Build a Prefab ADU in the Bay Area

If you live in the Bay Area and are considering adding an ADU to your property, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog we’ll go over the considerations of adding a prefab ADU in the Bay Area, how much it might cost you, restrictions and more.

Why You Should Consider Adding a Prefab ADU to Your Bay Area Property

If you live in the Bay Area, you know that property values are extremely high, with typical median home prices of around $1 million. The idea of getting back into the housing market is daunting for many current homeowners, so how do you add more space to property without relocating?

The answer for many homeowners are ADUs. Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs for short, are an easy way to add livable space to your property without having to buy a larger house. ADUs range in size and style and offer plenty of benefits to Bay Area homeowners, including:

• Flexible space for work or kids schooling

• A backyard gym studio for fitness, yoga and more

• A place for aging parents to live out their golden years

• Rental income for short, medium and long term housing

How much does it cost to build an ADU in the Bay Area?

Prefab ADU costs in the Bay Area can cost upwards of $500,000, depending on the type of ADU you’re building.

Stick-built ADUs, which are built from scratch like your main home likely is, will generally cost more since you’ll need the help of an architect, engineer and general contractor. Additionally, stick-built ADUs are a one-of-one build, so the risk of unforeseen issues with the build, need for more materials, labor issues, and other unknowns are often higher — all of which not only adds to the bill but also your timeline.

Prefab ADUs on the other hand are prefabricated units built in a climate controlled environment, ensuring the highest quality build. Because prefab units have predetermined designs, there’s no need for the extra cost of an architect or engineer because their work has already been done.

Plus, prefab ADUs are built with significantly less unknowns since the design is already vetted, which means less materials waste, a single crew of builders working on the unit, and less risk.

Abodu prefab ADUs start at $228,800 and include your unit, delivery and craning, foundation work, utility connections, permitting services and concierge project management — it’s truly one of the easiest ways to get a luxury ADU built on your Bay Area property.

What is the average size of an ADU in the Bay Area?

If you want to know the average size of an ADU in the Bay Area, you first have to understand some ADU size rules. The size allowance for ADUs depends on how large your property is and what kind of ADU you want, an attached or detached ADU.

All ADUs must have at least a 4-foot setback from the unit to the property line, which will generally determine how large your detached ADU can be. Additionally, an attached ADU — which is attached to your main home, can only be 50% of the size of the home. So if your Bay Area home is 1,500 square feet, your attached ADU can only be 750 square feet.

If you want a detached ADU — which generally adds the most value to your property and is significantly more private for rentals — the max size of the ADU can be is 1,200 square feet. All Abodu ADUs are detached units.

What are the restrictions on building an ADU?

It’s important to check with your local agency to get specific restriction information for your property, but here are some restrictions for building an ADU in the Bay Area:

• Parking: must be located within the front and side setback of the property and if you do a garage conversion ADU, replacement parking for the main home is no longer required.
• For single-family lots up to 9,000 square feet, a detached ADU cannot be larger than 1,000 square feet; for lots larger than 9,000 square feet, detached ADUs cannot be larger than 1,200 square feet.
• Historical designations may require a specific architectural style for the ADU.

How to Choose the Best Prefab ADU Builders in Your Area

When looking for the best prefab ADU builder in the Bay Area, here is what we recommend taking into consideration:

• Do the prices listed include necessary fees such as delivery and craning? Go with a prefab ADU builder you can trust and that offers transparent pricing.
• Are the designs beautiful and functional? Small spaces can live big with the right design, so make sure the ADU designs are intentional and considered.
• Do they offer concierge project management or are you left to figure out permitting and managing all of the subcontractors you’ll need for placing the unit?
• How many units have they actually placed successfully?

At Abodu, you not only get prefab ADUs designed by world-class architects, but transparent pricing, concierge project management, in-house financing assistance, and a team that has placed hundreds of units and has worked in both the private and public sectors.

Learn more about Abodu Prefab ADUs

If you’re ready to build an ADU in the Bay Area, look no further than Abodu — we offer a number of pre-approved prefab units that can be yours in as little as 6 months.

Plus, the Abodu concierge service is unparalleled — you get a dedicated project manager that handles everything from the moment you sign the contract to when you get the keys to your new ADU.

Get started by submitting information on your home and find out if Abodu is right for you — it’s free to get started and there are no strings attached. Get started.