Building an accessory dwelling unit in Sacramento is one way homeowners add living space and create rental-income potential. Whether your property is in Midtown, East Sacramento, or the surrounding suburbs, the contractor you choose shapes the budget, the schedule, and how smoothly permitting goes.
For those interested in residential real estate exposure without a construction project, Ark7 offers fractional interests in professionally managed rental-property series, with shares starting as low as $20 per share, subject to offering availability and eligibility.
Sacramento has a growing number of licensed contractors offering ADU design and construction services. This guide profiles 11 companies serving Sacramento and surrounding counties, compiled from publicly available company information. Licensing, pricing, ratings, and service areas all change, so verify current details directly before hiring.
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Explore Ark7 OpportunitiesKey Takeaways
- Under California law, a permitting agency generally must approve or deny a completed ADU or JADU application within 60 days when an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling is on the lot.
- Sacramento offers pre-approved ADU plans, which can simplify plan review, although each project still requires site-specific planning, zoning, and permitting approval.
- Under California law, ADUs with 750 square feet or less of interior livable space are generally exempt from impact fees; larger ADUs may be charged proportionately.
- All ADU construction in Sacramento requires building permits.
- Sacramento ADU construction can be less expensive than comparable Bay Area projects, although the difference varies substantially by design, labor, site conditions, and jurisdiction.
- A permitted ADU can increase a property’s market value, but the amount varies substantially by property, unit size, location, rental potential, and appraisal conditions.
- Ark7 offers fractional shares in professionally managed rental properties starting as low as $20 per share, subject to offering availability and eligibility.
How This List Was Compiled
This list was assembled from publicly available company information rather than a reproducible scoring model, and no ranking is implied by the order below. Companies were compared on ADU-specific experience, published pricing and timelines, service area, and available licensing information.
License information is provided where it could be independently confirmed. Readers should verify current status directly with the Contractors State License Board before hiring, since license status, ratings, advertised prices, and business addresses all change. Undated review counts and star ratings have been omitted rather than reproduced, because they shift continuously; check the named platform yourself. Company-advertised pricing below reflects what each firm publishes and is not a Sacramento market average.
Sacramento ADU Rules to Understand First
- Permits required: All ADU construction in Sacramento requires building permits.
- Review timeline: Under California Government Code, a permitting agency generally must approve or deny a completed ADU or JADU application within 60 days where an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling is on the lot. The clock runs from a complete application, not from any initial submission.
- Pre-approved plans: Sacramento offers pre-approved ADU plans that can simplify plan review. Site-specific design, planning, and zoning approval are still required before a building permit issues.
- Impact fees: This exemption comes from state law rather than a local Sacramento incentive. ADUs of 750 square feet or less of interior livable space are generally exempt, while larger units may be charged proportionately.
- Licensing: ADU construction requires permitted work, so verify that your contractor holds the appropriate current CSLB license for the project.
11 ADU Companies Operating in Sacramento
1. ADU Builders California (Advanced Construction Pro Inc.)
Address: 1610 R Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95811
Contact: (916) 277-8760
CSLB License: #1018349
Company-Advertised Pricing: $110,000 to $290,000
Timeline: The company advertises four to six months post-permit
Service Area: Sacramento County, the Bay Area, and statewide California
ADU Builders California integrates digital project tracking, letting owners monitor construction progress remotely, which suits investors managing a property from a distance.
What Sets It Apart:
- Detached new construction, garage conversions, and prefab installation
- Technology-supported project management
- Broad service footprint beyond the Sacramento region
2. A+ Construction & Remodeling
Address: 3612 Madison Ave, Suite 33, North Highlands, CA 95660
Contact: (916) 970-0047
CSLB License: #1007869
Company-Advertised Pricing: Varies across a catalog of 30 or more design models
Timeline: The company advertises six to nine months on average
Service Area: Greater Sacramento and surrounding counties
A+ Construction maintains a designer showroom at its Madison Avenue location where clients can review its model catalog. The company’s website reports an aggregate review rating across multiple platforms; check current figures on each platform directly.
What Sets It Apart:
- Large published catalog of ADU models
- Detached, garage conversion, duplex, and multifamily ADU work
- Showroom for design and finish selection
- Complete design-build service
3. IMKAT Homes (IMKAT Construction)
Address: 1300 National Dr, Suite 120, Sacramento, CA 95834, with a secondary location in Antelope
Contact: (916) 702-7802
CSLB License: #1094866
Pricing: Premium positioning with full-service packages; request a quote
Service Area: Sacramento Metro and the Bay Area
IMKAT Homes, owned by Ivan Katrenyak, has focused on ADU construction since 2020. Its duplex ADU models let owners create two units under one roof. Note that value-increase percentages advertised on the company’s site are builder estimates rather than neutral market statistics.
What Sets It Apart:
- Custom one- to three-bedroom ADUs
- Duplex and senior-friendly retirement models
- Pre-construction design and engineering
- In-house ADU permitting services
4. Good Life Construction Inc.
Address: 3720 Madison Ave, Suite 250, North Highlands, CA 95660
Contact: (916) 833-1379
CSLB License: #979670
Pricing: Mid-range; free estimates and consultations available
Service Area: Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Solano, Yolo, San Joaquin, Sutter, Amador, and Contra Costa counties
Good Life Construction is a family-owned business that says it has operated locally since 2009, and BBB currently lists it as accredited with an A+ rating. Its nine-county footprint suits owners with multiple properties across the region.
What Sets It Apart:
- Garage conversion, attached, and detached backyard ADUs
- Design, permitting, and construction under one contract
- BBB accreditation
- Wide multi-county coverage
5. Result Construction
Address: Sacramento, CA, operating a mobile consultation model
Contact: (916) 238-8240
CSLB License: #1111481
Company-Advertised Pricing: ADUs from $130,000 and garage conversions from $90,000, with financing advertised from around $1,200 per month
Timeline: The company advertises four to six months
Service Area: Sacramento County and surrounding areas
Result Construction publishes both starting prices and financing figures, which helps with early budgeting. Confirm what a starting price includes, since site work and utilities are often quoted separately.
What Sets It Apart:
- Custom ADUs from roughly 450 to 1,500 square feet
- Published starting prices for two project types
- Financing guidance during preconstruction
- On-site consultations rather than office visits
6. D. Loesch Construction (DLC Builders)
Address: Sacramento, CA, project-based with no fixed storefront
CSLB License: Not published here; request the number and verify current status with CSLB
Company-Advertised Pricing: $150,000 to $300,000 for garage conversions and $350,000 and above for detached units
Timeline: The company advertises seven to 12 months
Service Area: Sacramento, East Sacramento, Land Park, Midtown, and Elk Grove
D. Loesch Construction reports more than 60 years of combined team experience and says it has created over 75,000 square feet of additional living space. The firm specializes in matching ADU design to the primary home, which matters in Sacramento’s older neighborhoods.
What Sets It Apart:
- Garage conversion specialty alongside detached builds
- Experience with century-old structures
- Architectural matching to the existing home
- Design-build delivery
7. JC Construction & Remodeling
Address: 4909 Auburn Blvd, Suite 2, Sacramento, CA 95841
Contact: (916) 886-7113
Licensing note: We could not reconcile a CSLB license number to this Sacramento business name and address, since the number commonly associated with it corresponds to a contractor in a different city. Ask the company for the exact legal entity name and license number, and verify both with CSLB before contracting.
Pricing: Not published; the company emphasizes savings through pre-approved plans
Service Area: Sacramento, Fair Oaks, Roseville, Rocklin, Elk Grove, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento, Citrus Heights, and surrounding communities
JC Construction operates under Mufdi Sons Inc. and focuses on Sacramento City and County pre-approved plans, which can reduce design costs. Third-party financing is available for qualified buyers.
What Sets It Apart:
- Focus on pre-approved plan sets
- Garage conversions and room additions
- Broad suburban service area
8. Vogue Homes Inc.
Address: Sacramento and Davis areas, project-based
CSLB License: #413196. Available license data dates the license to 1981, while the company describes itself as operating since 1982; confirm the founding date and current status directly.
Pricing: Premium custom focus; request a quote
Service Area: Sacramento, Davis, and surrounding areas
Founded and operated by Robert Tellesen, Vogue Homes brings experience in environmental retrofits and energy-efficient construction, with attention to integrating new units into existing lots and landscaping.
What Sets It Apart:
- Environmental retrofit experience
- Energy efficiency focus
- Lot integration and site planning
- Custom home background applied to ADUs
9. Golden State ADUs
Address: Sacramento, CA
CSLB License: Not published here; request the number and verify current status with CSLB
Pricing: Mid to premium range; request a quote
Service Area: Sacramento and Northern California
Golden State ADUs facilitates construction-to-permanent loans with one-time closing options that can reduce fees, and reports more than 10 years of ADU experience.
What Sets It Apart:
- Full-service design-build delivery
- ADU permitting support
- Construction-to-permanent loan facilitation
10. West Coast Construction Pro
Address: Sacramento Metro Area, CA
CSLB License: #1122012
Pricing: Mid to premium; request a quote
Service Area: Sacramento Metro and the Bay Area
West Coast Construction Pro serves both the Sacramento Metro and Bay Area markets, which suits owners with properties in both regions.
What Sets It Apart:
- Dual-region coverage
- ADU and broader residential project work
- Published license number for verification
11. Redwood ADU LLC
Address: Sacramento, project-based
CSLB License: Not published here; request the number and verify current status with CSLB
Pricing: Mid to premium; request a quote
Service Area: Sacramento and vicinity
Redwood ADU focuses specifically on the Sacramento market and describes extensive experience with local permitting jurisdictions, which can smooth the approval process.
What Sets It Apart:
- Sacramento-specific permitting focus
- Design-build contracting
- Local jurisdiction familiarity
Sacramento ADU Costs
The ranges below are illustrative Sacramento-area estimates for planning purposes rather than verified market averages. Independent commercial guides estimate a 600 square foot detached Sacramento ADU at roughly $180,000 to $260,000, which shows how widely figures vary by source:
- Garage conversion: roughly $60,000 to $180,000, commonly two to four months of construction
- JADU, interior conversion: roughly $50,000 to $150,000
- Attached ADU: roughly $160,000 to $300,000, commonly six to nine months
- Detached ADU, 500 to 800 square feet: roughly $180,000 to $400,000, commonly seven to 12 months
- Detached ADU, 900 to 1,200 square feet: roughly $240,000 to $500,000
- Prefab or modular: roughly $80,000 to $250,000, commonly four to six months
- Cost per square foot: builder-published figures range from roughly $200 to $400 for conversions and $300 to $510 for new detached construction
Under California law, ADUs of 750 square feet or less of interior livable space are generally exempt from impact fees, while larger units may be charged proportionately.
ADU Financing Options in Sacramento
- Construction-to-permanent loans: Begin as construction financing and convert to a mortgage at completion, with a single closing that avoids duplicate fees.
- Home equity options: HELOCs, home equity loans, and cash-out refinancing remain the most common route.
- Credit union programs: Some credit unions offer ADU construction loans underwritten on the home’s projected post-completion value rather than current value.
- Builder financing partners: Several firms here advertise third-party financing; compare total borrowing cost rather than monthly payment alone.
How to Choose the Right ADU Builder
- Verify licensing: ADU construction requires permitted work, so confirm your contractor holds the appropriate current CSLB license, check complaint history, and confirm the license class covers your project type.
- Request multiple bids: Get at least three detailed bids and compare total cost, payment schedule, materials specifications, timeline commitments, and warranty terms.
- Check references directly: Beyond online reviews, ask for references from recent ADU projects and ask about communication, schedule adherence, budget accuracy, and problem resolution.
- Understand the permitting path: Ask whether the builder handles permitting in house and what their recent approval experience looks like with your specific jurisdiction.
- Match communication style: ADU projects run for months, so confirm how updates are delivered and who your primary contact will be.
Questions to Ask Any Sacramento ADU Builder
- What is your exact legal entity name and CSLB license number?
- Does your quoted price include site work, foundation, utilities, and permitting?
- Are you using a Sacramento pre-approved plan, and does my site qualify?
- Will my unit fall under or over the 750 square foot impact fee threshold?
- Does your timeline start at contract signing, permit issuance, or groundbreaking?
- What warranty covers workmanship, and can you supply recent local references?
Comparing ADUs and Fractional Real Estate
ADU construction requires significant capital, hands-on involvement through permitting and construction, and ongoing landlord responsibilities afterward. A permitted ADU can increase a property’s market value, but the amount varies substantially by property, unit size, location, rental potential, and appraisal conditions.
ADU considerations:
- Potential rent varies by ADU size, neighborhood, amenities, and market conditions. Use recent comparable rentals for your specific location rather than a citywide range.
- Any payback or return figure should be a worked example with stated assumptions and labeled illustrative. Annual rent divided by total project cost is a gross figure calculated before vacancy, taxes, insurance, maintenance, financing, and utilities.
- Timelines span months across design, permitting, and construction.
- Rental income is neither guaranteed nor entirely passive.
How fractional investing compares:
For those who prefer fractional real estate exposure rather than developing and managing an ADU directly, Ark7 is another model to consider:
- Entry point as low as $20 per share, subject to offering availability, eligibility, and property-specific minimums
- Cash distributions when available, subject to property performance, expenses, reserves, and offering terms
- Professional property selection and management
- Shares in individual property series, which investors may allocate across multiple offerings if they choose. Buying a share in one series does not itself provide diversification.
- No construction timelines or permitting to manage
- Potential access to secondary trading, subject to holding periods, legal and state restrictions, platform availability, and market liquidity. Liquidity is not guaranteed, and investors should be prepared to hold shares indefinitely.
- Ark7 IRA options support Traditional and Roth accounts, subject to IRA rules, individual tax circumstances, and custodian fees. The current custodian charges $100 annually per property, capped at $400 per year and waived when the average account balance exceeds $100,000.
These are speculative securities involving substantial risk, including illiquidity, lack of diversification, and complete loss of capital.
Conclusion
Sacramento’s ADU market includes technology-forward design-build firms, garage conversion specialists, multi-county contractors, and permitting-focused local outfits. The harder part is verification: license numbers, review counts, advertised prices, and financing terms all move, and several widely repeated figures on value gains and payback periods trace to builder marketing rather than independent data.
Why Sacramento Stands Out for ADU Projects
- Pre-approved plans: The city offers pre-approved ADU designs that can simplify plan review.
- Statutory review clock: California generally requires an approve-or-deny decision within 60 days of a completed application where an existing dwelling is on the lot.
- Impact fee threshold: State law generally exempts ADUs of 750 square feet or less of interior livable space.
- Deep contractor market: A growing number of licensed contractors offer ADU design and construction across the region.
- Regional coverage: Several firms serve multiple counties, which helps owners with more than one property.
Investor Tips for Sacramento ADU Projects
Verify every contractor’s exact legal entity name and CSLB license number yourself, since at least one license number circulating for a Sacramento firm appears to belong to a contractor in another city. Ask whether a pre-approved plan applies to your parcel, remembering that site-specific planning and zoning review still happen before a building permit issues. Watch the 750 square foot interior livable space threshold closely, because crossing it can add proportionate impact fees. Treat advertised prices as starting points that may exclude site work and utilities, and ask what is included. Finally, build your income model from recent comparable rentals near your property and present any payback figure as an illustrative calculation with its assumptions stated.
For those who prefer residential real estate exposure without a construction project, Ark7 offers fractional interests in rental-property series starting as low as $20 per share, subject to offering availability and eligibility. Cash distributions are made when available and are subject to property performance, expenses, reserves, and offering terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build an ADU in Sacramento?
Illustrative ranges run from roughly $60,000 for a basic garage conversion to $500,000 for a large detached unit, with 500 to 800 square foot detached ADUs commonly quoted between $180,000 and $400,000. Builder-published per-square-foot figures run roughly $200 to $400 for conversions and $300 to $510 for new detached construction. Independent commercial guides estimate a 600 square foot detached unit at roughly $180,000 to $260,000, so treat all figures as planning estimates rather than quotes.
How long does it take to build an ADU in Sacramento?
Construction timelines commonly run two to four months for garage conversions and seven to 12 months for detached units, with permitting time on top. Under California law, a permitting agency generally must approve or deny a completed ADU or JADU application within 60 days when an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling is on the lot. Pre-approved plans can simplify review, but site-specific planning and zoning approval still apply.
How much rental income can I expect from a Sacramento ADU?
Potential rent varies by ADU size, neighborhood, amenities, and market conditions. Rather than relying on a citywide range, use recent comparable rentals for your specific location and unit type. Bear in mind that ranges published by contractors are marketing estimates rather than rental-market datasets.
Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Sacramento?
Yes, all ADU construction in Sacramento requires building permits. Sacramento offers pre-approved ADU plans that can simplify plan review, though each project still needs site-specific design, planning, and zoning approval before a building permit issues. Under state law, ADUs of 750 square feet or less of interior livable space are generally exempt from impact fees, while larger units may be charged proportionately.
What are the alternatives to building an ADU for rental income?
For those seeking rental-property exposure without directly managing a construction project, fractional real estate is one alternative. Ark7 allows investors to purchase shares in professionally managed rental properties starting as low as $20 per share, subject to offering availability and eligibility, with cash distributions when available rather than guaranteed. Ark7 IRA options support Traditional and Roth accounts, subject to IRA rules, individual circumstances, and custodian fees.
Neither Ark7 nor Ark7 Properties is a broker-dealer or an investment adviser. Dalmore Group LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, located at 525 Green Place, Woodmere, NY 11598, is the broker-dealer of record for Ark7, an issuer direct offering. Neither Ark7 nor Dalmore makes recommendations or provides advice about investments, and nothing here should be construed as a recommendation for any security. Investments on the Ark7 platform are speculative and involve substantial risks, including illiquidity, lack of diversification, and complete loss of capital. Cash distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to property performance, expenses, reserves, and offering terms. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This article is for informational purposes only.