Sacramento ADU design-build
Unlock your backyard's upside.
Custom Sacramento ADUs with fixed pricing, permits handled, a $1,000 deposit, and rental upside shown before you build.
Your typical ADU upside
What is an ADU and what does it cost in Sacramento?
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a self-contained second home with a kitchen, bath, and private entrance on a single-family lot. In Sacramento, most ADUs cost $165,000-$500,000 turnkey in 2026, or roughly $250-$360 per square foot for a detached build, with garage conversions starting near $95,000.
Updated June 2026 · Upside ADU
What we build
Every kind of ADU
From a budget-friendly garage conversion to a full multigenerational backyard home — designed, permitted, and built end to end.
Before & after
See the transformation
From an empty backyard to a fully finished ADU generating rent. Drag the slider to compare.
Free, no-obligation estimate
Tell us about your project
Send us your address and goals. We'll assess what's buildable, what it should cost, and what it could rent for — then send a transparent quote within one business day.
- Free feasibility & zoning review
- Transparent, fixed all-in pricing
- No pressure, no spam
Step 1 of 3
After the build
Don't want to be a landlord?
We're builders first — but we won't leave you stuck running a rental. When your ADU is move-in ready, we'll introduce you to vetted Sacramento property managers we trust to lease it, screen tenants, and handle the day-to-day.
- Vetted, local property-management partners
- Completely optional — plenty of owners self-manage
- Honest rent & ROI guidance before you build
Built-in protections — not marketing promises
Every contract we sign carries the same legal structure. Here's exactly what that means for you.
California law caps the down payment at $1,000 or 10% — whichever is less. On an ADU, it's always $1,000.
Every payment is tied to a completed, inspected phase. No phase passes — no draw released.
We carry full general liability and workers' comp. Your property and project are covered.
We know each county's permit office, fees, and timelines because we've worked them all.
Check your lot
What can you build on your lot?
Adjust lot size and city to see your buildable ADU size, estimated cost range, and typical rent — instantly.
What fits on my lot?
Adjust your lot size and city to see what you can build and what it pencils out to.
Feasibility estimate
On a 6,000 sq ft lot in Sacramento, you can likely build a detached ADU up to 900 sq ft (scaling for lot size; state max is 1,200 sq ft), plus a JADU up to 500 sq ft within your main home — for a total of up to 2 units on your lot. Minimum setbacks are 4 ft from side and rear property lines.
Detached ADU — 900 sq ft
Estimated turnkey cost
$225,000 – $324,000
Typical monthly rent
$2,300 – $2,900
This estimate uses your slider input, not parcel data. For a parcel-accurate answer — exact setbacks, structure limits, and utility hookup assessment — the free on-site feasibility check is the reliable path.
Estimates based on general 2026 Sacramento-region ADU guidelines. This is not a zoning determination. Actual feasibility depends on your parcel, existing structures, and local permitting — confirmed in a free on-site check.
Want the exact answer for your address?
A free on-site feasibility check gives you exact setbacks, utility hookup assessment, and a hard-number bid — no obligation.
Cost & ROI calculator
See the numbers first
Most builders hide pricing behind a form. Get a transparent 2026 estimate for your city in seconds.
Estimate your ADU
Ballpark 2026 turnkey cost, financing, and rental return for your area.
ADU typeEstimated turnkey cost
$250–$360 / sq ft · incl. design, permits & construction
Estimates only — 2026 regional ranges, not a bid. Your real price depends on site conditions, finishes, and your lot. We confirm with a free feasibility check.
The Upside Guarantee
Your money is protected at every step
Sacramento homeowners were burned by builders who took huge deposits and vanished. We built Upside to be the opposite — structured so you're protected before, during, and after the build.
$1,000 down — the legal maximum
California caps a contractor's down payment at $1,000 or 10% of the contract — whichever is less. On an ADU that's $1,000, not the 30–50% other builders demanded. Everything after is earned.
Inspection-tied milestone draws
After the deposit you pay in defined draws — design, permit, foundation, framing, MEP, drywall, completion — each released only after that phase passes inspection.
Honest capacity & timelines
We only take on work we can actually deliver, with realistic schedules and references to completed local projects you can visit.
How it works
From backyard to income in five steps
One accountable team handles design, permits, and construction — then keeps it occupied.
- 01Week 1
Free feasibility check
We assess your lot, zoning, and goals and tell you honestly what's buildable — and what it should rent for.
- 02Weeks 2–6
Design & fixed quote
Choose a pre-approved model or go custom. You get a transparent, all-in price with no hidden site or utility costs.
- 03Weeks 4–14
Permitting
We prepare and submit everything to your city or county. Pre-approved plans can clear in ~30 days.
- 04Weeks 14–30
Construction
Milestone payments release only after each phase passes inspection. Most builds finish in 12–16 weeks.
- 05Move-in +
Rent it out (optional)
Want it rented? We'll connect you with a trusted local property manager to lease and run it for you.
Where we build
Across the Sacramento region
We know each city and county's permit process — because they're all different.
Sacramento County
El Dorado County
Yolo County
ADU answers
Sacramento ADU guides
Straight answers on cost, rules, financing, and ROI — updated for 2026.
Questions Sacramento homeowners ask
Most Sacramento ADUs cost $165,000–$500,000 in 2026 depending on size and type. Garage conversions start near $95,000, and mid-range detached units run about $250–$360 per square foot turnkey.
We handle everything — feasibility, design, engineering, permitting, and construction — as one accountable team. When it's ready to rent, we connect you with a trusted local property manager.
California law caps a contractor's down payment at $1,000 or 10% of the contract, whichever is less — so on an ADU it's $1,000. From there you pay in defined milestone draws (design, permit, foundation, framing, MEP, drywall, completion), each released only after that phase passes inspection.
Yes. We're an ADU builder, not a property manager — but once your unit is move-in ready we'll connect you with vetted local property managers we trust to lease it, screen tenants, and run it for you.
Ready to see what your backyard could earn?
Get a transparent quote and feasibility check for your specific lot, usually within a few days.