01
The assembly, not just the finish
Confirm intended legal use before comparing costs: an ADU and a guest house are not automatically the same approval category. Conversion and new detached construction have different existing-condition and site interfaces. Utility capacity, routes, access, privacy and outdoor restoration can matter even when the floor area is modest.
NAHB · homeowner remodeling preparation02
Ownership and maintenance
Separate independent operating needs from shared systems. Ask how shutoffs, equipment access and maintenance work for both dwellings where applicable. Tenant or multigenerational use changes owner priorities but does not establish eligibility or a permit exemption.
03
What the proposal must include
Compare building or conversion work, foundation, connections, kitchen/bath, equipment, outdoor access, site restoration, design and review separately. State whether the main house needs system changes. A compact dwelling’s cost drivers cannot be reduced to finish-only floor area.
04
Resolve before procurement
Ask the parcel authority to classify the proposed use and site review before setting a budget baseline. Use the existing KB ADU guides for general preparation, while keeping Santa Barbara authority questions in the regional pathfinder. No fee exemption or approval is promised.