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ADU Construction Contractor Charlottesville

A well-built accessory dwelling unit adds living space, flexibility, and long-term value to a property without the cost or upheaval of moving. Integrity Design + Build designs and constructs custom ADUs across Charlottesville and central Virginia, fully in-house, with a 15-year structural warranty on every build.

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Why Charlottesville Homeowners Pick Integrity Design + Build

An ADU is a small building with the complexity of a full house packed into it. Foundation, framing, full plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, finishes, and often a kitchen and bath all have to fit a compact footprint and still feel like a real place to live. That density of trades inside a small structure is exactly where less experienced builders cut corners and homeowners pay for it later.

Integrity treats an ADU with the same rigor as a ground-up home, because structurally that’s what it is. The firm has handled detached builds, garage conversions, and standalone units across two decades of central Virginia work, with architecture, engineering, permits, and construction all running through one team.

The result is a unit that holds up, functions like a real home, and blends with the main house rather than looking like a shed someone finished out.

What makes the process manageable on your end is the single point of accountability. One firm draws the plans, pulls the permits, manages the trades, and stands behind the finished build with a 15-year structural warranty.

  • Architecture, Engineering, and Permits Handled
  • Daily Progress Through Your Online Portal
  • Trusted by 500+ Central Virginia Homeowners
  • 15-Year Structural Warranty
  • Architecture, Engineering, and Permits Handled
  • 20+ Years of Central Virginia Experience

What People Actually Use ADUs For

The reason ADUs have taken off is that one structure solves a lot of different problems. A few of the most common:
  • Aging parents who want to stay close but keep their independence
  • Adult kids landing back home, in school, or saving for a place of their own
  • Rental income from a long-term tenant on the property
  • A dedicated home office fully separated from the house
  • Guest quarters for family who visit often
  • A private retreat for a studio, gym, or quiet workspace
The same well-designed unit can shift roles over the years, starting as an office, becoming an in-law suite, and eventually adding resale appeal when you sell.

Recent Central Virginia ADU Builds

A look at detached units, garage conversions, and standalone builds we’ve completed.

500+

Homeowners trusted us

100-Yrs
Combined Experience

20+

years in business

What Past Clients Say

Builds judged by the people who live in them and the families they bring closer.

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Kevin Lawrence

Rated 5 out of 5

Integrity did a screened porch addition and deck rebuild at our home as well as painted the exterior of our home and a few other small jobs. The work was top quality. 

It turned out better than I ever imagined. Small delays in getting started but nothing unusual for this area given the amount of construction going on. 

Personally, I would rather have good quality work than timely poor quality work. I will use them again for projects in the future.

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A. K. Holmes

Rated 5 out of 5

Integrity remodelled our screen porch and back stairs in addition to repairing sone aging wood on our front porch. 

Work was of good quality and done on time. Great communication as well. Recommended!

Detached, Attached, or Converted

ADUs come in a few forms, and the right one depends on your lot, your budget, and how you plan to use the space.

A detached ADU is a freestanding structure, the most private option and the most flexible to design, since it isn’t constrained by the existing house. A garage conversion turns existing square footage into living space, often the most cost-effective route when the structure is already sound. 

An attached ADU adds a self-contained unit onto the main house, sharing a wall while keeping a separate entrance and full independence inside.

The consultation walks through which form fits your property, your goals, and the local zoning that applies to your specific parcel.

How the Project Runs

1

Design it

We assess your lot, talk through how you’ll use the space, and produce full plans with 3D renderings.

2

Build it

One team handles site work, foundation, framing, systems, and finishes start to finish.

3

Love it

Walk through a finished, fully independent dwelling backed by a 15-year warranty.

What to Sort Out Before You Build

A successful ADU project depends on a few things getting settled early, and the consultation covers all of them:
  • Zoning and setbacks that determine where and how large the unit can be on your parcel
  • Utility connections for water, sewer or septic, and electrical service to the new structure
  • Site access for construction equipment and the finished unit's entrance
  • Intended use, since a rental, an office, and an in-law suite each shape the layout differently
  • Parking and driveway requirements that local code may attach to a new dwelling
Getting these settled up front is what keeps an ADU project from stalling halfway through.

ADU Construction FAQs

Yes. ADUs require permits and have to meet local zoning rules covering size, setbacks, and use. The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County each have their own requirements, and we handle the research, applications, and approvals as part of the project.
Often, yes. If the structure is sound, a garage conversion is one of the more efficient ways to create an ADU. We assess the existing framing, foundation, and systems during the consultation to confirm what’s involved.
That depends on local zoning and any HOA rules tied to your property. Some areas permit long-term rentals, others restrict short-term use. We help you understand what applies to your specific parcel before you commit to a design.
That’s the goal. We match siding, roofing, trim, and architectural details so the unit reads as part of the property rather than an add-on.
Size limits are set by local zoning and depend on your lot. The consultation reviews the rules that apply to your specific property.
Yes, though the existing septic capacity has to support the additional dwelling, and sometimes an upgrade or separate system is required. We evaluate this early in the planning process.
Structural components are covered for 15 years and finishes for 3 years, with a standing commitment to address anything that falls short even beyond those windows.

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Build Smart on the Space You Already Own

The consultation is free and covers your lot, your goals, the zoning that applies, and what the build would actually involve. Most Charlottesville homeowners come away with a clear sense of whether an ADU is the right move for their property. 

Call us at (434) 220-1056 or message us here to schedule the consultation. Our home additions service page has more on our ground-up work.

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Charlottesville sits at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia, with Albemarle County surrounding the city. As housing demand in the area has grown, ADUs have become an increasingly popular way for homeowners to add flexible living space, house family, or generate rental income on lots that have room for it. Zoning and permitting vary between the city and the surrounding county, which makes working with a builder who knows the local rules a real advantage. Our office sits on Berkmar Circle, serving Charlottesville and the broader central Virginia area.