Building a custom-designed accessory dwelling unit like the Sycamore typically starts around $250,000–$300,000, depending on your chosen finishes, building dimensions, site conditions, and local permitting fees. One major advantage of the Sycamore’s floor plan is its bedroom count and size—it’s strategically designed at 749 sq ft to qualify for impact fee exemptions in California, helping you save thousands. Working with a floor plan expert ensures you take full advantage of customization options that fit your property and lifestyle, making the Sycamore an attractive option for homeowners seeking a balance between affordability, flexibility, and long-term value.

Yes—and the regulations actually work in your favor. Building a 749 sq ft ADU like the Sycamore means you benefit from important advantages under zoning laws and coverage regulations. Thanks to California's 4-foot requirement, you only need minimal setbacks from the side and rear property lines. Plus, because the Sycamore is under 750 sq ft, it’s exempt from impact fees, making it even more cost-effective. Requirements can vary city to city, so working with city planners and a floor plan expert ensures full compliance. We offer both build-ready and semi-custom options to maximize your design flexibility and adapt to your specific lot—including smart use of vertical space if needed. Whether you choose pre-made plans or explore customization options, our team streamlines the process to help you get your ADU approved and built with confidence.

Absolutely! The Sycamore is a perfect granny flat option for generating rental income, whether you’re targeting long-term tenants or short-term guests. With a private bedroom, full kitchen, dedicated laundry, and even room for a master suite feel, this 1-bedroom ADU is highly attractive to renters. Built with a custom design approach, the Sycamore maximizes livability within California’s maximum sizes for ADUs, making it ideal for use on almost any residential property. Plus, with smart customization options, you could even explore adding an additional bedroom in the future to further boost rental potential and overall property value.

Yes, the Sycamore is an excellent choice for multigenerational living. Its compact size provides a cozier living space without sacrificing comfort or functionality—perfect for aging parents, adult children, or even a cozy guest house setup. The layout includes a spacious bedroom, full bathroom with additional safety features like double sinks, and an open design that ensures easy movement and accessibility. Our floor plan experts have crafted this model to offer a thoughtful balance of style and practicality, with smart bedroom plans that support both independence and connection. Whether you're exploring 1–2 bedroom layouts or need help navigating ADU plan options, we can help you find or tailor the right solution for your family’s evolving needs.

Definitely. A thoughtfully built 749 sq ft ADU like the Sycamore can significantly boost your home’s market value—often by $200,000 to $500,000, depending on location and demand. Whether you're adding a 1-2 bedroom layout or creating a stylish backyard living space, ADUs are among the most effective ways to increase equity. With custom ADU designs like the Sycamore, you're not just adding square footage—you’re enhancing livability, functionality, and long-term financial return in a way that appeals to both appraisers and future buyers.

The Sycamore sets itself apart with a smart layout that delivers ample living space in just 749 sq ft. Designed for comfort and function, it features a functional kitchen with a central island that offers plenty of counter space for cooking and entertaining, plus additional storage through a walk-in-style closet and dedicated pantry. This ADU strikes a perfect balance of privacy and openness, with a spacious bedroom tucked away from the main living area. It’s also an affordable option for homeowners who want a stylish, efficient layout without the added cost of impact fees—making it a standout choice among 1 bedroom ADU designs.

The timeline for an ADU project like the Sycamore typically ranges from 6 to 9 months, depending on several variables. One critical factor is the design complexity—more intricate design plans may take longer to finalize and permit. Since every construction project hinges on proper planning and coordination, we streamline everything from design to completion to keep things on track. Site conditions, permitting timelines, and building costs can also influence the schedule, but our turnkey process ensures your Sycamore ADU is delivered efficiently, with expert oversight at every step.

Absolutely. The Sycamore is built on a thoughtful design that offers both proven functionality and flexibility. While it features one of our most functional layouts, we also offer semi-custom plans that allow you to tailor finishes, fixtures, and even adjust elements like adding a dedicated dining area, a private kitchen, or a bedroom with deck access. Whether you're aiming for spacious living or exploring versatile options to suit your property's unique footprint, the Sycamore gives you the freedom to create an ADU that feels truly personalized.

Yes, the Sycamore was crafted with energy efficiency in mind. Its compact footprint offers a smart blend of space efficiency and modern design aesthetic, helping to minimize energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. We integrate full-sized appliances that are ENERGY STAR rated, high-performance insulation, and efficient systems like tankless water heaters to lower utility costs. Plus, the Sycamore’s smaller size naturally reduces environmental impact. When considering cost factors for an Accessory Dwelling Unit, energy efficiency not only saves money long-term but also supports sustainable living right from the start.

The Sycamore’s compact design makes it suitable for a wide range of properties—especially single-family homes throughout San Diego County. Thanks to its flexible footprint and thoughtful layout, it works well even on lots with tighter availability of space or unique property constraints. Our team conducts a thorough feasibility study to ensure the site meets zoning, setback, and utility requirements. We also consider local architectural styles, accommodation sizes, and the desired degree of privacy to help you select from the most compatible accessory dwelling unit designs for your home.

A 1-bedroom ADU typically ranges between 400 to 800 square feet, depending on the design, lot size, and local regulations. A popular and strategic size is around 749 square feet, like our Sycamore floor plan, which offers enough room for a spacious bedroom, full kitchen, living area, bathroom, and even in-unit laundry—while also benefiting from important cost savings like California’s impact fee exemption for units under 750 sq ft.

Yes, under California state law, most single-family properties are allowed to have two accessory units: one full-sized ADU (either attached or detached) and one Junior ADU (JADU), which must be created within the walls of the primary residence and is limited to 500 square feet. Multifamily properties can typically have even more, depending on available space and zoning regulations. Always check your local city or county rules to confirm specifics for your property.

Absolutely! In fact, garage conversions are one of the most common and cost-effective ways to create an ADU in California. Converting an existing garage into a living space allows you to save on foundation and framing costs, and state laws have made it easier by relaxing zoning and parking requirements. You’ll still need to meet building code standards for insulation, electrical, plumbing, and safety, but garage conversions offer a faster, affordable way to add usable living space.

While ADUs provide many benefits, some people oppose them due to concerns about increased neighborhood density, parking congestion, and changes to the neighborhood’s character. Others worry about the strain additional residents might place on local infrastructure like roads, schools, and utilities. However, many cities are working to balance these concerns with the need for more affordable housing and are adopting design standards to help new ADUs fit more seamlessly into existing communities.

In most cases, no—an ADU cannot be larger than the main house. California law generally limits detached ADUs to a maximum of 1,200 square feet, and for attached ADUs, they are typically capped at 50% of the primary residence's floor area (unless local ordinances allow more). So if your main house is smaller, your ADU would usually need to be proportionally smaller as well, though detached units can still be fairly large compared to modest-sized primary homes.