An accessory dwelling unit (ADU), also known as a granny flat, in-law suite, or secondary suite, is a separate living space on the same grounds as an existing single-family home. ADUs are completely separate from the main residence with their own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, living area, and sleeping area. ADUs provide homeowners extra living space to accommodate multi-generational families, aging parents, adult children, long-term guests, or tenants.

Benefits of Adding an ADU

ADUs offer many practical and financial benefits for homeowners. Building an ADU creates more usable space on your property without requiring a move. It can provide rental income or housing for relatives and friends at zero utility or maintenance costs to them. Other advantages include:

• Increases property value – Adding a secondary suite boosts your home’s resale value.
• Extra income – Renting out your ADU can provide extra monthly rental income.
• Housing flexibility – An ADU allows multigenerational living and accommodates changing family needs.
• Uses existing infrastructure – ADUs utilize the same utilities, garbage collection as the main house. No added infrastructure costs.
• Environmental friendliness – Adding an ADU to an existing home has less environmental impact than building a new single-family home.
• Home office space – An ADU can double up as an art studio, music room, private office or other functional space.

ADU Designs

ADUs come in different shapes and sizes to suit your needs. Some popular ADU configurations Surfside Builders create include:

• Detached ADU– A small, standalone living unit separated from the main home. These are also referred to as guest houses or backyard bungalows.
• Basement ADU– A self-contained living area created by converting a portion of or the entire basement. Basement ADUs have a separate entrance and kitchenette.
• Attached ADU– An addition that is connected to the main house. Attached ADUs can have a separate or shared entrance.
• Garage Conversion– Transforming a standalone or attached garage into a fully functional living space. This allows you to maximize land use.

The ADU style you choose depends on factors like budget, available space on your lot, municipal regulations, and intended purpose. Our team of architects and builders will guide you in selecting the right ADU to match your needs.

ADU Construction Process

Building an ADU involves careful planning, permitting, design, and construction. As experienced home remodelers and ADU specialists, Surfside Builders streamlines the process with the following staged approach:

1. Initial Consultation– We learn your goals, budget, property specifics through a site visit and discussion. Preliminary ideas are explored.
2. Design & Planning– Our architects create a detailed ADU design optimized for your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Precise renderings, and floorplans are generated.
3. Permitting– We handle the ADU permitting paperwork and liaise with the city planning office on your behalf. Permits are secured.
4. Pre-Construction– After permits are obtained, we finalize material selections and construction timelines with you. The crew is assigned.
5. Construction– Your new custom ADU will be built by our team of licensed subcontractors with experience spanning over 15 years. We oversee quality benchmarks, inspections, and timelines throughout the build.
6. Completion & Handover– Once construction hits the finish line, we walk you through operating systems, warranty coverage and provide sufficient documentation. Enjoy your new ADU!

We encourage homeowners to be involved in the process from start to finish. Updating our clients through email, video calls, messages and site walkthroughs is part of our standard service.

ADUs in Bellflower

In Los Angeles County, ADU development codes differ from one city to another. Each municipality allows certain types of ADUs and imposes customized regulations around aspects such as height limits, setbacks, maximum unit size, parking requirements, etc. In the city of Bellflower, some key ADU regulations include:

• Only single-family homes can add an ADU. Multi-family zoned properties are ineligible.
• No additional parking is required for an ADU in certain circumstances. For example – the lot already has ample off-street parking space available.
• For properties with an existing garage, garage conversions do not need additional parking.
• Detached ADUs must be set back 4 feet from the rear property line and 4 feet from the side property lines.
• ADUs can be up to 1200 sq.ft. or 50% of the main residence size – whichever is less.

The ADU gurus at Surfside Builders are well versed with the guidelines and requirements imposed by the City of Bellflower. We ensure your custom secondary suite is designed, built and approved according to local specifications. Our team has completed over 30 beautiful ADU projects across Los Angeles county and brings this rich, hands-on experience to craft the perfect ADU for you.

We invite you to schedule a call with our experts to discuss adding a custom ADU in Bellflower. Let’s chat!