Your AI Project Manager

Add your property details

Why: Every other tool here — the cost range, the roadmap, and the assistant — reads from your project profile.

If skipped: Recommendations stay generic instead of reflecting your city and site.

Property

Not added yet

Project type

Not set

Project goal

Not set

Current stage

Property & Feasibility

Estimated timeline

Most homeowners spend 12–24 months from here

Your timing

Not set

Last activity

No activity yet

Next recommended action

Add your property details

Project readiness score

0%

• Add your property details

  Why it matters: Every other tool here — the cost range, the roadmap, and the assistant — reads from your project profile.

  If skipped: Recommendations stay generic instead of reflecting your city and site.

  ⏱ About 5 minutesWho helps: None yetAdd property details

• Review preliminary zoning considerations

  Why it matters: Setbacks, height, lot coverage, and unit size are set locally and shape what is realistic before you spend on design.

  If skipped: You may design something the jurisdiction will not accept and pay to redraw it.

  ⏱ 1–2 hours, plus a call to your planning counterWho helps: Planning staff, later an architect or designerOpen the ADU Guide

• Estimate project costs as a range

  Why it matters: A planning range keeps design decisions grounded, and lenders and contractors both start from it.

  If skipped: Design and scope grow past what the project can actually support.

  ⏱ About 10 minutesWho helps: Later, a contractor and a lenderOpen the cost estimator

• Begin interviewing architects or designers

  Why it matters: Homeowners usually speak with a designer before requesting contractor proposals, so the scope everyone bids on is the same.

  If skipped: Contractor bids end up describing different projects and cannot be compared.

  ⏱ 2–3 conversations over a couple of weeksWho helps: Architect, residential designerGet matched

• Estimate utility connection costs

  Why it matters: Panel capacity, sewer or septic capacity, and water service are common sources of unbudgeted cost.

  If skipped: A late utility upgrade can move the budget significantly.

  ⏱ A few calls to your utility providersWho helps: Utility providers, electrician, general contractorConstruction guidance

• Review the California ADU Guide
• Call your city or county planning department
• Gather site photos
• Prepare rough measurements of the area
• Compare detached vs. garage conversion
• Ask ADU California AI about setbacks
• Understand utility planning for an added unit

1. 1. Property & FeasibilityTypically 2–6 weeksIn progress

   Understand the property, your goal, and the local rules that shape what is worth exploring. ADU California does not publish property determinations — local agencies do.

   Common deliverables

   • • Written project goal
   • • Basic site notes and photos
   • • List of questions for planning staff

   Professionals typically involved

   City or county planning staff, Designer or architect (initial consult), Land surveyor

   Potential risks

   • • Assuming a rule from another city applies to yours
   • • Missing an easement, utility line, or protected tree

   California ADU GuideExplore your property

   StatusNot startedIn progressCompleteNot applicable
2. 2. DesignTypically 4–12 weeksNot started
3. 3. EngineeringTypically 2–8 weeksNot started
4. 4. Budget & FinancingTypically 2–6 weeksNot started
5. 5. PermitsTypically 1–6 monthsNot started
6. 6. Contractor SelectionTypically 3–8 weeksNot started
7. 7. ConstructionTypically 4–10 monthsNot started
8. 8. InspectionsOngoing through constructionNot started
9. 9. CompletionTypically 2–6 weeksNot started

Questions for your architect, things to discuss with a contractor, ideas, budget thoughts, rental income assumptions. Your assistant can read these when you ask about your project.

• No notes yet.

Folders are ready for your project records. Uploads are not available yet — for now, note what you have and where it lives.

• Property Photos

  Wide shots of the property and street frontage.

• Site Photos

  The specific area where the work would happen.

• Architectural Plans

  Concepts, site plans, and permit sets.

• Engineering

  Structural, civil, soils, and drainage documents.

• Permits

  Applications, plan check comments, and issued permits.

• Utility Documents

  Service requests, capacity letters, meters.

• Contracts

  Proposals, agreements, and change orders.

• Invoices

  Payment requests and receipts.

• Inspection Reports

  Inspection cards and correction notices.

• Personal Notes

  Anything else you want kept with the project.