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Section 07

Why Torrence Architects

25+ Years · AIA · Licensed GC · LADBS & HPOZ Expertise

Our ADU practice spans Los Angeles County. Every neighborhood has its own permitting jurisdiction, design character, HPOZ status, coastal or hillside considerations, and renter demand profile. We know all of them.

AIA + GC Dual License

Architecture and construction coordination in one firm. No coordination gap, no mid-project communication failures, no contractor disputes over design intent.

LADBS & Pasadena B&S Expertise

25+ years of submittals at LADBS, Pasadena Building & Safety, and LA County DPW. We know what plan check requires before you receive a correction notice — not after.

HPOZ & Historic Design

We have designed ADUs in Hancock Park, Carthay Circle, Bungalow Heaven, Windsor Square, and Lafayette Square. Your ADU will satisfy design review on the first submission.

Full 2025–2026 Law Fluency

We maintain current working knowledge of every CA ADU bill: SB 543, SB 1211, SB 9, AB 1033, AB 462, AB 976, AB 2533, AB 1332, AB 1061. We structure each project to maximize what the law allows.

Hillside & Grading Experience

Grading coordination, Hillside Ordinance compliance, geotechnical integration, and view corridor analysis — specialty capabilities that most ADU builders cannot offer.

Coastal Development Permits

We navigate Coastal Development Permits for ADUs in the California Coastal Zone. AB 462 created the 60-day deadline — but you still need a permit expeditor who knows the CDP process cold.

SB 9 Lot Split Architecture

Lot split projects require a different scope than standard ADUs — parcel mapping, utility separation, access design, and two-unit structural design. We handle the full SB 9 scope.

Wildfire Rebuild Integration

For Altadena and Pacific Palisades clients, ADU design can be integrated with primary rebuild under AB 462 — one architect, one permit strategy, one coordinated construction timeline.

Ready to Find Out What Your Property Can Yield?

Every engagement starts with a feasibility review. We evaluate your lot, zoning, HPOZ status, Coastal Zone overlap, fire zone designation, and ADU options under current California law — and give you a clear picture of what's buildable, what it costs, and what it earns before you commit to anything.

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