ADU Construction in Nevada City

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) adds a complete, permitted living space on the lot you already own: room for aging parents or grown kids, a home office, or rental income that helps cover the mortgage. TDI^® builds ADUs in Nevada City and across Nevada County, and manages each project from the first site review to the final inspection under one contract.

ADUs we build in Nevada City

• Detached ADUs, a standalone backyard cottage with its own foundation, kitchen, bathroom and entrance
• Attached ADUs, a new unit built onto the existing home with its own entrance
• Garage conversions, turning an attached or detached garage into a full living unit
• Junior ADUs, up to 500 square feet carved out of existing space inside the home, with an efficiency kitchen and a separate entrance
• Above-garage units, where the lot and local rules allow it

Building an ADU in Nevada City

Nevada City is the Nevada County seat, known for its Gold Rush-era downtown, historic homes and foothill properties on sloped, wooded lots.

Sloped lots are common in Nevada City, so the first question is where a unit can sit without a costly foundation. A garage conversion or an attached ADU often avoids major grading, while a detached unit on a slope may need a stepped or engineered foundation. Wildfire-area building standards for siding, vents, decks and roofing apply in many foothill locations, and we design to them from the start.

Older homes often need an electrical service upgrade to carry a second unit, and sewer and water lines may need to be replaced or upsized for the new connection. We check the panel, the sewer lateral and the water service early so those costs are in the estimate, not a surprise during construction.

Foothill properties see hot summers, more winter rain than the valley floor, occasional snow at higher elevations, and wildfire-area building rules for exteriors. We design ADUs to California Title 24 energy standards, with insulation, window placement and a properly sized heating and cooling system so the unit stays comfortable year round.

How an ADU project works with TDI^®

1. Site and zoning review. We look at your lot, setbacks, utilities and access before anything is drawn, so the design fits what can be permitted.
2. Design and drawings. We coordinate floor plans and construction drawings sized to your goals and budget.
3. Permits and plan check. We submit the application to the City of Nevada City building department (or Nevada County for properties outside city limits), answer plan check comments and track the permit through approval.
4. Construction. Foundation, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, insulation to Title 24, then drywall, cabinets, fixtures, flooring and finishes.
5. Final inspection and walkthrough. We close the permit and walk the finished unit with you, so you have a legal, insurable, rentable space.

Licensed and accountable

• CSLB licensed general contractor, License #1041773, Class B General Building
• Native American owned (Cherokee) and a certified Minority Business Enterprise
• Building in Northern California since 1983

Thinking about an ADU in Nevada City? Call us for a site review and a free written estimate.