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California / Berkeley / ADU builders

ADU builders in Berkeley, California

The short answer

20 licensed contractors building accessory dwelling units in Berkeley, and 3 whose plans Berkeley has pre-approved. Every licence below was checked against the California state register. Berkeley does not publish contractor names on building permits, so this list ranks on licence standing and pre-approved plans.

California Contractors State License Board, checked 2026-08-15
How to read this. Licence details come from the California Contractors State License Board and are dated on each profile. Permit counts reflect only those cities that publish the contractor's name on a building permit, so a builder with none listed may simply have worked where nothing is published. A city that pre-approves a plan has vetted the plan, not the builder, and does not endorse it. ADU Standards takes no payment for placement. Confirm any licence at cslb.ca.gov before you sign.

Ordered by what the records confirm

The list
1

Adore Homes Inc

plans pre-approved by Berkeley

Pre-approved Licence clear 0 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1145340 · LOS GATOS

2

Abodu Inc

plans pre-approved by Berkeley

Pre-approved No CSLB licence matched

Licence not confirmed

3

Statewide Homes

plans pre-approved by Berkeley

Pre-approved No CSLB licence matched

Licence not confirmed

4

Acton Construction Inc

Nearby permits Licence clear 34 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #638333 · CAMPBELL

5

H D R Remodeling Inc

Licensed Licence clear 30 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #720621 · EMERYVILLE

8

Mcdunn Construction Inc

Licensed Licence clear 14 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #966969 · BERKELEY

9

Decor Builders Inc

Nearby permits Licence clear 6 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1065141 · SAN JOSE

10

Burton Builders Llc

Licensed Licence clear 8 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1042450 · RICHMOND

13

Hamilton Exteriors

Licensed Licence clear 5 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1078806 · CASTRO VALLEY

14

Type Five Inc

Licensed Licence clear 4 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1086540 · BERKELEY

19

Metricon Homes Inc

Licensed Licence clear 1 years licensed Workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1128717 · SAN RAMON

20

Royalty Builders Inc

Licensed Licence clear 7 years licensed No workers’ comp on file

CSLB #1048623 · WOODLAND HILLS

What Berkeley charges

The city’s published schedule

Quoted from Berkeley’s own fee schedule (FY 2026 (effective 2025-07-01)). These are city fees only. They do not include what a builder charges to design and build the unit.

Plan check
basis percentage of permit fee, with an ADU-specific discount and an ADU-specific flat zoning plan check
detail Regular Plan Check Fee (includes over-counter building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits): 65% of Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Permit Fee. Pre-approved ADU Plan Check Fee: 50% of Regular Plan Check Fee when utilizing pre-approved ADU plans. Zoning Certificate - Accessory Dwelling Unit Plan Check: $250 (assumes 1 hour for review). Plan check revision to plans already plan checked: $250.00 per hour, one hour minimum. Fourth and subsequent plan check submittal: $250.00 per hour, one hour minimum. Special Accelerated Plan Check Fee: additional 80% of Regular Plan Check Fee.
as of 2025-07-01
Building permit
basis valuation-based, flat rate per $100 of improvement value
detail Base Permit Fee: $150.00 for value of improvements up to $3,000. Building Permit Fee: $2.40 per $100 value of improvements over $3,000. Filing Fee - All Permits: $62.50 (including revisions and deferred submittals).
surcharges Title 24 Disabled Access: 12% of Building Permit Fee. Title 24 Energy Compliance: 12% of Building Permit Fee. Fire Plan Check: 7% of Building Permit Fee. Community planning fee for General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Maintenance: 5% of Building Permit Fee. Technology Enhancement Fee: 5% of Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, and Public Works Permit Fees.
as of 2025-07-01
School district fees
rate Set and assessed by Berkeley Unified School District; the City does not publish the rate.
threshold stated by city Residential developments of more than 500 square feet of livable space will be assessed one-time Developer Fees, known as School Facility Fees, by the Berkeley Unified School District. Proof of payment must [be provided].
source ADU Information and FAQs, v. 2/9/2026, question 2 under Permit Process and Fees
Utility connections
water East Bay MUD (EBMUD), not a City fee. The City publishes no ADU water connection fee.
sewer The City publishes no ADU-specific sewer connection fee. Engineering fees are in the Planning and Development Fee Schedule, pp. 18-26.
Impact fees
city statement verbatim 2. How much are the permit and impact fees? There is a $250 zoning plan check fee, as well as a $500 neighbor noticing fee, both assessed at the time of building permit submittal. Land Use Planning does not assess impact fees. Building permit fees are based on the valuation of the project, which can be estimated using the fee estimator tool.
source ADU Information and FAQs, v. 2/9/2026
also on web The Land Use Planning Division does not assess impact fees. (https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/permits-design-parameters/permit-process/residential-additions-and)

Berkeley’s published schedule does not mention the exemption for ADUs under 750 square feet. California Government Code section 66311.5(c)(1) bars a local agency from imposing impact fees on an accessory dwelling unit of less than 750 square feet. If you are quoted impact fees on a unit that size, ask the city which section authorises them.

Berkeley fee scheduleFee schedule PDF

Common questions

How is this list ordered?

By what can be confirmed in public records: the number of accessory dwelling unit permits each contractor has on file in Berkeley, whether Berkeley has pre-approved their plans, and their licence standing with the California Contractors State License Board. No builder pays for position and none can request removal.

Are these builders licensed?

Every company listed has been matched to an active California contractor licence and its standing is shown on the card. California law requires a contractor to display its licence number in all advertising, and we check the number shown against the state register before publishing anything a company says about itself.

Why do some show no permit history?

Most California cities do not publish the contractor's name on a building permit. Where a city does not publish it, we cannot confirm completed work, so the card says the licence is verified and nothing more. Ask a builder directly for recent addresses and permit numbers you can look up.

What does it mean that Berkeley pre-approved a builder's plans?

Under Government Code section 65852.27 every California city must accept ADU plans for pre-approval and publish the resulting list. A pre-approved plan has cleared plan check in advance, which shortens permitting. It is an approval of the plan, not an endorsement of the company that drew it.

Companies we looked at and left out

Also considered

These came up when looking for ADU builders in Berkeley but did not meet the bar for the list above, usually because they do not advertise a California licence number, do not name Berkeley as an area they serve, or do not present accessory dwelling units as a service they offer. They are shown so the list above can be checked rather than taken on trust.

Four checks worth ten minutes.

Before you sign
  1. Look the licence up yourself at cslb.ca.gov. It takes under a minute and shows the current status, any suspensions, and the bond.
  2. Ask who carries workers’ compensation for the crew and for every subcontractor. A licensee with no employees may lawfully be exempt, but if someone is hurt on your property you can end up treated as the employer.
  3. Ask for two recent permit numbers in any city, then look them up. A builder who has done the work can produce them immediately.
  4. Get the price in writing against a drawing set. A published starting price is for a base model and rarely includes site work, utilities, or Berkeley fees.