What types of ADUs can you build on my East Bay property?

We build three main types of accessory dwelling units: detached backyard units, garage conversions, and interior in-law suites. Detached units sit independently on your lot and work well for rental income or housing adult family members. Garage conversions repurpose an existing structure into a legal living space, which is a cost-effective option for many Hayward and Oakland homeowners. Interior conversions are built within the existing footprint of your home and are common in neighborhoods where lot coverage limits apply. The right option depends on your lot size, existing structures, and local zoning rules, all of which we review with you before any work begins.

Do you handle ADU permits and city approvals, or is that my responsibility?

We manage the permitting process on your behalf as part of our Design-Build service. That includes preparing and submitting plans to the City of Hayward planning department, ensuring your project meets Title 24 energy standards and CALGreen regulations, and coordinating any required inspections. Navigating local permitting can be one of the most time-consuming parts of an ADU project, and our familiarity with East Bay jurisdictions helps keep your timeline moving. You will still need to sign certain owner authorizations, but the day-to-day compliance work is handled by our team.

How long does it typically take to complete an ADU from start to finish?

Timelines vary depending on the type of ADU, the condition of the existing structure, and how quickly permits are approved. Garage conversions tend to move faster than ground-up detached units because the shell already exists. In general, you should expect the full process, including design, permitting, and construction, to take several months. Permit approval timelines in Alameda County and surrounding jurisdictions can vary, and that is often the biggest variable outside of our control. We give you a realistic schedule at the start of your project and keep you updated as each phase progresses.

Does a new ADU need to meet California's seismic requirements?

Yes. All new construction in California, including accessory dwelling units, must comply with current seismic standards. This is especially relevant for properties in hillside neighborhoods like Montclair, Oakland Hills, and parts of Berkeley, where soil conditions and slope add complexity to foundation and framing work. We use galvanized hardware and structural steel components where required to meet these standards, and our in-house structural engineering coordination ensures the plans are designed for compliance from the start. Cutting corners on seismic requirements is not something we do, regardless of project size.

Can a permitted garage conversion be legally rented out in Hayward?

Yes, a properly permitted garage conversion can be used as a legal rental unit. California's ADU legislation, including SB 9 and SB 10, has expanded density allowances and made it easier for homeowners to add rental units to their property. To qualify as a legal rental, the unit must meet minimum habitability standards, pass all required inspections, and receive a certificate of occupancy. We build every garage conversion to meet those standards so you are not left with a unit you cannot legally rent. If generating rental income is your goal, let us know early so we can factor that into the design and layout decisions.

What does your Design-Build service actually include for an ADU project?

Our Design-Build model covers structural engineering, architectural design, interior design coordination, permitting, and physical construction under one management structure. Rather than hiring separate professionals who may not communicate well with each other, you work with a single team that handles each phase in sequence. This reduces the risk of errors caused by miscommunication between designers and builders, keeps the project moving efficiently, and gives you a single point of contact throughout. For ADU projects specifically, this integrated approach is particularly valuable because the structural, regulatory, and design decisions are closely interconnected.

Service Detail

C.J. Skeeles General Contractor is a trusted accessory dwelling unit builder serving Hayward and the surrounding East Bay. Whether you need a detached backyard unit, a garage conversion, or an interior in-law suite, our team brings 38 years of construction experience to every project. We handle the full process from structural engineering and architectural design through permitting and final build, so you get a code-compliant, well-built secondary unit without the stress of managing multiple contractors.

Adding an accessory dwelling unit to your property is one of the most valuable investments a homeowner in the East Bay can make. At C.J. Skeeles General Contractor, we approach every ADU project the same way we approach every build: structure first. That means before we talk finishes or fixtures, we make sure the framing, foundation, and systems underneath are done right. We have built over 300 residential homes and have deep familiarity with California's Title 24 energy standards, CALGreen regulations, and local Hayward planning department requirements. That knowledge keeps your project on schedule and out of costly compliance trouble. From detached granny flat construction in Oakland Hills to garage conversions in Piedmont, we have the credentials and the crew to deliver.

Not every lot or household has the same needs, and our ADU construction services reflect that. We build detached backyard units for homeowners who want a fully independent secondary unit on their property, ideal for rental income or multigenerational living. We convert underused garages into legal, permitted living spaces, preserving your lot footprint while adding significant square footage. For homes in Berkeley, Montclair, or Alameda where interior space allows, we also build interior in-law suites that integrate naturally into the existing structure. Every option is designed and built under our in-house Design-Build model, which means architectural design, structural engineering, and construction are coordinated by a single team. That coordination reduces miscommunication, keeps the installation sequence correct, and protects the quality of the finished unit.

Our owner, Christopher "CJ" Skeeles, has spent nearly four decades in construction, building everything from single-family homes to ten schools and large-scale commercial facilities. That institutional-scale experience translates directly into the quality and reliability of every granny flat or secondary unit building project we take on. We are fully licensed and insured for California operations, and we close nearly every qualified lead we meet, not because of sales tactics, but because homeowners can tell the difference between a contractor who understands what they are building and one who does not. We work primarily within a 30-minute radius of our Hayward headquarters, covering Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Union City, Fremont, and surrounding neighborhoods in Alameda County and Contra Costa County. That focused service area means your project gets consistent, attentive site management from start to finish.

Many homeowners do not realize how much friction comes from hiring a separate architect, engineer, and contractor for an ADU project. Miscommunication between those parties is one of the most common causes of delays and cost overruns. C.J. Skeeles operates as a Design-Build firm, meaning structural engineering, architectural design, and interior design are all coordinated in-house before a single nail is driven. We manage City of Hayward planning department submissions, handle Title 24 compliance documentation, and work through the permitting process on your behalf. Our use of galvanized hardware and structural steel components ensures the finished unit meets California's seismic standards, which matters especially in hillside neighborhoods like Montclair and Oakland Hills. When you work with us, you are not managing a project. You are trusting a team with a proven track record to handle it for you.

What types of ADUs can you build on my East Bay property?
We build three main types of accessory dwelling units: detached backyard units, garage conversions, and interior in-law suites. Detached units sit independently on your lot and work well for rental income or housing adult family members. Garage conversions repurpose an existing structure into a legal living space, which is a cost-effective option for many Hayward and Oakland homeowners. Interior conversions are built within the existing footprint of your home and are common in neighborhoods where lot coverage limits apply. The right option depends on your lot size, existing structures, and local zoning rules, all of which we review with you before any work begins.
Do you handle ADU permits and city approvals, or is that my responsibility?
We manage the permitting process on your behalf as part of our Design-Build service. That includes preparing and submitting plans to the City of Hayward planning department, ensuring your project meets Title 24 energy standards and CALGreen regulations, and coordinating any required inspections. Navigating local permitting can be one of the most time-consuming parts of an ADU project, and our familiarity with East Bay jurisdictions helps keep your timeline moving. You will still need to sign certain owner authorizations, but the day-to-day compliance work is handled by our team.
How long does it typically take to complete an ADU from start to finish?
Timelines vary depending on the type of ADU, the condition of the existing structure, and how quickly permits are approved. Garage conversions tend to move faster than ground-up detached units because the shell already exists. In general, you should expect the full process, including design, permitting, and construction, to take several months. Permit approval timelines in Alameda County and surrounding jurisdictions can vary, and that is often the biggest variable outside of our control. We give you a realistic schedule at the start of your project and keep you updated as each phase progresses.
Does a new ADU need to meet California's seismic requirements?
Yes. All new construction in California, including accessory dwelling units, must comply with current seismic standards. This is especially relevant for properties in hillside neighborhoods like Montclair, Oakland Hills, and parts of Berkeley, where soil conditions and slope add complexity to foundation and framing work. We use galvanized hardware and structural steel components where required to meet these standards, and our in-house structural engineering coordination ensures the plans are designed for compliance from the start. Cutting corners on seismic requirements is not something we do, regardless of project size.
Can a permitted garage conversion be legally rented out in Hayward?
Yes, a properly permitted garage conversion can be used as a legal rental unit. California's ADU legislation, including SB 9 and SB 10, has expanded density allowances and made it easier for homeowners to add rental units to their property. To qualify as a legal rental, the unit must meet minimum habitability standards, pass all required inspections, and receive a certificate of occupancy. We build every garage conversion to meet those standards so you are not left with a unit you cannot legally rent. If generating rental income is your goal, let us know early so we can factor that into the design and layout decisions.
Which cities in the East Bay do you serve for ADU projects?
Our headquarters is in Hayward, and we focus on projects within roughly a 30-minute radius to ensure consistent site management and quality control. That service area covers Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Union City, Fremont, and surrounding neighborhoods in Alameda County and Contra Costa County. We are familiar with the permitting processes, zoning rules, and physical site conditions common in these areas, which helps us plan and execute ADU projects more efficiently than a contractor coming in from outside the region.
What does your Design-Build service actually include for an ADU project?
Our Design-Build model covers structural engineering, architectural design, interior design coordination, permitting, and physical construction under one management structure. Rather than hiring separate professionals who may not communicate well with each other, you work with a single team that handles each phase in sequence. This reduces the risk of errors caused by miscommunication between designers and builders, keeps the project moving efficiently, and gives you a single point of contact throughout. For ADU projects specifically, this integrated approach is particularly valuable because the structural, regulatory, and design decisions are closely interconnected.