Home / ADU / Pasadena

ADU builder
in Pasadena,
CA.

Older, architecturally significant housing stock, Craftsman and bungalow, much of it inside designated historic districts that shape what an ADU can look like. Nexor handles design, permits, and construction under one fixed-price contract. No handoffs, no surprises.

Est. 2008
Founded
Fixed-price
Contract model
$255
Build cost per sq ft under 600
10 yr
Structural warranty
Pasadena at a glance

Why ADU demand
is strong here.

Pasadena has more designated historic resources than any city in LA County, so the design review is the defining factor here. A firm that handles the historic-district approval in-house, not through a hand-off, is the real advantage.

$1,080,000
Median home value
$2,500 to $3,800/mo
ADU rent range
High
ADU demand
Median home value: Zillow Home Value Index, 2026
Rent range: Market estimate
Figures are market references, not a quote or appraisal, and vary by property.
Nexor pricing

What will it
cost to build?

Select a type and size. We show our actual per-sq-ft rate from completed projects. Garage conversions are priced after a site visit because structural condition varies too much to quote blindly.

Under 600 sq ft: $235-$250/sq ft
600 sq ft and above: $222/sq ft

ADU type
Size
~$133k

Estimated build cost for a 600 sq ft detached ADU. Design and permit fees are quoted separately.

Get a fixed-price quote

Based on Nexor completed projects through 2025. Site conditions, custom finishes, and program scope adjust the final figure. Your feasibility memo will include a fixed-price range specific to your parcel.

Local permitting

Permitting in
Pasadena.

If your parcel is in one of Pasadena's 31 historic districts and the ADU is visible from the street, you need a Certificate of Appropriateness reviewing exterior materials, windows, siding, and roof form. The commission cannot block the ADU or add setbacks beyond state law; it shapes the visible design. We handle that review as part of the job.

Permit authority
City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, Building Division
Online portal
Plans are submitted through Pasadena's SmartGov online portal.
Typical timeline
A standard ADU runs on state ministerial timelines. If your property is in a Landmark or Historic District and the ADU is visible from the street, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Cultural Heritage Commission adds about 4 to 6 weeks, and it can run concurrently with the building permit.
Governed by Pasadena Municipal Code 17.50.275. Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft, attached up to 1,000 sq ft. Height 18 feet default, 16 feet if visible in a historic district. Pasadena has not opted into separate-sale of ADUs, so the unit cannot be sold off as a condo.

ADU types we build in Pasadena

From detached ground-up units to garage conversions. Every type designed, permitted, and built by our in-house team.

Detached
Attached
Conversion
Two Story
Where we work

Pasadena
neighborhoods
we serve.

We build across Pasadena and the surrounding Valley.

Bungalow Heaven
Madison Heights
Garfield Heights
Prospect Park
Hastings Ranch
Why it matters

One contract.
One crew.
No handoffs.

Most ADU projects stall at the seam between a designer and a contractor. We do both. The team that draws your plans is the same team that pulls your permits and builds the unit.

Drawings match the build

When design and construction share the same team, field changes do not require going back to a separate architect and waiting weeks for a revision.

Fixed price, not an allowance game

What you sign is what you pay, unless you change the program. No allowance line items that blow up at selection time.

Weekly written reports

Your project manager sends a written update every Friday. You always know where the schedule stands.

Recent work

Pasadena project coming soon.

We are actively building in Pasadena. In the meantime, browse completed ADU projects from across the San Fernando Valley.

Browse all projects
Service area

We also build
in nearby cities.

Nexor serves the San Fernando Valley. If you are just outside Pasadena, we are likely already working near you.

ADU builder in GlendaleADU builder in Burbank

Get a real number before you call anyone.

Our ADU calculator runs the numbers based on size, type, and lot in Pasadena. Two minutes. No email required.

Try the ADU calculator
FAQ

Questions about
ADUs in Pasadena.

Pasadena· ADU feasibility

Ready to see what fits on your lot?

Send us your address and a couple of property photos. We will come back with a fixed-fee feasibility memo in two weeks. No obligation.

Request a feasibility memoTry the ADU calculator