El Cajon ADU
Design + Build.
El Cajon is East County's overlooked ADU play. Building costs are among the lowest in the county, the jurisdiction is cooperative, and rental demand has quietly become one of the strongest in SD.
A specialist ADU builder,
tuned for El Cajon.
El Cajon lots are generous, setbacks are favorable, and permit times are among the shortest in the region. Cap rates on El Cajon ADUs often exceed coastal markets — the rent differential is smaller than the build-cost differential.
Neighborhoods we build in
- Fletcher Hills
- Rancho San Diego
- Bostonia
- Granite Hills
Don't see yours? We build across every zip code in San Diego County.
What can your backyard do?
Drop your address and a goal. We'll send a first-read within one business day and a full Property Potential Report within two weeks — on us.
- ✓ Zoning + setback analysis
- ✓ Rent projection for your lot
- ✓ Ballpark build cost
- ✓ No obligation, no spam
Common questions.
01 How much does an ADU cost in San Diego?
Most detached ADUs in San Diego County land between $175,000 and $450,000 all-in (design, permits, construction) for 500–1,200 square feet. Garage conversions typically run $105,000–$250,000. Your ADU Property Potential Report gives you a real, lot-specific number within two weeks.
02 How long does the whole process take?
From the day we sign to the day you get keys, plan on 12–24 months. Roughly: 2 weeks for the property report, 1 month for design, 6–12 months for permits (the city owns this clock), and 4–8 months for construction.
03 Can I build an ADU on my property?
If you own a single-family lot in California, the answer is almost always yes — state ADU law is very homeowner-friendly. The harder question is how big, how many, and what’s actually profitable. That’s the report.
04 How many ADUs can I build on one lot?
Under current California law, most single-family lots in SD County can add one ADU plus one Junior ADU, and many qualify for up to four total units through state density bonus provisions. We screen for this in the Property Feasibility Analysis.
05 Do you handle the permits?
Yes — end to end. Plan sets, submissions, corrections, structural engineering, school fees, utility coordination. Our permit team has personal working relationships with every major SD County jurisdiction.
Ready to see what your El Cajon lot can do?
Free consultation with an ADU PALS strategist. No pressure, no placeholder quotes.