Detached ADU beside the main house at sunset in Vista, California, built by Cordada Construction
ADU Contractor · Vista, CA

Build an ADU in Vista, CA.

Cordada Construction helps homeowners across Vista and North County San Diego plan and build accessory dwelling units — detached, attached, and garage conversions.

Licensed California Contractor LIC #980108 Free Estimates
Why Build an ADU

One property, more ways to use it.

Most homeowners we talk to are solving a specific problem. An ADU tends to be the answer to more than one of them at once.

01

Rental Income

A second unit on a lot you already own can be rented out, turning unused yard or garage space into monthly income.

02

Family Close By

Parents, adult children, or in-laws get their own kitchen, bath, and front door — on the same property, not across town.

03

More Living Space

Room to spread out without moving, and without giving up the neighborhood, schools, and commute you already have.

04

Office or Guest Space

A quiet, separate building for working from home, hosting guests, or both, with real walls between work and the house.

05

Long-Term Flexibility

What starts as a rental can become a guest house, a home office, or family housing later. The building adapts as you do.

ADU Services

Detached, attached, or converted.

Which approach fits depends on your lot, your budget, and what you already have to work with. We build all of them.

Detached ADUs

A standalone unit built in the backyard with its own entrance, kitchen, and bath. The most private option, and usually the most flexible in layout.

Attached ADUs

A new unit built onto the existing house, sharing a wall but keeping a separate entrance. Often a good fit on narrower lots.

Garage Conversions

Turning an existing attached or detached garage into finished living space — insulation, drywall, plumbing, electrical, and a full kitchen and bath.

Existing Space Conversions

Bonus rooms, workshops, and other underused areas of the property reworked into a self-contained unit with its own systems.

ADU Additions

Expanding an existing unit or building onto one already on the property — adding square footage, a bedroom, or a second bath.

ADU Remodeling

Updating a unit that is already built — kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, and finishes brought up to current condition for living or renting.

The Process

What to expect, start to finish.

Five stages. You always know which one you are in and what happens next.

Step 1

Property & Project Consultation

We walk the property with you, look at the yard, garage, access, and utilities, and talk through what you are hoping to build.

Step 2

Planning & Scope

We define the size, layout, and finish level, then put together a written scope and estimate you can review line by line.

Step 3

Design & Permit Coordination

We coordinate with the design and engineering professionals your project calls for, and work with them through the local permitting process.

Step 4

Construction

Site work, foundation, framing, systems, and finishes. Our own crews and trades, scheduled and supervised in-house.

Step 5

Final Walkthrough

We walk the finished unit with you, address the punch list, and hand over a space that is ready to live in or rent.

Local ADU Expertise

We know these lots and neighborhoods.

Cordada Construction is based in Vista and builds throughout North County San Diego. Working locally means we already know the terrain, the housing stock, and the local building departments our projects go through.

No two properties are alike. Whether an ADU makes sense on your lot — and how large it can be — depends on the specifics: zoning, lot configuration, utility locations, site access, setbacks, and the state and local requirements in effect at the time you build. Those requirements change, so the honest answer always starts with looking at your property.

VistaOceansideSan MarcosEscondidoCarlsbadFallbrook
ADU under construction in North County San Diego, framing and foundation in progress
Why Cordada Construction

A local contractor, not a call center.

Licensed

California Contractor License #980108.

Local

Based in Vista, building throughout North County San Diego.

Residential Focus

Residential construction experience across additions, conversions, and remodels.

Direct Communication

You talk to the people building the project, not a rotating account manager.

Free Estimates

We walk the property and give you a written estimate at no cost.

Google Reviews · Client testimonial — send these over and we'll add a reviews block here.

ADU FAQ

Questions homeowners ask us first.

Straight answers, and an honest note on the things that depend on your property.

What is an ADU?
An ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, is a second self-contained home on a property that already has a house on it. It has its own kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, and entrance. People also call them granny flats, casitas, in-law units, or backyard cottages. An ADU can be a new detached building, an addition attached to the existing house, or a conversion of space you already have, like a garage.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Vista?
That depends on your specific property. Lot size and configuration, existing structures, setbacks, site access, utility locations, and the state and local requirements in effect at the time all factor in. Rather than guess, we come out, walk the property, and give you a straight read on what looks feasible and what would need to be confirmed with the local building department.
How much does an ADU cost in San Diego County?
Cost varies widely with the type of unit, its size, site conditions, how far utilities have to run, and the level of finish you choose. A garage conversion and a new detached build are very different projects. We do not quote a number before seeing the property. After a walkthrough we provide a written, itemized estimate at no charge, broken out by scope so you can compare it against any other bid.
How long does it take to build an ADU?
The construction phase depends on the size and type of unit and on site conditions. The design and permitting phase that comes before it is handled by the local jurisdiction and the design professionals involved, and its length is outside our control. Once we have looked at your project we can give you a realistic schedule for the construction work and tell you what we have seen on similar projects locally.
Can I convert my garage into an ADU?
Garage conversions are one of the more common ways homeowners add a unit, since the structure and foundation already exist. The work generally involves insulation, drywall, flooring, windows and doors, and running plumbing and electrical for a kitchen and bathroom. Whether your garage qualifies, and what has to change to make it a legal dwelling, depends on the structure and on current requirements — that is one of the first things we assess on site.
Can an ADU be rented out?
Many homeowners build an ADU specifically for rental income. What is permitted in terms of rental type and length of tenancy is set by state and local regulations, which can change, so confirm the current rules for your property with your local jurisdiction. We build the unit; how you use it afterward is your decision within those rules.
Do I need permits for an ADU?
Building a new dwelling unit, or converting existing space into one, is permitted work. We coordinate with the design and engineering professionals your project requires and work with them through the local permitting process, then build to the approved plans and coordinate inspections. Specific submittal requirements and fees are set by the jurisdiction your property falls under.
How do I know what size ADU I can build?
Allowable size comes down to your lot, what is already built on it, setbacks, and current state and local regulations, which are subject to change. During the consultation we look at the property and talk through the options that appear workable, then confirm the specifics with the local building department before design begins.
Free Estimate

Thinking about building an ADU?

Tell us about your property and what you have in mind. We'll come out, look at the space, and give you a written estimate with no cost and no pressure.

Cordada Construction Inc.
CA License #980108
760-717-3747
Vista, California
Serving North County San Diego
fcordada@yahoo.com

Request your free ADU consultation

Call or email Cordada Construction to tell us about your property and the ADU you have in mind.

No online form is connected on this page. Please contact us directly to request your free consultation.

Cordada Construction Inc.

Family-owned general contractor in Vista, California, building ADUs and residential projects across North County San Diego.

Contact

760-717-3747 fcordada@yahoo.com
Vista, CA

ADU Services

Detached & Attached ADUs
Garage Conversions
Additions & Remodeling

Service Area

Vista · Oceanside · Carlsbad
San Marcos · Escondido
Fallbrook
© 2026 Cordada Construction Inc. · CA License #980108 Licensed · Bonded · Insured