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ADU general contractor vs ADU builder company

By the HyreADU research desk. Last checked .

The short answer

An ADU general contractor and an ADU builder company hold the same license in California: a B General Building license. The difference is the business model. A general contractor builds what your designer drew. An ADU company often sells its own plans and handles design and permits too. Pick by scope, not by label.

Same license, different model

The CSLB has no ADU license class, so an ADU company is a B contractor that chose to focus on ADUs. It may offer a catalog of plans, run the permit for you and build the unit. A general contractor usually prices drawings someone else prepared.

How they compare

Design: an ADU company may supply a stock or preapproved plan; a general contractor needs your drawings. Permits: both can pull them; put it in writing.

Price check: with a general contractor you can bid the same drawings to several firms; with an ADU company’s own plan, only that firm prices it.

Local knowledge: either may or may not have built in your city, so ask for permits on record.

How to choose

If your lot is simple and a stock plan fits, an ADU company may save design time. If your site is hard or you want competing bids, a designer plus a general contractor gives you more control. Either way, check the license and the permits, and use the bid comparison.

What to do next: read the questions to ask an ADU builder, check what decides ADU cost, then tell us about your project. Matching is not live yet, so we reply with information, not a quote.

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Questions

Which is cheaper?

There is no general answer and we publish no price comparison. Compare itemized bids for your lot.

Can a general contractor build a preapproved city plan?

Yes. Many California cities publish free or licensed plans any licensed builder can use. See the plan finder.

Do ADU companies handle utility applications?

Some do. Ask, because utility work is a common gap between scopes.

What license should either hold?

A B General Building license in California, or C-47 for a manufactured unit, per the CSLB.

Sources

HyreADU is a publisher. It does not design, permit or build ADUs, has no partner builders, and gives no legal, tax or engineering advice. Rules vary by state and city; California rules are labeled as such.