Camas ADU Builder

Building an ADU starts with what your lot allows

An ADU is a second, independent home on your lot — and on most projects the zoning and the utilities decide what's possible long before the design does. JDI Construction is a family-owned, Vancouver-based design-build remodeler, and we start an accessory dwelling unit the same way every time: by confirming what your specific Camas property actually allows, then designing to that. It's the difference between a backyard cottage that gets permitted and built and a beautiful plan that runs into the rules.

Our designers and trades work as one team, so the unit you approve is grounded in what the site and the code actually permit — we don't hand a hopeful floor plan to a separate crew and find out later it won't pass. Here's the range of ADUs we build, what decides what's possible, and what to expect on cost and timeline.

Types of ADUs we build

"ADU" covers several very different builds, and the right one depends on your lot, your budget, and how you'll use it:

A few decisions worth making early

The choices that make or break an ADU come well before design. The first is feasibility: ADU rules — size limits, setbacks, height, parking, and fees — vary by jurisdiction, and what's allowed in the City of Portland is not the same as what's allowed under Clark County or the City of Camas, so we confirm what your specific lot permits before drawing anything. The second is type and use: a garage conversion, a basement unit, an attached addition, and a detached cottage carry very different costs and site demands, and whether you're building for rental income, family, or a home office shapes the layout. And the third is budgeting for the parts you can't see — the sewer, water, and power connections and the system development charges that come with adding a dwelling. We walk through all of it up front so there are no surprises after design.

What Camas homeowners build ADUs for

Most ADUs we're asked about in Camas fall into a few uses: a rental for income, a private space for aging parents or adult children, or a quiet home office or studio separate from the main house. Each one points the design in a slightly different direction — a rental leans toward durability and a private entrance, a multigenerational unit toward single-level accessibility.

Because Camas sits in Clark County, the applicable rules are Washington's and the county's or city's, which differ from Portland's across the river — another reason we start by confirming what your parcel allows rather than assuming. Whatever the use, we design a compact footprint to live larger than its square footage, with the light, storage, and ceiling height that keep a small home from feeling small.

What does an ADU cost in Camas?

ADU cost is driven first by type: a garage or basement conversion that reuses an existing structure generally costs less than a detached cottage built from the ground up. After that it's size, finish level, and — the part homeowners often underestimate — the site and utility work. Running sewer, water, and power to a new dwelling, handling grading and access, and covering connection fees can be a meaningful share of the budget, which is exactly why we scope them early. With design and trades both in-house, we give you an itemized estimate once we know what your lot allows and which type fits, so the number reflects your project rather than a generic per-square-foot figure.

How long does an ADU take to build?

An ADU runs on three clocks: feasibility and design, permitting, and construction. Permitting for a second dwelling can take longer than a remodel because it involves zoning and utility review, so we build that time into the plan rather than promising a quick turnaround. Once permits are in hand, construction timelines depend on the type — a conversion is faster than a ground-up cottage. We give you a realistic schedule after the feasibility check, handle the permitting, and keep you updated through our client portal as the unit comes together.

Why homeowners in Camas choose JDI

An ADU rewards a builder who understands the rules as well as the construction, because the project can stall at the permit counter long before the first wall goes up. As a single accountable design-build team, we handle the feasibility, the design, the utility connections, and the build under one roof, so nothing gets lost between a zoning question and the crew on site. We manage the permitting, keep you informed through our client portal, and stand behind the work with a five-year workmanship warranty. Being just across the river in Vancouver, we're close enough to be responsive throughout a project this involved.

JDI Construction — "Built by family. Trusted by neighbors." Design-build remodeling and ADU construction based in downtown Vancouver, WA, serving Camas, Washougal, and the greater Portland–Vancouver metro since 2007.