Bigger or unusual job? Compare bids from local pros and you pick who does the work.
The service
What adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction is, what a visit covers and where the line is.
The short answer
Building an accessory dwelling unit means adding a second, self-contained home on your lot: a detached cottage, an attached unit, or a converted garage or basement. ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Construction in Union City is booked through pros who cover its 1 ZIP codes, in neighborhoods such as Old Alvarado, Decoto, and Alvarado. In Union City, the dry season from late spring to fall is the easiest time for outside work, and the fall calendar fills before the first big rain. NorTech does not pick the pro, and each pro sets their own price and warranty.
What a adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction visit includes
What is included depends on the jobs you pick and on how each pro sets up their visit and timing. You see the exact scope with each pro's price before you book.
- Site visit, feasibility review and a written scope
- Coordination of plans, engineering and permits
- Foundation, framing, roofing, windows and exterior finishes
- Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and utility connections
- Insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen and bath finishes
- City inspections, final sign-off and certificate of occupancy
Pick what is on your list
Tick what you want done, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, and you can describe anything else when you book.
Plans and approvals
Tick what you want done. One visit can cover several.
Tick jobs above, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, so they see exactly what you need before they arrive.
What shapes a adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction job
These are the things that make one job different from another. Mention them in your notes so each pro can scope your job properly.
Ways to add a unit
The type of unit changes the cost, the schedule and the permit path. Decide it early, or ask bidders to price more than one approach. Tap an option to compare, then add your pick to your job notes.
What is not part of adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction
Knowing where the line is keeps the visit on track and keeps you safe. When a job belongs to a specialist, NorTech tells you before you book.
- Any job where labor and materials together reach $1,000 or more is done by a licensed contractor. A unit like this is always in that range, and every bidder on NorTech holds the required license.
- Zoning variances, lot splits and rezoning. These are decisions made by your local planning office, and a contractor can only help you prepare the request.
- Landscaping, fencing, driveways and outdoor kitchens around the unit unless they are written into the bid as separate lines.
- Furniture, window coverings and loose appliances unless the bid lists them.
- Property management, tenant screening and rental licensing once the unit is finished.
- Removing hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead paint from a structure being converted. That is a specialized abatement service.
License and permits for adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction
Building a dwelling involves structural, electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work. A licensed general contractor runs the work and licensed trades handle the regulated parts. The license is shown on the contractor profile.
A new dwelling unit commonly needs approved drawings, a building permit and inspections at several stages, such as foundation, framing, rough utilities, insulation and final. Zoning review also applies, and rules differ by place. Ask each bidder who prepares plans, who submits them and who pays the fees.
Check the license and insurance on the pro profile and ask for the license number in the written bid. Ask to see the approved plans and each inspection sign-off, and keep them with your property records.
Plan your visit
How booking works, how to get ready, and what to expect where you live.
How booking adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction works
Say what needs doing
Add your ZIP and a few words about the job.
Compare pros near you
Each pro sets their own price and warranty. NorTech does not pick for you.
Book the pro you pick
Add photos and details on their page. Your card is held and only charged after the work and the photos.
Photos and a warranty
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free.
Before you book adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction
Quick things that save a trip. Tick them off as you go; none of it is required to book.
Write your goal in one paragraph
Say who the unit is for, how many bedrooms you want, whether it will be rented, and any limits on size or budget. A clear goal keeps the bids comparable and avoids redesign later.
Photograph and sketch your lot
Take photos of the proposed spot, the meters, the cleanouts and the sides of the lot. A rough sketch with distances to the house and fences helps bidders spot problems before they quote.
Find your property documents
Look for a survey, a plot plan, the deed and any records of past permits. Easements, setbacks and unpermitted structures show up in these papers and affect where you can build.
Ask who handles each step
Before choosing a pro, ask in writing who does design, who pulls permits, who orders utility connections and who pays the fees. The answers explain a lot of the difference between bids.
Check licenses and insurance
Open each pro profile and confirm the license and insurance. Ask for the license number in the bid and a copy of the insurance certificate before signing.
Plan your payment schedule
Pay by project stage tied to finished and inspected work, not by large deposits up front. Ask each bidder for a written payment schedule and for lien releases at each stage.
Say where in Union City you are
Add your neighborhood, for example Old Alvarado, Decoto, and Alvarado, or your ZIP code to your notes. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, and it tells them how far they have to travel.
How where you live changes adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction
Best time to book adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction
Foundation and framing go best in dry, mild weather, so many owners start design early and break ground when the ground is workable. Climates with hard winters often pause exterior work in the coldest season. In Union City, the dry season from late spring to fall is the easiest time for outside work, and the fall calendar fills before the first big rain.
Together
Book adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction with your neighbors
Every home on the street gets the pro’s neighbor rate, and each one books and pays on its own.
Start a Street Day- Start one
Pick the job, your street, a day and a pro who offers a neighbor rate.
- Share the link
Send it to neighbors. Only the city is ever shown publicly, never your street.
- Neighbors join
Neighbors on your street book the same pro on the same day.
- Everyone saves
Each home gets the pro’s neighbor rate, a percent off the pro’s own price, and books and pays on its own.
Often booked together with adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction
Book several services with one pro. Pros set their own bundle discounts.
Ductless heating and cooling is a common choice for a small separate unit.
The main service may need an upgrade to carry a second dwelling.
Converting an existing garage is the other common route to a second unit.
A camera look at the sewer line shows whether it can take the extra load and where to connect.
Around Union City
Where in Union City the work happens, and the cities close by.
ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Construction across Union City
Pick your neighborhood to see what homes there tend to need. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, so enter your ZIP code to see who covers yours.
Cities near Union City
Pros often cover more than one city. The rings show 5 and 10 miles from the center of town.
Other services in Union City
Each one has its own page for this city.
Wind and seasonal rain along the Alvarado-Niles corridor wear down wood fences fast, so Union City homeowners often book repairs or full replacements on older Decoto lots.
See pros in Union CityWith winter runoff a real concern near Quarry Lakes and Dry Creek, clearing and resealing gutters helps protect Union City ranches and townhomes from drainage backups and foundation pooling.
See pros in Union CityOwners refreshing 1970s-era Decoto ranches and newer planned-development homes book interior painting to modernize rooms before selling, renting, or settling in.
See pros in Union CitySettling in Union City's older Old Alvarado housing and everyday wear in family townhomes leave cracks and dings that quick drywall repair smooths over before painting.
See pros in Union CityFrom mounting fixtures in a townhome near the BART station to small repairs around an Alvarado ranch, a general handyman visit handles the punch-list tasks busy commuting professionals don't have time for.
See pros in Union CityConstruction of a backyard cottage or detached guest house by a licensed general contractor, from foundation to finishes, with utilities and permits.
See pros in Union CityTrust and answers
What backs the work, who is licensed and insured, what customers say, and your questions.
Backed by your provider’s warranty. If covered work fails, your provider makes it right, free.
Union City homeowners
ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Construction reviews in Union City
Verified adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction reviews from Union City homeowners will appear here.
Be the first adu (accessory dwelling unit) construction review in Union City
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free. Book with confidence and tell Union City how your pro did.
Book ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Construction in Union CityFrequently asked