California modular ADU

Your 2-story backyard ADU. Factory-built. 4–7 months to keys.

A premium 2-story modular ADU on your California property. State-certified, ministerially permitted, and installed in a single day from a finished factory unit.

11.5′ × 26′ footprint
~1,200 sq ft
4 – 7 months
Block A · 11.5′ × 26′
Why 2-story

Two floors. Smaller footprint. More home.

For California homeowners on standard residential lots, going up beats spreading out. You preserve yard, you maximize bedrooms, and you keep the permit clean.

More bedrooms, smaller footprint

Two floors means a 600 sq ft ground footprint can deliver a 1,200 sq ft unit with multiple bedrooms — without eating your yard.

Premium feel

Lofty ceilings, big windows, and a real staircase. It reads like a house, not a granny flat.

Fewer site work hassles

Smaller foundation, less excavation, less site grading. The factory does the hard work — site work stays simple.

Easier permit

Smaller building footprint means smaller setback impact and faster ministerial review under California ADU law.

Block A — what you get

A full home, factory-built.

Our 2-story ADU is built on Block A from the Clever Elements system — about 600 sq ft on each floor for roughly 1,200 sq ft total. One or two bedrooms, one and a half baths, a full kitchen, and premium materials standard.

  • 11.5′ × 26′ footprint — fits most California residential lots
  • 1 or 2 bedrooms with full closets, 1.5 baths
  • Full kitchen with quartz counters and name-brand appliances
  • Mini-split HVAC, HRV ventilation, on-demand hot water
  • Premium materials standard — no upgrade tier
Block A · 11.5′ × 26′
Inside

Designed to live in.

Big windows, lofty ceilings, uncompromising kitchens, 5-star bathrooms. Every Clever ADU ships with the same interior package — no upcharges.

Big windows. Lofty ceilings.
Big windows. Lofty ceilings.
Uncompromising kitchens.
Uncompromising kitchens.
5-star bathrooms.
5-star bathrooms.
Specs

The numbers.

Footprint 11.5′ × 26′
Total sq ft ~1,200 (600 per floor)
Bedrooms 1 – 2
Bathrooms 1.5
Install time 1 day on site, 4 – 7 months total contract-to-keys
Wind load 140 mph hurricane rated
Snow load 70 psf
Seismic California severe-earthquake engineered
Premium materials, standard

Built to last.

Every Clever 2-story ADU ships with the same premium materials package. No upgrade tier, no surprise invoices for the things that should already be in the unit.

Inspected at 500 points before it leaves the factory. CA HCD Factory-Built Housing certified.

  • Standing seam metal roof by Sheffield
  • HardiePanel siding by James Hardie
  • Quartz countertops throughout
  • LVP flooring (name-brand)
  • American Standard fixtures
  • Mini-split HVAC with HRV
  • 500-point factory QA process
  • CA HCD Factory-Built Housing certified
HELOC
Tap home equity
Renovation
Combine with refi
ADU-specific
CA programs
Cash
Simplest path
Paying for it

ADU financing — sorted.

Most homeowners finance their ADU through a HELOC (home equity line of credit), a renovation refi, or an ADU-specific loan product offered by California credit unions and select lenders.

We work with a network of CA-specific lenders who understand modular ADU construction and California permit timelines. We'll point you at the right one for your situation.

Financing details
Process

Five steps. Four to seven months.

From the day you sign to the day you get keys, one contract and one project manager.

  1. 01

    Quote

    Tell us about your lot. We come back with feasibility, budget, and timeline within 5 business days.

  2. 02

    Design

    Pick finishes, lock the layout, and finalize the site plan with our design team.

  3. 03

    Permit

    We submit the ministerial ADU permit. Your jurisdiction has 60 days to act.

  4. 04

    Build

    Your ADU is factory-built and 500-point inspected while site work happens in parallel.

  5. 05

    Install

    Crane day. Your finished unit lands on the foundation. Final connections. Keys.

Frequently asked

Questions homeowners ask first.

Typical contract-to-keys is 4 to 7 months. Permit and site work happen in parallel with factory build, which is why modular is so much faster than site-built.

You need a local ADU building permit. Because our unit is CA HCD Factory-Built Housing certified, your jurisdiction must process the ADU permit ministerially under state ADU law — typically inside the 60-day clock.

Yes. California ADU law explicitly allows renting your ADU long-term. Some restrictions apply to short-term rentals depending on your jurisdiction — we'll cover the specifics during feasibility.

Your ADU can be independently metered (separate electric, water, and gas meters) or sub-metered off the main house. We'll recommend the right approach based on your lot and your goals — independent meters make rent-ready operations much simpler.

The 11.5′ × 26′ footprint fits the vast majority of California residential lots, including lots with tight setbacks and narrow side yards. As part of feasibility we'll lay it on your specific lot.

Costs vary based on your site work, utility connections, finishes, and jurisdiction. The right way to get a real number is to request a feasibility quote — we'll come back with an installed budget specific to your property.

Ready to put a 2-story ADU on your lot?

Tell us about your property. We'll come back with a feasibility analysis, an installed budget, and a projected timeline.