ADU Builders & Home Addition Contractors in Agoura Hills, CA
The City of Agoura Hills reviews plans in-house, offers free pre-approved ADU plans, and protects oak trees well beyond the trunk.
Building ADUs and additions in Agoura Hills
Quick answer: In Agoura Hills, ADUs and additions are reviewed by the City of Agoura Hills, not LA County. The Planning Division handles zoning and Site Plan/Architectural Review, and the city's Building & Safety Division checks plans, issues permits and inspects. The city offers free pre-approved ADU plans, and most of Agoura Hills is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Agoura Hills is an incorporated city in Los Angeles County with its own Community Development department. Its Planning Division reviews zoning and land use, and its Building & Safety Division reviews construction plans, issues permits and inspects the work. LADBS and LA County Building and Safety do not review projects inside city limits.
Three local factors shape most projects. The city's 2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plan reports that 77.7% of the city is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which brings California Building Code Chapter 7A requirements for new construction. Oak trees are protected: an oak with a trunk two inches or wider has a protected zone reaching five feet past its dripline, and construction in that zone can need an Oak Tree Permit. Additions to existing homes go through Site Plan/Architectural Review under the city's design guidelines.
For ADUs, the city offers free pre-approved studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom plans in Cottage, Ranch and Spanish styles. A pre-approved plan still needs a site plan, a building permit and any other review the lot requires, such as grading and drainage, septic and utilities, or fire sprinklers.
Agoura Hills permitting — city Planning and Building & Safety
Agoura Hills' Community Development department handles residential permits. The Planning Division reviews zoning and land use applications, including Site Plan/Architectural Review for additions to existing structures, and the city asks applicants to contact Planning staff before submitting. The city's own Building & Safety Division checks plans against the California Building Standards Code, issues building permits and performs inspections, and clearances from all applicable agencies are needed before a permit is issued.
ADUs follow the city's ADU Ordinance No. 21-456, and the Building & Safety Division runs a Pre-Approved ADU program. Work near a protected oak may need an Oak Tree Permit under Ordinance No. 25-482. Confirm your parcel's fire hazard zone on the CAL FIRE map before design, because Very High zone status changes exterior materials and defensible-space requirements.
- City of Agoura Hills Building & Safety In-house plan review, building permits and inspections for addresses inside city limits.
- Agoura Hills Planning & Land Use Permits Site Plan/Architectural Review for additions, plus the city's ADU ordinance.
- Agoura Hills Pre-Approved ADU Program Free studio, one- and two-bedroom plan sets; a site plan and permit are still required.
- Agoura Hills Oak Tree Preservation Protected oak species, the protected-zone definition and Oak Tree Permit information.
- CAL FIRE — Fire Hazard Severity Zones Official mapping used to check a parcel's fire hazard severity zone.
- California HCD ADU Handbook State-level ADU baseline that every California city and county must permit at minimum.
Local rules, fees, and site conditions change and vary by parcel. Always confirm current requirements with the reviewing department for your address — this page is general information, not legal or code advice.
Site conditions that affect Agoura Hills projects
- Oak Tree Permit review where an oak's protected zone (dripline plus five feet) overlaps foundations, walls or trenching.
- Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone requirements for ignition-resistant materials, vents, decks and windows.
- Site Plan/Architectural Review for additions, under design guidelines that favor earth tones and discourage massive grading.
- Grading and drainage, septic and utilities, or fire-sprinkler review, even with a pre-approved ADU plan.
- Clearances from every applicable agency before Building & Safety issues the permit.
- Electrical panel and utility capacity when the project adds a second kitchen.
What we build most often in Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills neighborhoods we cover
Neighborhoods listed describe our coverage area, not project addresses.
Budgeting your Agoura Hills ADU or addition
Every number we publish is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. Cost in Agoura Hills moves with unit size, design complexity, site conditions, utility work, jurisdictional requirements, and finish level. Use our cost estimator to build a starting range, then we produce a detailed construction proposal after feasibility and design work is complete.
Agoura Hills ADU questions, answered
Who reviews ADU and addition plans in Agoura Hills: the city or LA County?+
The City of Agoura Hills. Its Planning Division handles zoning and land use review, including Site Plan/Architectural Review for additions, and its own Building & Safety Division reviews construction plans, issues building permits and inspects the work.
Can I use Agoura Hills' pre-approved ADU plans?+
The city offers free pre-approved studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom ADU plans in Cottage, Ranch and Spanish styles. Using one still requires a site plan, a building permit application and any other review your lot needs, such as grading and drainage, septic and utilities, or fire sprinklers.
Do I need an Oak Tree Permit to build near an oak in Agoura Hills?+
You may. The city protects Valley, Coast Live, Scrub and Coastal Scrub oaks with a trunk diameter of two inches or more, and the protected zone extends five feet beyond the dripline. Construction in that zone can require an Oak Tree Permit, so oak locations belong in the site plan from the start.
Is my Agoura Hills home in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?+
Most likely, but check your parcel. The city's 2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plan reports that 77.7% of the city is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. New construction there must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A requirements for ignition-resistant materials, vents, decks and windows.
Nearby areas we build in
Further reading
Keep exploring
Everything you need to plan an ADU, garage conversion, or addition on a property in Agoura Hills.