One Team to Build an ADU in San Francisco
San Francisco has one of the most active accessory dwelling unit programs in California, and for good reason: an ADU adds a legal unit, rental income, or space for family on lots where there is otherwise no room to grow. Most city ADUs are not backyard cottages, though. They are conversions of ground-floor garages, storage areas, and undeveloped space beneath existing homes and flats. New Key Construction works as a single design-build team, so ADU design and construction live under one roof, with priced options up front, photoreal 3D renderings before any permit is pulled, and one point of contact throughout.
Built for San Francisco ADUs and the City's Rules
An ADU in San Francisco is a real construction project layered into an existing building. Converting a ground floor usually means addressing ceiling height, light and ventilation, a separate entrance, fire separation between units, and often the seismic condition of a soft-story building with parking below. Utilities have to be run and sometimes separated, and the existing structure has to be understood before a design is drawn. We resolve all of it up front.
The regulatory side is where one team earns its keep. San Francisco offers both state-mandated ADU pathways and a local program, and the city allows more than one ADU in many multi-unit buildings. Projects run through the Planning Department and the Department of Building Inspection, and adding a unit to a building can carry implications for the existing tenants and the building's rent-controlled status. We help you understand which pathway fits your property and what it means before you commit, and we map the permit timeline into the schedule.
Priced Options and 3D Renderings Before Permits
Most of the risk in a San Francisco ADU shows up before construction starts. It hides in an existing building that was never fully understood, in allowances no one priced, and in a layout that looks different once it is real. Our process removes that risk early.
We start with a design phase that produces photoreal 3D renderings of the actual unit, so you see the finished space before we submit anything to the city. Alongside the design you receive priced options up front, so you see what each direction costs while you can still adjust rather than reacting to change orders later. Only once the design and numbers are settled do we take drawings into Planning and DBI, and because the same firm designed and will build the ADU, the permit set reflects what we can actually construct within your existing building. White-glove project management protects your home and any current tenants throughout the work.
FAQ
Can I build an ADU in San Francisco?
In most cases, yes. San Francisco has both state and local ADU pathways, and many properties, including multi-unit buildings, can add one or more units. The most common approach in the city is converting an existing ground-floor garage or undeveloped space rather than building a freestanding cottage. We assess your specific property and tell you what is possible.
How long does an ADU take to permit and build in San Francisco?
It depends on the pathway and the existing building, which is why we set a realistic schedule during design. Projects go through the Planning Department and the Department of Building Inspection, and we map that timeline into the plan from the start rather than guessing.
What does a San Francisco ADU cost?
Cost depends on the type of conversion, the condition of the existing structure, and the finish level, so we show priced options up front instead of a single vague number. Ground-floor conditions like ceiling height, seismic framing, and utility separation all factor in, and we price them honestly before you commit.
Does adding an ADU affect rent control or existing tenants?
It can, especially in a multi-unit building, which is why we flag those implications early. We help you understand what adding a unit means for your building before design begins, so there are no surprises after you have committed.
Why design-build for an ADU?
Because the team that designs your ADU is the team that builds it, the realities of your existing building are understood before you approve the design, not discovered mid-project. You get priced options and photoreal 3D renderings before permits, which means fewer surprises on a project built inside a home you already own.
Start Your San Francisco ADU
New Key Construction will show you priced options and photoreal 3D renderings before any permit is pulled. Call +1 925 954 8731 or email info@newkeyconstruction.com to explore an ADU on your San Francisco property.