ADU Builders & Home Addition Contractors in Woodland Hills, CA
HomeAdd is headquartered in Woodland Hills. We design, permit, and build ADUs, garage conversions, and additions on the flats south of Ventura Boulevard, in the hills above it, and throughout the west Valley.
Building ADUs and additions in Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills is our home base — our office is on Buenaventura St, and it is the city we know street by street. That matters more than it sounds, because Woodland Hills is not one type of lot. South of Ventura Boulevard you get hillside parcels with slope, access, and fire-zone constraints. North of the boulevard you get flatter postwar tracts with generous rear yards, detached garages, and a lot of unused backyard depth that is close to ideal for a detached ADU.
Because Woodland Hills sits inside the City of Los Angeles, every project here goes through LADBS and Los Angeles City Planning. We confirm the zoning designation, hillside status, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone status for the specific address before we design anything — that single feasibility step is what keeps a Woodland Hills project from stalling in plan check.
Typical work here: a 600–1,200 sq ft detached ADU in the rear yard, a garage conversion on a lot where the driveway already reaches the back, an above-garage unit where yard space is precious, or a second-story addition on a ranch house that has run out of bedrooms.
Woodland Hills permitting — LADBS, not LA County
Woodland Hills is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, so ADU and addition permits are reviewed by LADBS with zoning administered by Los Angeles City Planning — not by Los Angeles County. That single fact changes the entire permit path, because County rules, fees, and submittal portals do not apply here.
Practically, that means your project follows City of LA zoning code, City of LA plan check, and City of LA inspection scheduling. It also means LADBS Standard Plans are available, which can shorten review when a pre-approved plan actually fits the lot. We confirm the zoning designation, any specific plan or hillside overlay, and the correct submittal path for your exact address before design starts.
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) Plan check and building permits for every address inside the City of Los Angeles.
- Los Angeles City Planning Zoning, specific plans, hillside and overlay rules that shape what can be built on the lot.
- LADBS Standard Plan Program Pre-reviewed ADU plan sets that can shorten plan check for City of LA parcels when a plan fits the site.
- 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 Woodland Hills projects
- Hillside grading, retaining, and access requirements south of Ventura Boulevard.
- Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone areas — materials, defensible space, and fire access affect design.
- Deep rear yards north of the boulevard that suit detached ADUs of 600–1,200 sq ft.
- Older 100-amp electrical services on postwar homes that often need a panel upgrade for a new unit.
- Mature oaks and other protected trees affecting siting and foundation choices.
- Sewer lateral location and length, which drives trenching cost on deep lots.
What we build most often in Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills service deep dives
Woodland Hills neighborhoods we cover
Neighborhoods listed describe our coverage area, not project addresses.
Budgeting a Woodland Hills ADU or addition
Every number we publish is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. Cost in Woodland 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.
Woodland Hills ADU questions, answered
Who issues ADU permits in Woodland Hills?+
LADBS. Woodland Hills is part of the City of Los Angeles, so building permits go through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety with zoning administered by Los Angeles City Planning. Los Angeles County departments do not review City of LA parcels.
Can I build a detached ADU on a hillside lot in Woodland Hills?+
Often yes, but hillside parcels add design and review steps: grading and drainage, retaining walls, fire-access and turnaround requirements, and sometimes geotechnical work. We check hillside status and fire-zone designation for the address during feasibility so the design accounts for it from day one rather than after plan check.
Is a garage conversion cheaper than a new detached ADU here?+
Usually, because the slab, walls, and roof already exist. The savings shrink when the garage needs a new foundation, significant structural correction, or a long utility run. We compare both paths for your lot before you commit to a direction.
How long does a Woodland Hills ADU take?+
Timelines vary by scope, site conditions, and plan check load. Design and permitting typically run several months, and construction runs several months after permits are issued. Hillside and fire-zone parcels generally add time. We give you a schedule specific to your project after feasibility rather than a generic promise.
Do you work in Woodland Hills only, or the surrounding Valley too?+
Both. Woodland Hills is our headquarters, and we regularly build throughout the west San Fernando Valley including Tarzana, Encino, Northridge, and Calabasas.
Nearby areas we build in
Further reading
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Everything you need to plan an ADU, garage conversion, or addition on a Woodland Hills property.