Remodeling & ADU Contractor in Cypress

Cypress went from dairy farms to suburban neighborhoods in a little over a decade, and most of its homes come from that building boom. IA Builders is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1124696) based in Culver City, and we handle remodels, room additions and ADUs across Orange County, including Cypress. Houses of the same age often need the same things, which helps us plan the work and the permits ahead of time.

From Dairy City to 1960s tracts

Local dairy farmers incorporated the city in 1956 as Dairy City, largely to hold off development, and voters renamed it Cypress the following year. After World War II the land became too valuable to farm, and through the 1960s the dairies were sold to home builders. The census counted about 1,750 residents in 1960 and more than 31,000 by 1970.

That history gives Cypress a fairly uniform stock of single-family homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, typically on regular suburban lots with a garage and a backyard. Sixty years on, the common projects are:

• A kitchen remodel that removes the wall between the kitchen and family room and replaces original cabinets and wiring.
• A bathroom remodel with a walk-in shower in place of a tub, or a larger primary bath.
• A room addition, either a single-story bump-out into the backyard or a second story where the lot is tight.
• A whole-home remodel that updates the electrical panel, plumbing and HVAC along with the finishes.

Permits in Cypress

In Cypress, the Building Division sits within the Public Works Department and handles building permits, plan check and inspections, while the Planning Division reviews zoning and ADU standards. Both are at City Hall on Orange Avenue. The Building Division takes applications and online payments through the city's permit portal; at the counter, payments are by check. Residential solar permits go through SolarAPP+ first and are then applied for on the city portal.

Cypress is an inland city, so the coastal development permits that come up in beach cities are not part of the process. If your home is in a condominium or planned community with a homeowners association, the association's approval is a separate step, and we plan time for it alongside plan check. We prepare the drawings, submit them, answer plan check comments and schedule the inspections.

ADUs and the pre-approved plan catalogue

Cypress runs a Pre-Approved ADU Program with a catalogue of ADU plans the city has already reviewed and approved, meant to cut the design cost of a new unit. A catalogue plan can make sense on a standard Cypress lot, but it still has to fit your lot, utility locations and the current building code, and any site-specific work, such as the foundation and utility connections, still goes through review. We can compare a catalogue plan with a custom design for your backyard.

The city's ADU rules were adopted by Ordinance No. 1206 in November 2023. In May 2025, the state Department of Housing and Community Development asked the city to amend parts of it, including which combinations of units a single-family lot can have, so the rules may change. We confirm the current standards with the Planning Division before designing any ADU, junior ADU or garage conversion.

If you own a home in Cypress and are planning a project, call (213) 816-6465 or use the form on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Cypress have pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. The city's Building Division keeps a catalogue of ADU plans it has already reviewed and approved. Using one can reduce design costs, though the site work still needs a permit and review.

Who issues building permits in Cypress?

The City of Cypress Building Division, which is part of the Public Works Department. Zoning and ADU standards are reviewed by the Planning Division.

Can I convert my Cypress garage into an ADU?

In many cases, yes. Garage conversions are one of the ADU types allowed under state law and the city's code. Fire separation, insulation and utility upgrades are the usual design questions.

Do I need a coastal permit to remodel in Cypress?

No. Cypress is outside the coastal zone, so coastal development permits do not apply to a typical home here.

Last reviewed October 2026