Building an ADU or clearing a code violation in San Diego County is a paperwork marathon with a jobsite at the end. These five firms know the course, and one of them may be exactly who you need.
Why San Diego County Is an ADU and Permitting Hotspot
San Diego County has become one of the most active ADU markets in California. State law changes have loosened the rules, and homeowners are converting garages, carving out junior units, and building detached cottages to house family or generate rental income. That demand has produced a crowded field of designers, builders, and permit expediters. The catch is that San Diego's permitting landscape is fragmented. The County runs its own Planning & Development Services plan check, and each city, from Carlsbad to Chula Vista, adds its own zoning quirks, coastal overlays, and correction cycles. On top of that, code compliance offices are busy. Unpermitted garage conversions, patio covers, and additions are common, and the notices and fines that follow can stall a sale or refinance. The firms worth your time combine design capability with real permitting fluency, and the strongest ones can also resolve violations rather than just draw plans.
How We Evaluated These Firms
We looked at the same factors for every business. First, service scope: does the firm handle design, permitting, and construction, or only one piece? Second, permitting fluency: how well does the team navigate County plan check, correction cycles, and city-specific rules? Third, pricing and process clarity: can you tell what you are buying and what happens next? Fourth, local fit: does the firm actually work across San Diego County and understand its zoning and coastal constraints? Fifth, violation and legalization capability, which matters if you inherited unpermitted work. Ashli Planning & Development stood out for single-point accountability, with one person drawing plans, running plan check, and seeing the build through. SnapADU stood out for a tightly focused detached-ADU design-build model with published floor plans and pricing. Lars Remodeling & Design stood out for a showroom-backed design-build operation that folds ADUs into larger remodeling work. Gary Faith Construction stood out for a broad general contracting menu spanning ADUs, additions, and whole-home renovations. Better Place Design & Build stood out for a family-owned, in-house design-to-build pipeline with a deep library of floor plans and city-by-city regulation guides.
Here is a quick side-by-side of the five firms, what each does best, and who each one suits.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| SnapADU | Detached ADUs with predictable pricing |
| Ashli Planning & Development | Plans, Permits & Violation Fixes in San Diego County | End-to-end plans, permits, and violation fixes |
| Lars Remodeling & Design | ADUs bundled with larger remodeling projects |
| Gary Faith Construction, Inc. | ADUs alongside additions and remodels |
| Better Place Design & Build | Family-owned design-build with deep plan libraries |
The Five Firms in Detail
#1 SnapADU
A screenshot of the SnapADU website.
SnapADU is a design-build contractor that specializes exclusively in detached new ADUs across San Diego County. The company reports more than 100 completed units and markets predictable pricing through a fully accountable design-build process. Its in-house team manages feasibility, permitting, and construction, so you are not left coordinating a designer and a builder who never talk. The website publishes floor plans by bedroom count and a city-by-city regulations library covering San Diego County, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, and more. It is a strong fit if you want a detached unit and a process with fewer unknowns. See the plans and pricing at snapadu.com.
#2 Ashli Planning & Development | Plans, Permits & Violation Fixes in San Diego County
A screenshot of the Ashli Planning & Development | Plans, Permits & Violation Fixes in San Diego County website.
Ashli Planning & Development LLC is the one-stop option for homeowners who want a single point of accountability. The owner draws the plans personally, takes them through County Planning & Development Services plan check, and follows the project onto the jobsite, so nothing gets lost between design and construction. Services span feasibility and zoning checks, permit-ready site plans, floor plans, elevations, and sections, plus coordination of structural, Title 24 energy, and fire review. The firm also resolves violation notices and citations, legalizing unpermitted garage conversions, additions, patio covers, and ADUs through as-built drawings and permit applications, or correcting work that cannot be permitted. Plans-only service is available for owner-builders, and the team covers residential and commercial projects including tenant improvements. Learn more at ashliplans.com.
#3 Lars Remodeling & Design
A screenshot of the Lars Remodeling & Design website.
Lars Remodeling & Design is an established design-build firm that brings ADU work into a broader remodeling practice. The company handles garage conversions, attached and detached units, and JADUs, and it coordinates the details that trip up conversions, like slab and utility conditions, HVAC, HOA approvals, and electrical-panel upgrades. Its portfolio includes a Poway garage-to-ADU conversion and a roughly 750-square-foot attached ADU in San Diego finished to match the main home. A showroom and a structured client process give you a tangible way to make finish decisions. If your ADU is part of a larger home improvement plan, this is a natural fit. Explore the projects at larsremodel.com.
#4 Gary Faith Construction, Inc.
A screenshot of the Gary Faith Construction, Inc. website.
Gary Faith Construction is a San Diego general contractor with a broad service menu that includes ADUs, home additions, kitchen and bathroom remodels, and whole-home renovations. The team builds stand-alone units and works with designers and architects on custom layouts, with attention to San Diego zoning rules and property goals. Because the firm handles many project types, it can be a good match if your ADU is one piece of a bigger plan for the property. The site lays out the case for standalone units, from rental income to housing family and guests. If you want a contractor comfortable across the full range of residential work, start at gfcinc.org.
#5 Better Place Design & Build
A screenshot of the Better Place Design & Build website.
Better Place Design & Build is a family-owned design-build firm focused on ADUs and garage conversions in San Diego County. The company promises an in-house, one-stop-shop process from design through build, backed by roughly two decades of ADU experience. Its website is unusually thorough, with floor plans sorted by size from 400 to 1,200 square feet and regulation guides for coastal areas like La Jolla, Del Mar, and Carlsbad as well as inland cities like Poway, Santee, and El Cajon. In-house designers and interior specialists handle finishes, which helps if you care about the look of the unit. Browse the plans and city guides at betterplacedesignbuild.com.
How to Choose the Right Firm for Your Project
Start with the shape of your project. If you need a detached ADU and want pricing you can plan around, a specialist like SnapADU is built for that. If you have a violation notice or unpermitted work, prioritize a firm that handles legalization and code compliance, not just new construction. Ashli Planning & Development is the clearest example of that capability on this list. If your ADU is part of a larger remodel, a full-service design-build firm like Lars or Gary Faith may save you from juggling multiple contracts. Next, ask who actually draws the plans and who runs plan check. Some firms subcontract design, which can add handoffs and delays. Ask how many correction cycles they typically see and who pays for re-submittals. Finally, confirm the firm works in your specific jurisdiction. San Diego County, its cities, and the coastal zone each have their own rules, and local experience is worth more than a polished brochure.
A Simple Workflow to Move Your Project Forward
Step one: pull your property's zoning basics, including setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, and allowed uses, before you spend money on drawings. Step two: shortlist two or three firms from this list based on whether you need plans only, full design-build, or violation resolution. Step three: request a site visit and ask each firm to walk the property and confirm feasibility in writing. Step four: compare proposals on scope, not just price, and confirm who handles structural, Title 24 energy, and fire review. Step five: submit to County Planning & Development Services and track every correction cycle with a single point of contact. Step six: line up inspections early so construction and final sign-off do not stall at the end.
The Bottom Line
San Diego County rewards homeowners who plan before they pour concrete. The five firms here cover the full spectrum, from a specialist that only builds detached ADUs to a single-operator practice that draws, permits, and builds while also cleaning up violations. Match the firm to your actual problem. If you have unpermitted work or a citation, start with a firm that resolves code issues. If you are building new, compare scope and permitting fluency, not just the headline price. Do that, and your project has a far better shot at staying compliant, on schedule, and out of the correction-cycle loop.