Sunnyvale is not one kind of neighborhood. There are postwar ranch tracts, there are the mid-century Eichler neighborhoods with their post and beam framing and flat roofs, and there are newer infill areas closer to downtown and Murphy Avenue. Each one asks a different question of an accessory dwelling unit.
An ADU that ignores the house it stands next to looks wrong for the life of the property. We design to the architecture that is already on the lot.
Several Sunnyvale tracts carry single story overlay zoning, adopted to preserve the low profile of those neighborhoods. If your property sits in one, a two story unit is off the table regardless of what state ADU law would otherwise allow for height.
This is the first thing worth confirming, because it determines the entire design approach. On a constrained lot in an overlay area, that often pushes toward a well planned single story detached unit or an attached one, rather than the two story solution that would maximize square footage elsewhere.
Our ADU construction page goes into how each type gets built.
If your home is an Eichler, a few things change. The post and beam structure does not behave like conventional stick framing when you tie into it. The flat or low slope roof has its own detailing requirements. Many of these homes use radiant heating cast into the slab, which means cutting that slab for new plumbing is a decision that has to be made carefully and located precisely.
A contractor who treats an Eichler like any other ranch house will cause expensive problems. We approach them on their own terms.
State ADU law restricts how much a city can limit unit size, parking, and owner occupancy, and requires ministerial review, so a compliant application is approved without a discretionary hearing. Sunnyvale handles planning and building review through its own city permit process.
We prepare the drawings, submit them, work through plan check corrections, and coordinate inspections, so the paperwork is not your problem.
We are a licensed general contracting company based in San Jose, owner operated by Becir Molabecirovic, serving Sunnyvale and the surrounding Santa Clara County cities. We run design build, so the team drawing the unit is the team building it, which keeps the plan tied to real costs from the start.
Our work spans whole house remodels, additions, kitchens, and baths, with completed projects in San Jose, Los Altos, and Portola Valley. Our ADU contractor services page covers the phases, and our project gallery shows the finish standard.
Start with a conversation about your zoning, your lot, and the house already on it. Get in touch with our team and we will come look at your Sunnyvale property.
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