Culver City 2-Bed Detached ADU
A two-story 750 sq ft two-bedroom ADU built in a compact Culver City rear yard — preserving outdoor space for the main house while maximizing rental income in one of LA's strongest ADU markets.
All-inclusive project cost covering design, engineering, permitting, construction, and certificate of occupancy.
Challenge, Solution, and Result
Maximum Unit Size on a Compact Lot
The homeowners' goal was clear: maximize rental income with a two-bedroom unit. The challenge was fitting a 750 sq ft structure into a rear yard that also needed to remain usable for the primary residence — a constraint complicated by Culver City's setback requirements and the homeowners' desire to preserve at least a small private garden adjacent to the main house. A single-story 750 sq ft footprint would have consumed virtually the entire rear yard, requiring either a smaller unit or a two-story approach. Two-story ADUs introduce their own complexity: heightened structural requirements, more involved permitting, and neighbor notification obligations under certain Culver City conditions.
Compact Two-Story Footprint — 375 Sq Ft Per Floor
We recommended a two-story design from the outset — 375 sq ft per floor — which reduced the ground footprint by roughly 45% compared to a single-story configuration. This preserved a meaningful garden area for the main house while delivering every square foot of the target program. The structural design used engineered wood framing with a moment-frame system at the ground level, which eliminated the need for shear walls that would have compromised the open-plan ground-floor layout. Culver City's planning department approved the two-story design without requiring discretionary review, as the building height remained within the city's standard 16-foot ADU height limit by using a low-slope roofline. Neighbor notification proceeded without objection.
Renting at $4,200/Month — 19% Gross Annual Yield
The finished two-bedroom ADU is a genuinely premium rental unit. Ground floor contains an open kitchen, dining, and living area with concrete-look tile floors and 10-foot ceilings. The upper floor has two bedrooms — both with western exposure for natural light — sharing a full bath with double vanity. A private rooftop deck accessible from the second floor is the feature most frequently cited by prospective tenants. The homeowners leased to an Amazon MGM Studios couple at $4,200/month on a 24-month lease. Annual gross rental income of $50,400 represents a 18.8% gross yield on construction cost and is projected to fully recover the investment within 6 years including management costs.
Build Highlights
The specific decisions, solutions, and features that defined this project.
Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
From initial design through certificate of occupancy — every phase, every duration.
Design & Architecture
5 weeksTwo-story feasibility study, structural concept with moment-frame system, Culver City height limit compliance review, neighbor notification package, and full architectural and structural drawing set.
Permitting
12 weeksCulver City Community Development plan check — two-story structures receive standard review (not discretionary). Neighbor notification completed without objection. One correction round for structural drawing clarification. All permits issued at 12 weeks.
Construction
18 weeksEngineered foundation, moment-frame ground-floor framing, second-floor assembly, rooftop deck structure, full mechanical rough-in, insulation, drywall, large-format tile, kitchen and bath, painted exterior, and rooftop deck decking and railing.
Final Inspection & Occupancy
1 weekCulver City final inspection — passed first visit. Certificate of occupancy issued. Unit leased within 8 days at asking rent.
Project Cost: $268,000
All-inclusive — covering architectural design, engineering, permitting, full construction, and certificate of occupancy. No surprises, no change order culture.
- Architectural design and engineering
- All permit fees and city approval management
- Full construction — foundation through finish
- Final inspection and certificate of occupancy
- LocationCulver City
- Project Cost$268,000
- Monthly Rent$4,200/mo
- Timeline9.5 months
Build Something Like This on Your Property
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Contact an ADU Specialist200+ ADU Projects Completed in Los Angeles
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200+ ADUs Built Across LA County
We've completed over 200 ADU projects — garage conversions, detached new construction, Junior ADUs, and attached units — across every major LA-area city. That depth of experience means we've seen every site condition, every permit challenge, and every construction scenario.
15+ Years of ADU Experience
Since before the 2020 ADU law reforms, we've been building accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles. We've navigated every iteration of state ADU law, local zoning changes, and city permit process updates — institutional knowledge that directly accelerates your project.
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In-House Permit Management
Our team has submitted hundreds of permit applications across LADBS, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Glendale, Culver City, and other LA-area jurisdictions. We know each city's plan check process, common correction triggers, and expedite options — reducing wait time and managing every step for you.
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Under one contract, our in-house team handles every phase — design, engineering, permitting, and construction. You won't need to coordinate between a separate architect and a separate builder. One point of contact, one schedule, full accountability from first sketch to final inspection.
Services Behind This Project
ADU Design & Architecture
Custom ADU designs tailored to your property, lifestyle, and Los Angeles zoning requirements. From concept to permitted plans.
ADU Permitting & Approvals
We handle the full permitting process with the City of Los Angeles and surrounding municipalities — from plan check to final approval.
ADU Construction
Full-service ADU construction from foundation to finish. Licensed, bonded, and experienced in LA County building requirements.
Related City Guide, ADU Model & Projects
Dig deeper into the location, the model used in this build, and other completed projects from our portfolio.
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