ADU Pricing · 2026
How Much Does an ADU Cost in Monterey? (2026)
An ADU in Monterey with Framework First runs between $199,000 and $599,000, depending on the size and layout you choose. That price includes the home itself, design, a permitting budget, factory construction, crane delivery to your lot, foundation, utility hookups, appliances, and final inspections. Because permit costs are set by each city and county, your exact permit amount is confirmed for your specific address in the feasibility study rather than guessed at up front.
The short version: Framework First builds 14 ADU models for the Monterey Peninsula, from a 450 sq ft studio at $199,000 to a 1,200 sq ft three-bedroom at $599,000. Each price is done-for-you with a permitting budget built in, with most homes finished in 4 to 9 months. The Monterey area carries some unique site and coastal considerations, but those are confirmed in a feasibility study before you ever commit.
Why Monterey ADU pricing is different from a vague “average”
We do not price that way, and we would gently steer you away from anyone who does.
Framework First builds roughly 97% of your home inside our own factory in Salinas, then craft-delivers it by crane to your property. Because the home is built in a controlled facility, the price is known up front. You pick a model and see a real number with a permitting budget already built in, and your feasibility study confirms the exact figure for your address once city and county permit costs are factored in. The Monterey Peninsula sits well inside our service area, about 20 miles from the factory, so delivery to Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Seaside, Marina, and the surrounding county is routine for our crews.
We are a family-owned company, building here since 2021 (CSLB #1047146, MFG #1595931), and the whole team takes pride in giving Monterey homeowners a real number instead of a teaser.
Framework First ADU prices for Monterey (2026)
Here is the full lineup, with a permitting budget built into every price. These are the same prices a homeowner in Salinas, Carmel, or Seaside would see.
| Model | Size | Beds / Baths | All-Inclusive Price* | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Fifty | 450 sq ft | Studio / 1 | $199,000 | 4 months |
| The 405 | 405 sq ft | 1 / 1 | $239,000 | 5 months |
| Five Five Five | 555 sq ft | 1 / 1 | $279,000 | 5 months |
| Six Sixty | 660 sq ft | 1 / 1 | $309,000 | 5 months |
| Six Sixty 2BR | 660 sq ft | 2 / 1 | $339,000 | 5 months |
| Seven Forty-Nine | 749 sq ft | 2 / 2 | $369,000 | 5 to 6 months |
| Eight Eighty-Five 2BR | 885 sq ft | 2 / 1 | $399,000 | 6 months |
| Nine Forty-Five 2/1 | 945 sq ft | 2 / 1 | $419,000 | 6 months |
| Nine Forty-Five 3/1 | 945 sq ft | 3 / 1 | $445,000 | 6 months |
| Eight Eighty-Five 2/2 | 885 sq ft | 2 / 2 | $429,000 | 6 months |
| Nine Forty-Five 2/2 | 945 sq ft | 2 / 2 | $449,000 | 6 months |
| Nine Forty-Five 3/2 | 945 sq ft | 3 / 2 | $479,000 | 6 months |
| Twelve Hundred | 1,200 sq ft | 3 / 2 | $549,000 | 7 to 9 months |
| Twelve Hundred U | 1,200 sq ft | 3 / 2 | $599,000 | 7 to 9 months |
*Includes a permitting budget, not final permit costs. Permits and property-specific site work (septic, retaining walls, etc.) vary by property and are confirmed in your feasibility study.
Our most-built home is the Six Sixty, a full one-bedroom at $309,000. It hits the sweet spot for Monterey homeowners who want strong rental income or a comfortable, private space for a parent or adult child. You can browse every layout on the models page, or estimate your own project on the cost calculator.
What’s included in the price
The reason a Framework First number stays a Framework First number is that it already contains the line items other builders bill separately. Every model price includes:
- The complete home, built to current California energy and building codes
- Architectural design, plans, and a permitting budget
- Factory construction (about 97% of the build)
- Crane delivery to your Monterey-area lot
- Foundation and site work
- Utility connections (water, sewer or septic tie-in, electrical)
- Kitchen and bathroom appliances
- All inspections through to final sign-off
The handful of things that genuinely vary by property, like your exact permit fees, an unusually long utility run, a steep or hard-to-access lot, or work such as a septic upgrade or retaining wall, are identified early in your feasibility study. Property-specific site work like that is not part of the listed model price, but we build it in-house under your contract so your project never needs a second, outside contractor.
Monterey-specific things that can affect your project
Monterey County and its coastal cities have a few wrinkles worth knowing about, though none of them change our base model price:
- Coastal zone review. Parts of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and the unincorporated coast fall within the California Coastal Zone, which can add a review step. Whether your lot is affected is confirmed in the feasibility study.
- Septic vs. sewer. Many properties in unincorporated Monterey County are on septic. We handle the tie-in either way, and any septic-specific work is flagged up front.
- Local fees. City and county permit and impact fees vary across the Peninsula. State law waives impact fees for ADUs under 750 sq ft, which covers most of our one-bedroom models. Exact local fee amounts vary by jurisdiction and are confirmed for your specific address in the feasibility study.
For a deeper look at the rules where you live, see our Monterey County ADU regulations guide and the 2026 California ADU laws overview.
How Monterey ADU cost compares to a full California picture
The Framework First range is the same statewide because the factory price does not move with the zip code. What changes between regions is mostly the local fee schedule and any site-specific work. For a broader baseline, our California ADU cost guide walks through the same numbers in a statewide context, and our 1-bedroom ADU cost breakdown zooms in on the most popular size.
If you are weighing how to pay for it, the financing overview explains the common paths Monterey homeowners use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ADU I can build in Monterey?
Our Four Fifty studio at $199,000 all-inclusive is the most affordable home in our lineup. It is a bright, efficient 450 sq ft studio that fits tight Peninsula lots and leaner budgets without feeling cramped.
Does the price include a permitting budget and delivery to Monterey?
Yes. A permitting budget, design, crane delivery to your Monterey-area lot, foundation, utility hookups, appliances, and inspections are all inside the model price. Exact permit costs are set by your city or county and confirmed in your feasibility study. Monterey is roughly 20 miles from our Salinas factory, so delivery to the Peninsula is part of our normal route.
How long does it take to build an ADU in Monterey?
Most Framework First homes are finished in 4 to 9 months depending on the model. Because the build happens in our factory while permits are processed, the timeline is far shorter and steadier than a traditional site-built project. See our build timeline guide for the full breakdown.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Monterey?
No. California permanently removed the owner-occupancy requirement for standard ADUs, so you can rent out both your main home and the ADU. Owner-occupancy still applies to JADUs (junior ADUs built inside existing walls). More detail is in our owner-occupancy rules guide.
Can an ADU in Monterey pay for itself with rent?
For many homeowners, yes. A well-placed one- or two-bedroom rents for a meaningful monthly figure on the Peninsula, though actual rent varies by location and unit. Our ADU rental income guide covers how to estimate it for your situation.
Get your exact Monterey ADU number
The prices above are real, with a permitting budget already built in, but the only way to know your true out-the-door cost is to look at your specific lot: its access, utilities, setbacks, and the rules in your Monterey city or county. That is exactly what our team does in a feasibility study, with no pressure and no obligation.
We are a family business, and we would rather give you an honest answer about your property than a polished guess. Start with a free feasibility study and we will tell you what your ADU will actually cost, where it can go, and how soon it could be done.