The home you draw built exactly right.
Custom homes live or die at the concept phase — before the first foundation drawing. ADU PALS delivers full custom home architecture with an in-house builder in the room, so what you draw is what gets built, on budget.
What's included
From concept sketches to construction documents — the complete architectural package for a permitted, buildable custom home.
- 01 Discovery: site analysis, program brief, budget alignment
- 02 Schematic design: floor plans, massing, orientation
- 03 Design development: material palette, elevations, sections
- 04 Full construction documents
- 05 Structural, Title 24, MEP coordination
- 06 City permit submission + plan check management
- 07 Construction administration (site visits, RFIs, changes)
- 08 In-house build option — same team, one contract
How custom home design works
Discovery
Site visit, program brief, budget alignment, precedent references. You sign a fixed-price design contract before any drawing begins.
Schematic design
Two or three design directions explored in floor plan and massing. You pick a direction, we refine.
Design development
Material palettes, elevations, sections, interior planning, cost validation. Everything is checked against budget before we lock the design.
Construction documents + permits
Full CDs, engineering, permit submission. We handle plan check and corrections. You get a permitted set.
Construction
Optional in-house build. Same team that designed it. If you want to bid it to your GC, we hand off clean drawings and stay on-call.
Common questions
01 How much does custom home design cost in San Diego?
Design + engineering + permits typically run 8–12% of construction cost, or $6–$14/sqft of gross floor area. A 3,000 sqft custom home design package usually lands between $60K and $150K depending on complexity, coastal review, and finish level.
02 How long does the design phase take?
Concept to permitted set: typically 8–14 months. Discovery + schematic: 2 months. Design development: 3 months. Construction docs + engineering: 3 months. City plan check: 3–6 months. Coastal or historic sites add 2–4 months.
03 Do you also build custom homes?
Yes. Our in-house construction team is a CSLB Licensed B General Contractor. You can hire us for design + build under one contract, or hire us for design only and bid construction separately. Roughly half our custom home clients choose each.
04 Can you help me find a lot?
We do pre-purchase feasibility reviews — before you close on the lot, we tell you what's buildable, what the setbacks and overlays allow, and what the site work is going to cost. It's some of the highest-ROI work we do.
05 What's the difference between an architect and a designer?
Both can prepare permit-ready residential drawings in California. Architects hold a state license (required for larger commercial projects and certain public work). For custom homes under 3 stories, both are legally qualified — the practical difference is process, portfolio, and fee structure. We deliver either based on your project.
Often paired with this.
Home Additions in San Diego
Adding to your home is almost always cheaper than moving. ADU PALS designs and permits second-story additions, room expansions, and attached additions…
Learn more →Lot Feasibility & Site Planning in San Diego
The biggest mistake in real estate is buying a lot on assumption. ADU PALS does pre-purchase and pre-design feasibility studies — zoning, overlays, se…
Learn more →Coastal Property Design + Permitting in San Diego
The California Coastal Zone is the highest-difficulty entitlement environment in the state. It's also where finished projects command the strongest re…
Learn more →Let's design the home.
Free discovery call. If we're a fit, we'll schedule a site visit and quote a design package.