ADU Construction in Pasadena
Serving 91101 · 91103 · 91104 · 91105 · 91106 · 91107 and Altadena, South Pasadena, San Marino
Pasadena lots were laid out when a deep rear garden was standard, which is exactly the condition an accessory dwelling wants. What is not standard is the review: this is a city with its own building department and its own preservation programme, and a new structure behind a landmark house is a design conversation as much as a compliance one. Both are answerable, and neither is a reason to talk anyone out of the best use of their land.
Real projects. Real prices.
73 finished remodels published with their final price — nothing hidden.
What our finished LA work actually cost: 27 kitchens ran $23k–$84k, median $50k; 28 bathrooms $28k–$105k, median $38k; 17 whole-home remodels $36k–$440k, median $150k. Real final prices from our own job records, not estimates.
$30,000 A full-length double vanity under twin lit mirrors, with herringbone mosaic shower niches.
$38,000 Emerald shaker cabinetry and brass hardware around a cream range and an apron sink.
$45,000 Rust and blue slate-tone tile over a pebble mosaic shower floor, with bronze fittings.
$75,000 Wood shaker cabinetry under a full-height quartz slab, with a marble-look hall bath.
$238,000 A walnut-fronted quartz island, arched openings, and sage-green stacked tile baths.
$275,000 A broad quartz island, a curved staircase with iron balusters, marble-look baths.
Second units on Pasadena lots
The rear garden is the opportunity
Deep lots with alley or driveway access make a detached unit straightforward to build and straightforward to live beside. The design work is mostly about privacy in both directions — where the windows look, where the doors face, and how the garden is divided so both households keep one.
A new building behind an old one
On a landmark property the question is not whether a second unit is allowed but what it should look like. The answers that survive review are the ones that are quietly of their own time rather than a smaller copy of the main house.
Services are the hidden scope
Power, water, drainage and often a service upgrade have to reach the back of the lot. On paper this is a trench; in practice it is the line item that most often surprises people, so we scope it at design stage rather than at excavation.
One department, two conversations
Plan check sits with the city's Building & Safety Division; anything with a preservation dimension also meets the design and historic-preservation side of the same department. We run both so the homeowner runs neither.
Written by Onn Cohen-Meguri, founder and designer at Design Onn Point — 12+ years in business, 1,200+ finished Los Angeles projects. CSLB #1133368.
Pricing in Pasadena
Market estimate, not our own project data.
Talk to Onn about your Pasadena adu construction.
Free consult, no obligation. Onn reads every inquiry personally — and aims to reply within one business day.
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