandchildren. Permitted in 11 weeks under Pasadena's standard process; delivered in 8 months total.
Pasadena is its own city — not under the City of Los Angeles or LADBS. Permits go through the Pasadena Department of Planning & Community Development and Pasadena Permit Center. This matters because Pasadena has its own historic preservation framework, slightly different setback rules, and design review nuances that LA-based contractors sometimes miss.
Landmark Districts & Historic Resources: Several Pasadena neighborhoods are designated Landmark Districts — Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Madison Heights, Markham Place, Bellefontaine Place, Prospect Park, and more. Properties inside these boundaries trigger Design Commission review for any visible-from-street ADU work. We've done multiple projects through Pasadena's historic process and know what design choices clear quickly versus what triggers months of back-and-forth.
National Register / California Register properties: A few hundred individual Pasadena addresses are individually designated. ADU projects on these properties require additional preservation review and Secretary of the Interior Standards-compliant design. We can walk you through whether your property carries this status during the free site visit.
ADU-friendly state law applies: Even with historic overlays, California's state ADU laws (AB 68, AB 881, AB 1033, SB 9) give homeowners broad rights that local design review can shape but cannot block outright. Pasadena's permit times for non-landmark properties run roughly 8–12 weeks; landmark properties add 4–8 weeks for Design Commission scheduling.
Free site visit. Honest feasibility review — including any historic district or Mills Act considerations. Written quote within seven days.
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