Everything Los Angeles homeowners ask us before starting a project. If your question isn’t here, call us at (818) 818-4419 — we answer the phone.
APLA Construction Group Inc. is a licensed general contractor based in the San Fernando Valley, serving Greater Los Angeles. We handle residential and small commercial construction — ADUs, home remodeling, room additions, new construction, and commercial tenant improvements. CA General Contractor License #1136359, verifiable at cslb.ca.gov.
Yes. APLA holds California General Contractor License #1136359, issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). You can verify it at any time at cslb.ca.gov. Never hire a contractor for work over $500 without verifying their license.
All of Greater Los Angeles — from Malibu to Long Beach, the South Bay through the San Fernando Valley, and out to Pasadena. Specific cities include Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Culver City, Santa Monica, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Brentwood, Woodland Hills, and all surrounding areas.
Call (818) 818-4419 or email info@aplaconstruction.com. We schedule a free on-site visit, assess your property and project goals, and provide a written itemized estimate — no obligation.
Garage conversion ADU: $80,000–$140,000. Detached new-construction ADU: $140,000–$300,000. JADU (Junior ADU): $50,000–$90,000. All figures include design, permits, and construction through Certificate of Occupancy. See our complete ADU cost guide.
Garage conversion: 8–12 months total (design + permits + construction). Detached new ADU: 12–18 months. The permit phase at LADBS takes 45–70 days under the state’s 60-day mandate. See our full ADU timeline guide.
A JADU (Junior ADU) is carved entirely from within the existing home’s footprint — a bedroom or converted interior space — and is capped at 500 sq ft. It requires its own entrance and efficiency kitchen but shares utilities with the main home. A full ADU can be detached, attached, or a garage conversion, and can be up to 1,200 sq ft. JADUs cost significantly less but are smaller and less rentable than full ADUs.
California law (AB 3182) prohibits HOAs from banning ADUs outright. However, HOAs may still enforce certain design standards (exterior materials, colors, height). APLA reviews HOA CC&Rs for every ADU project to identify what approvals are needed before permit submission.
Yes, but only on the assessed value of the ADU addition — not a full reassessment of your property. Under Proposition 13, only the new construction is assessed. A $140,000 garage conversion ADU typically adds $1,400–$1,800/year in property taxes while generating $21,600–$33,600/year in rental income.
It varies by neighborhood. South Bay and Westside markets (Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Culver City) deliver $2,200–$3,800/month. Valley markets (Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino) deliver $1,900–$3,100/month. South Bay industrial corridor (Torrance, Redondo Beach) delivers $1,900–$2,800/month.
Basic refresh: $35,000–$65,000. Mid-range remodel: $60,000–$115,000. Full renovation with layout changes: $115,000–$185,000. Luxury custom kitchen: $185,000+. See our kitchen remodel cost guide.
Guest bath: $36,000–$68,000. Primary bath mid-range: $55,000–$100,000. Luxury primary bath: $100,000–$165,000+. See our bathroom remodel cost guide.
Yes, for any work involving electrical changes, plumbing modifications, or structural changes (wall removal). Cosmetic-only work (painting, hardware, countertop swap without moving plumbing) generally does not. APLA evaluates permit requirements for every project and handles all submissions to LADBS or the applicable city building department.
Kitchen remodel: 8–14 weeks. Bathroom remodel: 6–12 weeks. Full home renovation: 4–10 months depending on scope. Permit processing adds 3–8 weeks to the start of construction. APLA submits permits and orders materials simultaneously to compress timelines.
Bedroom addition: $80,000–$165,000. Primary suite addition: $125,000–$240,000. Family room addition: $110,000–$210,000. Full second story addition: $220,000–$450,000+. See our full room addition cost guide.
If you need the space for personal use — primary suite, home office, family room — a room addition is the right choice. If the goal is rental income or maximizing property value, an ADU almost always delivers better ROI. Many homeowners do both simultaneously. See our full ADU vs Room Addition comparison.
No. The City of Los Angeles uses LADBS (LA Department of Building and Safety). But many cities within LA County have their own independent building departments: Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Monica, Culver City, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Long Beach all operate their own permit offices. APLA knows which department handles every city in our service area.
LADBS (City of LA): ADU permits — 45–70 days. Kitchen/bath remodel — 3–6 weeks. Room addition — 5–10 weeks. Independent cities vary: Santa Monica and Pasadena tend to run slightly longer; Culver City and Glendale are generally efficient. APLA’s complete, accurate submittals minimize back-and-forth delays.
Unpermitted work creates serious problems: it must be disclosed when selling the home, it can be ordered demolished by the city, it voids homeowner’s insurance coverage for that work, and it can result in fines. APLA never performs work that requires a permit without pulling one first.
Go to cslb.ca.gov and search by license number or business name. APLA’s license is CA #1136359 — verify it any time. A valid active license, no disciplinary actions, and current workers’ comp insurance are the three things to confirm before signing a contract.
Red flags: asking for more than 10% or $1,000 down (whichever is less — this is California law), no written contract, unlicensed work, no permit pulled for structural/electrical/plumbing work, pressure to decide immediately. See our full guide on how to hire a contractor in LA.
California law caps the initial deposit at 10% of the total contract price or $1,000 — whichever is less. Any contractor asking for a large upfront payment before work begins is violating state law. APLA follows a milestone-based payment schedule tied to construction progress.
Call us directly — we answer the phone and give straight answers, no sales pressure.
(818) 818-4419
info@aplaconstruction.com
CA General Contractor License #1136359
aplaconstruction.com