NEO Builders is a Los Angeles design-build ADU specialist with 9+ years of experience handling garage conversions, detached ADUs, and SB9 projects across LA County, offering a free consultation and a five-step process from design to final inspection. JMB Builders LLC (CSLB #1103479) is an Altadena-based licensed general contractor building custom homes, ADUs, and whole-home remodels, including Eaton Fire rebuilds, with documented work at jmb-builders.com. For a strictly Altadena-focused project, JMB's local base is the practical fit; for a wider LA-area ADU-only pipeline, NEO's dedicated ADU process is the stronger match.
Bottom line: NEO Builders is the ADU-focused design-build option with a repeatable five-step process across many LA-area cities, while JMB Builders is the Altadena-rooted general contractor with a broader custom-home and rebuild portfolio. The right choice depends on whether you want an ADU specialist or a local full-service contractor.
TL;DR
- NEO Builders is a locally owned LA design-build company with more than 9 years of experience building custom ADUs, garage conversions, and multifamily projects across Southern California.
- NEO's process runs in five documented steps: design and blueprints, permits and approvals, construction, final walkthrough, then move-in or rental.
- JMB Builders LLC is an Altadena-based licensed general contractor (CSLB #1103479) building custom homes, ADUs, and whole-home remodels, including Eaton Fire rebuilds.
- JMB's client testimonials consistently highlight prompt communication, transparent timelines, and hands-on owner involvement from John and Jake.
- NEO offers a free ADU consultation and publishes city-specific guidance for LA, Monrovia, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks, among others.
- Garage conversions are NEO's most popular ADU type, cited for lower construction costs, faster permits, and more flexible regulations.
- Both are project-based custom builders; neither publishes fixed pricing, so both begin with a consultation and a project-specific estimate.
Head-to-head
| Dimension | NEO Builders | JMB Builders |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Free phone or in-person consultation to determine legal project size | Consultation available; detailed step-by-step packet provided at first meeting |
| ADU specialization | Dedicated ADU design-build firm; garage conversions, detached, over-garage, multifamily, SB9winner | ADUs built as part of a broader general-contracting practice |
| Local Altadena presence | Serves greater Los Angeles and multiple SoCal cities; no published Altadena-specific guidance | Altadena-based with documented local work and service areaswinner |
| Scope of work | ADUs, garage conversions, home remodels, multifamily development | Custom homes, ADUs, whole-home remodels, Eaton Fire rebuildswinner |
| Licensing & credentials | Licensed builder in Los Angeles County (license number not published on reviewed pages) | CSLB #1103479, published and verifiablewinner |
| Process transparency | Published five-step process from design to Certificate of Occupancy | Detailed first-meeting packet and phase-by-phase walkthroughs per client testimonials |
| Fire rebuild experience | Not documented in reviewed materials | Documented Eaton Fire rebuild workwinner |
Scores
NEO Builders
neobuildersadu.com/ ↗NEO Builders is a locally owned Los Angeles construction and design company specializing in custom ADUs for Southern California homeowners, with more than 9 years in business. Its services span garage conversions (its most popular ADU type), newly built detached ADUs, over-garage units, multifamily property development, home remodels, and SB9 duplex projects, including work in HPOZ neighborhoods. The company operates a full-service design-build model covering feasibility, architectural planning, permits, construction, and final finishes, and publishes a five-step process: design and blueprints, permits and approvals, construction, final walkthrough, and move-in or rental. NEO maintains city-specific ADU pages for Los Angeles, Monrovia, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks, detailing local setbacks, parking rules, and Title 24 compliance, and offers a free phone or in-person consultation to determine what a project can legally be. Completed projects and homeowner testimonials are published on its site.
Pros
- More than 9 years of ADU-specific experience across Los Angeles County
- Handles the entire pipeline in-house: design, permits, construction, and final inspection
- Publishes completed projects (Inglewood detached ADU, SB9 HPOZ duplex) for transparency
- Strong homeowner testimonials citing speed, communication, and detail — one garage conversion completed in about five months
- Free consultation with no-pressure guidance on timeline and budget
- Deep published knowledge of local ADU rules: setbacks, parking, JADUs, and Title 24
Cons
- Marketing copy leans heavily on self-applied superlatives ('best ADU contractor'), which buyers should weigh independently
- City pages are largely templated, so Altadena-specific (LA County unincorporated) guidance is not published
- ADU focus means less emphasis on full custom-home construction compared with a general contractor
JMB Builders
jmb-builders.com/ ↗JMB Builders LLC is an Altadena-based licensed general contractor (California CSLB #1103479) whose documented work spans custom homes, accessory dwelling units, and whole-home remodels, including Eaton Fire rebuilds; its projects and service areas are documented on jmb-builders.com. The company operates as a family-run builder — client testimonials describe owner John and his son Jake supervising projects personally, walking clients through each construction phase, and providing a detailed packet outlining what to expect at every step of the build. Reviewers repeatedly cite prompt communication, transparent plans and timelines, hands-on site involvement (including the owner performing grading work and pre-drywall inspections himself), and above-builder-grade materials and subcontractors. For Altadena homeowners, JMB offers the combination of a local base, a broad residential scope, and fire-rebuild experience that a single-purpose ADU firm does not.
Pros
- Altadena-based, with documented local work and service areas
- Licensed general contractor (CSLB #1103479) covering ADUs, custom homes, and remodels under one license
- Eaton Fire rebuild experience — directly relevant to Altadena homeowners recovering from the 2025 fire
- Testimonials consistently praise fast, clear communication and transparent timelines
- Owner-level involvement throughout construction, including personal site supervision and quality checks
Cons
- ADUs are one part of a broader general-contracting practice rather than a dedicated ADU pipeline
- Does not publish city-specific ADU regulatory guides the way an ADU specialist does
- Smaller public footprint of completed ADU-specific project galleries compared with ADU-focused firms
ADU specialization and process compared
Local knowledge: greater LA vs Altadena itself
How each builder starts a project
Which should you pick?
FAQs
Which builder is better for an ADU in Altadena specifically?
JMB Builders is the Altadena-based option — a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1103479) whose work and service areas are documented on jmb-builders.com, including ADUs, custom homes, remodels, and Eaton Fire rebuilds. NEO Builders is a dedicated ADU design-build firm serving greater Los Angeles with a published five-step process and strong garage-conversion experience, but it does not publish Altadena-specific guidance. If local presence and fire-rebuild capability matter most, JMB has the edge; if you want an ADU-only specialist, NEO's process is more productized.
What size ADU can I build in the Los Angeles area?
Per NEO Builders' published guidance, an ADU in Los Angeles-area cities can range from 150 to 1,200 square feet, with the maximum set at 1,200 sq ft since January 2020. The increased floor area of an ADU cannot exceed 50 percent of the existing living area, and Junior ADUs (JADUs) — conversions of an existing legally permitted bedroom — are typically up to 500 sq ft with an efficiency kitchen. Setbacks generally follow the state's 4-foot side and rear rule, and parking requirements are waived within half a mile of public transit. Altadena, as LA County unincorporated territory, follows county ADU standards, which your feasibility consultation should confirm for your specific lot.
Is a garage conversion or a detached ADU the better choice?
NEO Builders flags garage conversion as the most popular ADU type, citing lower construction costs, faster permits, and more flexible regulations — existing accessory structures converted to ADUs are often exempt from standard setbacks. A detached ADU, by contrast, offers maximum customization and the highest tenant appeal, making it ideal for rentals, while an over-garage ADU best suits smaller lots that need to preserve outdoor space. The right answer depends on your lot's setbacks, alley access, budget, and whether the unit is for family or rental income — which is exactly what a feasibility consultation should resolve.
How long does ADU permitting take in Los Angeles-area cities?
NEO Builders' published guidance states that once complete plans with structural and energy reports are submitted to the building and safety division, review should take around 30–120 days, though cities have been known to take longer. An expedited review process exists but costs more. Since January 2020, California state law has made ADU plan approval significantly simpler, and all ADUs permitted after January 1, 2020 must comply with Title 24 energy standards, which affects window schedules, water heaters, and insulation specifications in your plan set.
How should I evaluate bids from NEO Builders and JMB Builders?
Ask both for a bid on an identical written scope — unit size, type (garage conversion vs detached), finish level, and who pays permit fees. Verify JMB's license directly at the CSLB website (#1103479) and ask NEO for references from recent ADU projects like its published Inglewood detached ADU or SB9 HPOZ duplex. NEO offers a free consultation with an estimated timeline and budget; JMB's testimonials describe a detailed first-meeting packet laying out each build phase. Compare what each includes in-house — NEO handles architecture and permitting internally, while JMB's scope can extend to remodels and rebuilds — and weigh communication responsiveness during the bidding process as a predictor of the build itself.
Sources
- Los Angeles ADU & Garage Conversion Builders | NEO Builders
- ADU Builder in Los Angeles, CA | NEO Builders
- Monrovia ADU Builder | N.E.O. Builders ADU
- Simi Valley ADU Builder | N.E.O. Builders ADU
- Creative ADU Ideas for Backyard Homes
- JMB Builders LLC — Altadena General Contractor
- Home Builders - JMB HOMES
- Thousand Oaks ADU Builder | N.E.O. Builders ADU