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ADU builders in Alhambra: steps and local facts

ADUs in Alhambra: local facts and planning steps

HCD data shows 102 ADU units with building permits issued in 2025 in the City of Alhambra, as reported so far.

Updated Sources: California HCD

Concept of a detached backyard ADU with white stucco, cedar siding and a small garden patio
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Alhambra at a glance

ADU units with building permits issued in 2025 as reported so far, City of Alhambra
102
ADU units completed (certificate of occupancy) in 2025 as reported so far, City of Alhambra
74
Rank by ADU units permitted in 2025 among reporting Los Angeles County cities, City of Alhambra
15 of 79

California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR), Table A2 · data as of

  • Numbers from HCD and US Census public records
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What do permits say an ADU costs?

From City of LA building permits, last 12 months. Not a contract price. How we calculate this

Declared values on City of Los Angeles building permits, last 12 months. The dataset covers the City of Los Angeles only, so treat it as a regional reference for Alhambra. A declared value is what the permit states, not your contract price. How we calculate this.

$140,544median declared value, new ADU

Middle half of 2,004 permits Median

Every lot is different. A local contractor can price your project.

Source: LA Department of Building and Safety, Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present (data.lacity.org), permits on one- and two-family homes issued to ; fire rebuilds excluded. ZIP medians need 20+ permits.

Alhambra ADU permits and housing facts

Alhambra ADU permits and housing facts

Local numbers for Alhambra, each with its source and date.

Change in ADU units permitted, 2022 to 2025, City of Alhambra1
-17.7%
Share of housing units built before 1980, City of Alhambra2
72.1%
Median year structure built, all housing units, City of Alhambra2
1960
Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied, City of Alhambra2
41.1%
Median value of owner-occupied homes, City of Alhambra2
$857,800
  1. 1 California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR), Table A2 · data as of
  2. 2 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates · data as of
ADU units permitted in Alhambra, by yearEach bar is one year of building permits, as the city reported them to the state.

15th of 79 LA County cities for ADU permits in 2025

* 2025 counts can still rise as late reports come in. Source: California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR), Table A2, data as of .

Planning your project

The City of Alhambra recorded 102 ADU units with building permits issued in 2025, as reported so far. Its housing is older: 72.1% of units were built before 1980 (Census 2020–2024).

What Alhambra's homes mean for your ADU

Most homes in Alhambra were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1960. Older houses often have an electrical panel, water line and sewer line sized for less demand than a new ADU adds. Check these early with your builder. Ask whether the panel has room for the new load and whether shared lines need repair or upgrade.

If your project converts an old garage, plan for lead-based paint testing for structures built before 1978 and for possible asbestos in older materials. These are things to check, not certainties for every house.

Many homes here are rented: 41.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. If you rent out your property, plan the work around your tenants, keep them informed about the schedule, and think about how the project affects rental income.

The median value of owner-occupied homes is $857,800. Use that figure to think about how much to put into your home relative to its value. Ask for a written scope so you can weigh the cost against your goals.

Typical path for an ADU in Alhambra

Typical path for an ADU in Alhambra

  1. Check what your lot allows

    Ask the city what your lot allows for an ADU, including setbacks, height and size limits. Note any existing structures and utility connections on the property.

  2. Design and plans

    Work with your builder on the layout, the materials and the plans. For an older home, include a check of the electrical panel, water line and sewer line in the design.

  3. Plan check and permit

    Submit your plans to the city for plan check. Expect questions and revisions. Ask your builder who will respond to city comments.

  4. Construction with inspections

    Build the ADU with inspections at the stages the city requires. If you convert an older garage, confirm lead-based paint testing for structures built before 1978 and check for possible asbestos before demolition.

  5. Final sign-off

    Once the work passes the final inspections, the city gives final sign-off. Keep your permit records and inspection reports for future sales, refinancing or rental paperwork.

Questions about ADUs in Alhambra

Why does the age of Alhambra homes matter for an ADU?

Most homes in Alhambra were built before 1980. The Census estimates 72.1% of housing units fall in that group, and the median year built is 1960. An older main house often has an electrical panel, water line and sewer line that were sized for less demand than a new ADU adds. Ask your builder to check these early. If you convert an old garage, ask about lead-based paint testing for structures built before 1978 and possible asbestos in old materials.

I rent out my home. What should I think about?

The Census estimates 41.1% of occupied housing units in Alhambra are owner-occupied, so many homes are rented. If you own a property you rent out, plan the work around your tenants, keep them informed about schedules, and talk with your builder about how the project affects your rental plans. Check the rules that apply to your situation with the city before you start.

How many ADU units did Alhambra permit and complete in 2025?

The City of Alhambra shows 102 ADU units with building permits issued in 2025 as reported so far, and 74 units completed in 2025 as reported so far. These counts can still rise as late reports arrive, so treat them as a snapshot. They show that ADU projects do happen in Alhambra, but they do not tell you how long your own permit will take.

How should I think about budget compared with home value?

The median value of owner-occupied homes in Alhambra is $857,800 (Census 2020–2024 estimates). Use that figure only as general context. Think about how much you want to put into your home relative to its value, and ask your builder for a written scope so you can compare the cost with your goals. This page does not give cost figures for Alhambra.

What are the main steps for building an ADU?

Start by checking with the city what your lot allows. Then get design and plans, submit for plan check and permit, build with inspections, and close out with final sign-off. Ask your builder which steps they handle and which you handle. You can also check any contractor's license status with the CSLB (Contractors State License Board).

What happens after I request an estimate?

Send a request with your address, your goals and any plans you already have. The request goes to one local builder, who can review your project and reply with an estimate. The estimate is free and comes with no obligation to hire.

Compare ADU activity across LA County

Where LA County is building ADUs

ADU units permitted in 2025, city by city. Select a city to open its guide.

Map of LA County cities shaded by ADU units permitted in 2025, with Alhambra outlinedAgoura Hills: 17 ADU units permitted in 2025Alhambra: 102 ADU units permitted in 2025Arcadia: 98 ADU units permitted in 2025Artesia: 39 ADU units permitted in 2025Azusa: no HCD reportBaldwin Park: 119 ADU units permitted in 2025Bell: 25 ADU units permitted in 2025Bell Gardens: 26 ADU units permitted in 2025Bellflower: 18 ADU units permitted in 2025Beverly Hills: 31 ADU units permitted in 2025Bradbury: no HCD reportBurbank: 241 ADU units permitted in 2025Calabasas: 15 ADU units permitted in 2025Carson: 41 ADU units permitted in 2025Cerritos: 12 ADU units permitted in 2025Claremont: 23 ADU units permitted in 2025Commerce: no HCD reportCompton: no HCD reportCovina: 34 ADU units permitted in 2025Cudahy: 24 ADU units permitted in 2025Culver City: 83 ADU units permitted in 2025Diamond Bar: 50 ADU units permitted in 2025Downey: 146 ADU units permitted in 2025Duarte: 23 ADU units permitted in 2025El Monte: 107 ADU units permitted in 2025El Segundo: 25 ADU units permitted in 2025Gardena: 52 ADU units permitted in 2025Glendale: 371 ADU units permitted in 2025Glendora: 57 ADU units permitted in 2025Hawaiian Gardens: 11 ADU units permitted in 2025Hawthorne: 76 ADU units permitted in 2025Hermosa Beach: 11 ADU units permitted in 2025Hidden Hills: no HCD reportHuntington Park: 45 ADU units permitted in 2025Industry: no HCD reportInglewood: 147 ADU units permitted in 2025Irwindale: no HCD reportLa Canada Flintridge: 30 ADU units permitted in 2025La Habra Heights: no HCD reportLa Mirada: 23 ADU units permitted in 2025La Puente: 28 ADU units permitted in 2025La Verne: 22 ADU units permitted in 2025Lakewood: 99 ADU units permitted in 2025Lancaster: 209 ADU units permitted in 2025Lawndale: no HCD reportLomita: 7 ADU units permitted in 2025Long Beach: 644 ADU units permitted in 2025Los Angeles: 7,446 ADU units permitted in 2025Lynwood: no HCD reportMalibu: 5 ADU units permitted in 2025Manhattan Beach: 24 ADU units permitted in 2025Maywood: no HCD reportMonrovia: 58 ADU units permitted in 2025Montebello: 61 ADU units permitted in 2025Monterey Park: 78 ADU units permitted in 2025Norwalk: 119 ADU units permitted in 2025Palmdale: 68 ADU units permitted in 2025Palos Verdes Estates: 20 ADU units permitted in 2025Paramount: 57 ADU units permitted in 2025Pasadena: 222 ADU units permitted in 2025Pico Rivera: 96 ADU units permitted in 2025Pomona: no HCD reportRancho Palos Verdes: 16 ADU units permitted in 2025Redondo Beach: 25 ADU units permitted in 2025Rolling Hills: no HCD reportRolling Hills Estates: 5 ADU units permitted in 2025Rosemead: 136 ADU units permitted in 2025San Dimas: 30 ADU units permitted in 2025San Fernando: 40 ADU units permitted in 2025San Gabriel: 54 ADU units permitted in 2025San Marino: 14 ADU units permitted in 2025Santa Clarita: 29 ADU units permitted in 2025Santa Fe Springs: 15 ADU units permitted in 2025Santa Monica: 143 ADU units permitted in 2025Sierra Madre: 26 ADU units permitted in 2025Signal Hill: 8 ADU units permitted in 2025South El Monte: 22 ADU units permitted in 2025South Gate: 154 ADU units permitted in 2025South Pasadena: 26 ADU units permitted in 2025Temple City: 69 ADU units permitted in 2025Torrance: 89 ADU units permitted in 2025Vernon: no HCD reportWalnut: 36 ADU units permitted in 2025West Covina: no HCD reportWest Hollywood: 36 ADU units permitted in 2025Westlake Village: no HCD reportWhittier: 86 ADU units permitted in 2025
ADU units permitted, 2025
  • 0–21
  • 22–28
  • 29–56
  • 57–99
  • 100+
  • No report
  • Unincorporated

Most ADU permits in 2025

  1. 1Los Angeles7,446
  2. 2Long Beach644
  3. 3Glendale371
  4. 4Burbank241
  5. 5Pasadena222
  6. 6Lancaster209
  7. 7South Gate154
  8. 8Inglewood147
  9. 9Downey146
  10. 10Santa Monica143

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Permits: California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR), Table A2, data as of ; 2025 counts can still rise. Boundaries: Los Angeles County, City and Unincorporated Boundaries (Legal) (mainland only (islands omitted). simplified to about 300 m.)

Recent work by a contractor in our network

Photos from the contractor's own projects, used with permission. Captions name the type of work.

  • Dark-tiled bathroom with a floating vanity and frameless glass
    Bathroom in an ADU
  • Living area in a new unit with a sofa and dining table
    Addition / ADU interior
  • Living room of a new unit with neutral furniture
    Addition / ADU interior
  • Bathroom vanity with a backlit mirror in a new unit
    Addition / ADU bathroom

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  • Dark-tiled bathroom with a floating vanity and frameless glass
  • Living area in a new unit with a sofa and dining table
  • Living room of a new unit with neutral furniture

Service areas

  • Los Angeles
  • Bel Air
  • Brentwood
  • Hollywood
  • +36 more

Service areas as listed by the contractor ()

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