A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateTrusted ADU Builders for Fresno Homeowners
Building an accessory dwelling unit in Fresno means navigating city permits, lot setbacks, and a construction market where prices swing wildly between ADU Builders - Fresno area contractors. We’re Lodgewick ADU Fresno, and we’ve been building ADUs, garage conversions, and home additions here since 2010 under The Kingswell Guarantee: a written price before work begins, a defined arrival window, a clean job site, and a written guarantee on every project. If you’ve been burned by a contractor who changed the price at the door or stopped answering calls, that’s exactly the problem we built this company to solve. Call (559) 354-0579 and Russ Delmar will walk you through what’s realistic for your lot, your budget, and your timeline.
Key Takeaways
- Detached ADUs in Fresno typically run $180,000 to $400,000; garage conversions run $90,000 to $180,000.
- Every Lodgewick project gets a written price before work starts, and a written 365-Day Done Right Promise.
- We handle permits, plans, and inspections so you don’t have to chase the City of Fresno.
- A live person answers our calls 24/7. No voicemail loops.
ADU Construction
ADU Construction is the full build-out of a secondary housing unit on your existing residential lot – either attached to your home, converted from a garage, or built as a standalone structure in the backyard. Fresno homeowners pursue this when they need housing for aging parents, rental income to offset a mortgage, or a private workspace that doesn’t require a commute. We handle the complete construction scope: foundation through finishes, rough framing to final paint. A detached ADU in Fresno generally lands between $180,000 and $400,000, while a garage conversion runs $90,000 to $180,000, depending on square footage and site conditions. Russ Delmar reviews every estimate line by line before it reaches you, so the number on paper is the number you pay.
Foundation and Site Work
Fresno’s clay-heavy soil expands and contracts with irrigation cycles, which is why we pour deeper footings than code minimums on detached units. A shifting slab cracks drywall and jams doors within two seasons. We compact, test, and document every foundation pour.
Permits and Inspections
We pull all City of Fresno building permits and schedule every inspection. If an inspector flags something, we fix it on our dime and our time. You’ll never sit on hold with the planning department – that’s our job.
Detached ADU
A Detached ADU is a fully independent living unit built as its own structure, separated from your main house by at least six feet of yard. Fresno homeowners choose this route when they want a rental unit with its own entrance, a private guest house, or a multigenerational setup where everyone gets actual walls between them. We build detached ADUs from 400 to 1,200 square feet, and pricing in the Fresno market typically falls between $200,000 and $400,000 depending on size, utility runs, and finish level. The Kingswell Guarantee covers every detached build: written price first, a real arrival window for the crew, a jobsite that gets cleaned daily, and a written guarantee handed to you before the first nail goes in.
Utility Connections
Running sewer, water, and electrical to a backyard structure is where costs get real. In older Fresno neighborhoods like Tower District and the Fig Garden area, existing lines are often undersized or buried shallow. We identify those conditions during the site survey, before you commit a dollar.
Setbacks and Lot Fit
California state law sets minimum 4-foot side and rear setbacks for detached ADUs, but Fresno zoning adds its own layers depending on your specific parcel. We measure and flag conflicts early so your plans don’t stall at the counter.
If you’re weighing whether your lot can accommodate a standalone unit, call (559) 354-0579 for a site assessment. The estimate is free and comes in writing. You can also see how we approach similar builds on our ADU Builders in Clovis page.
JADU
A JADU, or junior accessory dwelling unit, is a smaller living space created within the existing footprint of your home – typically a bedroom converted to include a kitchenette, often with a private entrance. It maxes out at 500 square feet and is the most affordable way to add a rentable or family unit in Fresno. JADU construction in Fresno usually runs $50,000 to $120,000, which makes it the fastest path to rental income or an in-law space without adding square footage. We handle everything from the wall relocation to the plumbing rough-in for the kitchenette. Every JADU project gets the same written price and written guarantee as our full detached builds.
Interior Conversions
Most JADUs in Fresno come from spare bedrooms, finished basements, or oversized utility rooms. We assess load-bearing walls, electrical capacity, and egress requirements before we propose any layout. The goal is a unit that rents legally and leases fast.
Separate Entrance Work
A JADU needs either its own exterior door or direct access to a hallway that leads outside. In many Fresno ranch-style homes, this means converting a window opening or cutting a new doorway. We handle the structural header work and weatherproofing so the door closes tight through every valley heat wave.
ADU Plans
ADU Plans are the architectural drawings, site plans, and structural calculations that the City of Fresno requires before any building permit gets issued. Without a complete, code-compliant plan set, your project sits in limbo – and that’s where we see frustrated homeowners give up. We produce full plan sets in-house, from the initial site survey through title 24 energy calculations. Plan costs in Fresno typically range from $8,000 to $20,000 depending on unit size and whether you’re modifying an existing structure or drawing from scratch. Your plan set gets submitted to the city by us, and we track it through every review comment.
Site Survey and Feasibility
We start with a measured survey of your lot, checking for easements, utility locations, and any tree-protection issues that Fresno enforces. This step catches the problems that kill timelines later. If a project isn’t feasible, we tell you in the survey, not after you’ve spent money on drawings.
Prefab-ready Drawings
If you’re considering a factory-built unit from Abodu or Cover, some plan requirements shift. We prepare your site plans and foundation drawings to match the prefab manufacturer’s specifications. That coordination saves weeks over trying to match a stock plan to a site-built foundation.
ADU Contractor
An ADU Contractor is the licensed general contractor who manages the entire accessory dwelling unit build – permits, subcontractors, materials, and inspections. In Fresno, choosing the right one means the difference between a unit that rents for $1,400 a month and a half-finished shell sitting in your backyard for two years. We’ve been the ADU contractor on projects across Fresno, Clovis ADU Builders territory, and Selma since 2010, and every one of them operated under a written price and a written guarantee. Our crews are background-checked and uniformed, so you always know who’s walking onto your property. When you call, you get Russ Delmar or a live team member, never a voicemail tree.
Subcontractor Management
We schedule and supervise every trade: concrete, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, roofing, and paint. Our subcontractors have worked with us for years and know The Kingswell Way – say the price before the work, show up in the window given, leave the place cleaner than found. If a sub doesn’t perform, they don’t come back on our jobs.
Budget and Timeline Accountability
Your written estimate is a commitment, not a guess. We flag any potential change-order items during the initial walkthrough, so surprises don’t show up at the door. Most Fresno ADU builds complete in five to eight months from permit approval, and we report progress weekly in plain writing.
ADU Design
ADU Design is the process of shaping your accessory dwelling unit – the floor plan, the roofline, the window placement, the interior finishes – around how you’ll actually live in or rent the space. In Fresno, design decisions also have to answer to summer heat: window orientation, insulation values, and HVAC sizing all change how comfortable the unit stays in July. We design with Fresno’s climate in mind, not a generic template. Design and drafting fees in the Fresno market typically run $8,000 to $20,000 as part of your overall plan set, and our pricing includes revisions until the layout works for you.
Heat-Responsive Layouts
We orient living spaces away from direct west sun where possible and spec insulation above Title 24 minimums. A well-designed ADU in Fresno holds temperature with a properly sized mini-split, not a window unit fighting for its life. These choices are baked into the drawings, not left to the HVAC installer.
Finish and Material Selection
We guide you through finishes that hold up to the Central Valley: James Hardie siding for exterior durability, dense-pack insulation for the attic, and flooring that won’t warp when the humidity spikes in August. Every selection gets written into your estimate, so there’s no “upgrade surprise” halfway through the build.
Design choices are where we save homeowners the most time. If you want to talk through a layout, call (559) 354-0579. And if you’re still deciding between a backyard build and a conversion, our home page walks through both paths side by side.
Backyard ADU
A Backyard ADU is exactly what it sounds like: a detached living unit built in the rear yard of your home, away from the main structure. It’s the most popular ADU type in Fresno’s older neighborhoods, where lots are deep enough to accommodate a 600 to 1,000 square foot unit without sacrificing the whole yard. A backyard ADU in Fresno typically costs $200,000 to $400,000, which lands on the higher end of ADU options because you’re paying for new foundation, new utility trenches, and a fully independent structure. Our team handles the full build, and the written price you see upfront is what you pay at the end.
Yard and Access Considerations
Fresno lots in neighborhoods like Woodward Park and Sunnyside vary widely in depth and access, and our ADU Builders in Sanger coverage extends to similar lots nearby. We measure the actual buildable area, check for fence-line easements, and plan how the crew and materials get to the site without wrecking your existing landscaping. If the unit needs to be crane-set, we coordinate that before you sign anything.
Prefab vs. Site-Built
We build both ways. A site-built backyard ADU gives you total layout freedom. A factory-built unit from companies like Cover or Dvele can cut on-site construction time significantly, but the site work – foundation, utilities, trenching – stays the same. We’ll lay out both options with real numbers so you can compare against your timeline.
For a look at how our team handles backyard ADUs in neighboring communities, check out our ADU Builders in Selma page. Same guarantee, same written pricing, just one county over.
Brands We Service
We work hands-on with factory-built ADU units from Abodu and Cover, two California-based prefab manufacturers we’ve specified on Fresno-area projects. With Abodu, the value is speed – their units arrive as pre-built modules and our crew handles the site preparation, foundation, and utility hookups that get them livable. With Cover, the panels are precision-cut and require a tight foundation tolerance, which is why we laser-check every slab before the panels arrive.
We also specify James Hardie siding on both site-built and prefab ADUs. It handles the Central Valley’s dry heat and occasional heavy rain without warping, and it holds paint longer than wood or vinyl. Whether you have an Abodu unit, a Cover build, or any other make, we can help – our team has worked with enough systems to know where each one needs attention.
Signs You Need a Pro Right Now
- Your garage conversion was permitted wrong. A previous contractor may have converted a garage to living space without pulling permits. When you try to sell or refinance, Fresno lenders flag unpermitted work and deals fall apart. We audit the space and either legalize what’s there or rebuild to code.
- A half-finished ADU is sitting in your yard. Foundations poured, framing up, and the contractor disappeared. Fresno’s rainy season and summer heat accelerate rot and cracking on exposed framing. We assess what’s salvageable and give you a written plan to finish the job.
- Your detached unit has no power or water run to it. Some homeowners buy a prefab shell and then discover the utility work costs more than the unit. We bid the full utility scope up front so that number never surprises you mid-project.
- The city sent you a notice. Fresno’s planning department issues violation notices for unpermitted ADUs and JADUs. We handle the legalization process, including drawings, permits, and inspections, so the notice gets resolved without fines stacking up.
- Your existing ADU leaks or won’t hold temperature. Poorly built ADUs show their flaws fast in Fresno summers. If the unit won’t cool below 80°F in July or water pools near the foundation when it rains, those are structural and envelope failures, not minor fixes.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Site visit and written estimate. We walk your property, measure the lot, check access, and identify any conditions that will affect cost – utility locations, soil, tree placement, fence lines. Within days you get a written, line-item price. That price is the price.
- 2
Plans and permits. We produce the architectural drawings, structural calculations, and energy compliance documents, then submit everything to the City of Fresno. We track the plan review process and respond to any comments from the city.
- 3
Construction. Our uniformed, background-checked crew shows up in the window we committed to. The jobsite gets cleaned at the end of every workday. Materials are stored neatly, and the existing parts of your property stay protected.
- 4
Inspections and walkthrough. We schedule every city inspection and walk you through the finished unit room by room. If anything isn’t right, it gets fixed before we call the job done. You see the final product with fresh eyes and a written list.
- 5
365-Day Done Right Promise. Before we hand over the keys, you get the written guarantee. If the work fails within 365 days, we come back and make it right at no charge. No hoops, no phone tag, no “that was the previous crew.”
How Much Does ADU Builders Cost in Fresno?
A typical garage conversion ADU in Fresno runs $90,000 to $180,000. A detached backyard ADU runs $200,000 to $400,000. A JADU carved from existing interior space runs $50,000 to $120,000. These numbers reflect what we see across the Fresno market and our ADU Builders in Madera service area in 2025 and 2026, and they include the full build, not just the shell.
What moves the price: square footage, utility trenching distance, whether the existing electrical panel can handle the added load or needs an upgrade, soil conditions, and finish level. A 400 square foot unit with builder-grade finishes and a short utility run lands near the bottom of the range. A 1,000 square foot unit with custom cabinetry, upgraded siding, and 100 feet of trenching lands near the top.
The fastest way to overpay is to sign a contract with a vague estimate. When the price isn’t itemized, the contractor can change it later and call it a “field condition.” Our written estimates break the project down line by line, and the price only changes if you change the scope. Your free estimate includes the site assessment, a written price, and a plain-English explanation of what’s driving the number. Call (559) 354-0579 to schedule yours.
Our Service Area Near Fresno
We build ADUs across the greater Fresno area, including ADU Builders in Fresno, Clovis, Selma, Kingsburg, Dinuba, Chowchilla, Lemoore, Madera, Sanger, Reedley, Kerman, and Fowler. Most site assessments can be scheduled within a few business days, and we’ll always give you a defined arrival window – part of The Kingswell Guarantee. If you’re on the edge of our service area, call and ask. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can get a crew to your lot.
Serving Fresno, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Fresno area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADU Builders in Fresno
An ADU builder is a contractor who specializes in accessory dwelling units – secondary homes built on lots that already have a primary residence. We handle the entire process from plans and permits to construction and final inspection. In Fresno, working with an ADU specialist matters because the city’s zoning and permitting processes have their own quirks that a general remodeler may not know.
Most ADU projects in Fresno take five to eight months from permit approval to final inspection. Prefab units can reduce on-site construction time by several weeks, but site work, foundation, and utility connections still take time. The biggest variable is the city’s plan review timeline, and we manage that process for you.
Garage conversions run $90,000 to $180,000, detached backyard ADUs run $200,000 to $400,000, and JADUs run $50,000 to $120,000. These are full-project numbers, not just construction costs. Your exact price depends on square footage, finishes, and site conditions, and you’ll get a written line-item estimate before any work starts. Call (559) 354-0579 for a free, no-obligation quote.
Yes. We handle site preparation, foundations, and utility connections for factory-built units from Abodu and Cover, and we regularly spec James Hardie siding on our builds. If you already purchased a prefab unit and need a contractor to place and finish it, we can evaluate what’s needed and give you a written scope for the work.
Yes. If your existing ADU has a leak, a failed electrical circuit, or a foundation issue that’s getting worse, call (559) 354-0579. A live person answers 24/7, and we’ll get someone to look at the problem quickly. If the issue is covered under our 365-Day Done Right Promise, the repair is free.
Every build comes with The Kingswell Guarantee, which includes the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If any part of the work fails within 365 days of completion, we come back and make it right at no charge. The guarantee is written, signed, and delivered before work begins – not buried in fine print.
Start by knowing what you want the space to do – rent it, house family, or use it as a workspace – and have a rough budget in mind. Then call us for a site assessment. We’ll measure your lot, check zoning and access, and give you a written estimate that shows exactly what’s achievable. No prep work is required on your end beyond knowing your goals.
Schedule Your ADU Builders Service in Fresno Today
If you’re ready to get a real number for your ADU project in Fresno, call (559) 354-0579. You’ll reach a live person, get a free site assessment scheduled, and receive a written estimate with no obligation. Russ Delmar and the Lodgewick ADU Fresno team have been building under The Kingswell Guarantee since 2010, and we’ll put every commitment in writing before the first nail goes in.
Written by Russ Delmar, Owner at Lodgewick ADU Fresno, serving Fresno since 2010.
