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General Contractor in Albany: ADUs, Additions and Renovations
ADUs, additions and remodels for bungalows on small lots.
In Albany, the size of an addition decides who reviews it.
An addition or alteration under 400 square feet is reviewed by city staff, unless it’s a second story. Additions of 400 square feet or more, every second-story addition and anything that significantly changes the roofline go to the Planning & Zoning Commission, with notices mailed to owners within 300 feet. Planning approval comes first; the building permit follows. Albany is also in the East Bay’s regional sewer lateral program, so a remodel over $100,000 needs a current sewer lateral certificate. If the property doesn’t have one, the line to the street gets tested, and often replaced. Lots near Cerrito or Codornices Creek can carry extra rules under the city’s Watercourse Overlay.
Our Services
What Remodeling in Albany Actually Involves
Three things we plan for on every Albany job
Sizing to the review
Staying under 400 square feet, or on one floor, keeps a project at staff level. Sometimes that’s the right call, and sometimes the extra space is worth the hearing. We show you both before you decide.
ADUs on small lots
Albany lots are tight. A backyard ADU or garage conversion has to fit around setbacks, utilities and the main house, and the electrical service and sewer line often need upgrading to carry it.
Older bungalows
Many Albany homes are early-1900s bungalows. Expect old wiring, original foundations and an original sewer lateral.
How an Albany Job Runs
Design-build means one team from the first walkthrough to the final inspection: design, engineering, permits and construction. On a small Albany lot every foot matters, and the people drawing the plan are the people who have to fit it, price it and build it.
The first visit is on site. We measure the lot, look at the panel, the foundation and the sewer cleanout, and check which side of Albany’s 400 sq ft staff-review line the project lands on. Then a preconstruction agreement covers design, engineering and the planning and permit sets, and ends with a detailed construction budget. Planning approval comes first, then the building permit. We check whether your sewer lateral certificate is still current, and if it isn’t, we get the line tested early. During the build you get a weekly update, and we photograph every wall before it closes.
Our Work Near Albany
El Cerrito Flats: a full gut remodel of a 1,170 sq ft house: new plumbing, heating, electrical and insulation, and PG&E bills down 84% over a year.
West Berkeley: a 485 sq ft ADU with a home office, a full bath and a garage, built while the family lived at home.
We’re based in Oakland, a short drive south. Start with a free 15-minute call. If it’s a fit, we’ll walk the property with you and give you a straight ballpark.
