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ADU Framing Contractor in Sacramento, CA

Structurally engineered ADU frames for detached units, attached additions, garage conversions, and junior ADUs across Sacramento County.

DC Custom is Sacramento County’s licensed ADU framing contractor — we build structurally sound, code-compliant framing systems for every ADU configuration, from detached backyard cottages in Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova to attached ADU additions in Midtown and East Sacramento. Every ADU we frame is permitted, framing-inspected, and built to Sacramento’s current ADU ordinance and California Residential Code requirements.
ADU Framing Estimate
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Why ADU Framing Is Different

What Makes ADU Framing Different From Standard Residential Framing

Fire-rated wall separation:

Attached ADUs and JADUs that share a wall with the primary dwelling require a 1-hour fire-rated wall assembly — this affects framing, sheathing, and gypsum specification on both sides

Setback and height compliance:

Sacramento County's ADU ordinance governs maximum ADU height (typically 16 ft for detached, 25 ft if attached), setback distances, and lot coverage — all of which affect the structural framing envelope

Energy code (Title 24) compliance:

ADU framing must accommodate required wall and ceiling insulation R-values — stud size (2x4 vs. 2x6) and cavity depth are often driven by Title 24 compliance for the specific Sacramento climate zone (CEC Climate Zone 12)

DU Framing Services We Provide in Sacramento

Detached ADU Framing

A fully independent structure in your Sacramento backyard. A detached ADU is a standalone residential structure built on the same lot as the primary dwelling — the most flexible and most valuable ADU configuration in Sacramento's rental market. DC Custom provides complete structural framing for detached ADUs: sill plate installation on the foundation, wall framing with exterior sheathing, floor joist system (for crawl space or raised foundations), and roof framing. Detached ADUs in Sacramento County must comply with the current ADU ordinance setback minimums — typically 4 feet from the rear and side property lines for structures under 16 feet in height. We build detached ADU frames from permitted plans in Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Natomas, and throughout Sacramento County.

Attached ADU Framing

Adding a connected dwelling unit to your existing home. An attached ADU shares one or more walls with the primary residence — often built as an addition off the rear or side of the home. Attached ADU framing requires precise coordination between the new ADU structure and the existing home's framing: matching floor height, tying into the existing wall and roof framing, and installing the required 1-hour fire-rated wall separation at the shared wall between the ADU and primary dwelling. The fire-rated assembly affects both the framing specification and the sheathing on both sides of the party wall — DC Custom installs compliant fire-rated assemblies on every attached ADU project. Attached ADUs also require separate exterior access (no access through the primary dwelling's interior), which affects door framing location and egress path planning.

Garage Conversion ADU Framing

Sacramento's fastest ADU path — converting an existing structure. Converting an existing attached or detached garage into a habitable ADU is the fastest and most cost-effective ADU path in Sacramento — the foundation and roof structure already exist. Garage conversion ADU framing involves: removing the garage door opening and framing a new wall with compliant egress windows and an entry door, installing interior partition walls for the ADU's room layout, framing a raised subfloor system over the existing concrete slab (required to achieve habitable floor status), and modifying or adding roof framing for ceiling height compliance and insulation clearance. DC Custom has completed garage conversion ADU framing projects in on older Sacramento grid neighborhoods where detached garages are common — including Curtis Park, Boulevard Park, and Oak Park.

Junior ADU Framing

The simplest ADU path — converting interior space within your existing home. A Junior ADU (JADU) is created by converting existing interior space within the primary dwelling — most commonly a bedroom, studio space, or portion of the home — into a self-contained unit with its own entrance and efficiency kitchen. JADU framing scope is typically interior partition walls to create the separate unit, a framed exterior door opening for the required separate entrance, and modifications to existing wall openings where required. JADUs are limited to 500 sq ft and must be within the existing primary dwelling envelope — no new exterior square footage is added. The framing scope is relatively limited, but the work must be permitted and the fire separation between the JADU and the primary dwelling must be properly documented and inspected.

Second-Story ADU Framing

Build up, not out — for lots with limited backyard space. Sacramento's 2020 ADU law now allows ADUs to be built above detached garages and other accessory structures — a significant opportunity for Sacramento homeowners with older detached garages that can support a second story. Second-story ADU framing involves: engineering evaluation of the existing garage structure to confirm it can carry additional loads, foundation upgrade if required, full second-floor platform framing (joists, subfloor), exterior wall framing with fire separation at shared walls, and roof framing for the ADU's enclosed volume. This is structurally the most demanding ADU configuration; DC Custom coordinates with a structural engineer for all second-story ADU projects to ensure the load path from the new upper level is properly analyzed and the framing executed from stamped drawings.

ADU Framing Repair & Code Correction

Pre-built, unpermitted, or non-compliant ADU structures — brought up to code. Sacramento has a significant inventory of unpermitted ADUs — additions, garage conversions, and backyard structures that were built without permits and do not meet current structural or ADU code requirements. When homeowners attempt to legalize these structures (increasingly required at sale or refinance), the framing is often the first obstacle: missing fire-rated assemblies, undersized headers, absent shear wall sheathing, and subfloor systems that don't meet habitable floor standards. DC Custom assesses non-compliant ADU framing, documents existing conditions, and performs the structural corrections needed to bring the unit to current code — including framing inspection sign-off by the Sacramento Building Department.

Sacramento Floor Framing Code Requirements

California ADU Law (AB 68, SB 9, AB 2221)

01

State law limits local restrictions on ADUs — Sacramento County and City must permit ADUs by-right in most residential zones; setback minimums are limited to 4 feet for new detached ADUs under 16 feet in height

Sacramento County ADU Ordinance (2023)

02

Covers lot coverage limits, height maximums (16 ft detached, 25 ft attached), owner-occupancy status (no longer required as of 2020), and design compatibility standards

Fire separation (CRC Section R302)

03

One-hour fire-rated wall assembly required between attached ADUs and the primary dwelling — this affects framing (no combustible materials exposed), sheathing specification (fire-rated OSB or gypsum sheathing), and gypsum board on both sides

Title 24 Energy Code

04

Sacramento is CEC Climate Zone 12 — exterior walls must meet prescriptive R-13 (2×4 framing) or R-20 (2×6 framing) insulation requirements; stud size selection affects framing specification

Egress requirements

05

All ADU sleeping areas require egress windows with minimum 5.7 sq ft of clear opening — window header sizing and rough opening dimensions must be framed to accommodate compliant egress windows

Permit process

06

All ADU types require a building permit from the Sacramento Building Department (or County, depending on jurisdiction); framing inspection is required before insulation or drywall is installed; final inspection is required before occupancy

Our Process

How Our Sacramento ADU Framing Projects Work

01

Estimate & Scope Review

We review your ADU plans (or assess the site if still in planning), confirm the framing scope by ADU type, and provide a written estimate with materials, labor, and timeline. We flag any code compliance items — fire separation, egress, Title 24 — that need to be addressed in the plan set before permit submission.

02

Permit Coordination

We work with your designer or prepare framing documentation for the Sacramento Building Department permit application. For second-story ADUs and complex structural situations, we coordinate stamped structural drawings with a licensed engineer.

03

Framing Execution

Our crew builds the ADU frame to the approved plans — wall systems, floor system (where applicable), roof framing, exterior sheathing, fire-rated assemblies at party walls, and all rough openings for windows, doors, and egress. We maintain code-compliant nailing schedules and hardware at all connections.

04

Framing Inspection

We schedule and pass the Sacramento Building Department framing inspection before insulation, drywall, or any close-in work begins. Inspection sign-off is our deliverable — not just "framed and ready."

READY TO START YOUR PROJECT?

to Frame Your Sacramento ADU

Sacramento’s ADU market is moving fast — permitted, code-compliant framing is what separates projects that finish on time from projects that stall at inspection. Contact DC Custom for a free estimate and site assessment for your ADU framing project.
ADU Framing Estimate
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(916) 397-4760

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does ADU framing cost in Sacramento?
ADU framing cost in Sacramento depends on ADU type and size. A standard detached ADU (400–600 sq ft) typically runs $25,000–$55,000 in framing labor and materials depending on floor system type, roof complexity, and site conditions. Garage conversion ADU framing runs significantly less — typically $8,000–$20,000 — because the existing structure reduces the framing scope. We provide free written estimates for all ADU framing projects.
Yes. All ADU types — detached, attached, garage conversion, and JADU — require a building permit from the Sacramento Building Department or Sacramento County (depending on your property’s jurisdiction). Framing must pass a Sacramento Building Department framing inspection before insulation or drywall is installed. DC Custom handles all permit documentation and inspection scheduling.
A fire-rated wall assembly is a specifically designed wall system that resists fire spread for a defined period — typically 1 hour. Attached ADUs and JADUs that share a wall with the primary dwelling require a 1-hour fire-rated assembly at the shared wall per CRC Section R302. Detached ADUs do not require fire separation from the primary dwelling, but may require fire separation from a property line if setbacks are reduced below 5 feet (check with your local jurisdiction). DC Custom installs compliant fire-rated framing assemblies on all attached ADU and JADU projects.
Yes — California state law (AB 68) allows ADUs above detached garages and similar accessory structures. However, the existing garage must be structurally evaluated by an engineer to confirm it can carry the added loads. In many cases, foundation upgrades or first-floor framing reinforcement are required before second-story ADU framing can begin. DC Custom coordinates the engineering evaluation and structural reinforcement before framing the second-story ADU structure.
A detached ADU (400–600 sq ft) on a raised foundation typically frames in 10–18 days. A garage conversion ADU frames in 5–10 days. Attached ADU framing scales with the addition size — a 500 sq ft attached ADU typically runs 7–12 days. We provide a project timeline with your written estimate.
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