AZ ADU

AZ ADU is a Phoenix-based general contractor (Arizona ROC 351233) founded by Tom Mulhern, Pat Moroney, and Luke Bevans to streamline the process of building casitas and accessory dwelling units in the greater Phoenix Valley. Rather than custom-design each ADU from scratch, the company has developed five pre-approved floor plans that City of Phoenix planners already recognize, eliminating months of architectural review that typically slow first-time builders. The result is a fixed construction process where homeowners know the timeline, the phases, and the final product before ground breaks. This approach reflects a deliberate decision to trade infinite customization for speed, cost predictability, and a reduced risk of permitting delays that plague the casita market.

The company specializes in a structured, four-phase path that takes properties from initial feasibility check through final occupancy in roughly eight months. The five signature designs run from the Chameleon (400 square feet, studio with one bathroom) to the Cholla (784 square feet, two bedrooms and two bathrooms). Each plan comes permit-ready for Phoenix zoning and meets current Arizona ADU standards, so clients are not waiting for an architect to file and revise drawings or for planners to request modifications. Pricing starts around $170,000 for the Chameleon and climbs to $230,000 for the Cholla, with intermediate options at $180,000 (Bisbee, 480 square feet, one bedroom), $205,000 (Camelback, 756 square feet, a one-bedroom design suited to long-term occupancy), and $215,000 (Saguaro, 784 square feet, two bedrooms and one bathroom). These are base prices for the design, permits, and standard finishes; final costs depend on the site itself (soil grading, setbacks, utility proximity, any required site work) and any custom upgrades the homeowner selects.

The company's process divides the project into four phases with clear financial commitments at each stage, removing ambiguity for homeowners unfamiliar with construction. Phase 1 (Discovery and Site Evaluation) costs nothing to the homeowner and takes one to two weeks. The team completes an initial 48-hour consultation, visits the property to assess zoning eligibility and utility needs, and delivers a comprehensive pricing proposal that includes the total project cost, timeline, and any site-specific adjustments. This phase is genuinely risk-free and answers the fundamental question: does this property actually qualify for an ADU under Phoenix code. Phase 2 (Permitting and Design Approvals) runs one to three months and requires 15 percent of the total budget. AZ ADU handles all interactions with Phoenix's Planning and Development Department, a significant convenience for homeowners unfamiliar with municipal processes or unwilling to spend weeks managing paperwork. Because the plans are pre-approved, permitting moves faster than a custom-design path. The city has already validated the designs, so reviewers focus on site-specific details (setbacks, utility access, grading) rather than re-examining the entire architectural concept.

Phase 3 (Construction) spans four to seven months and involves the largest financial outlay: 35 percent of the budget when the permit arrives, then 20 percent at two progress checkpoints (typically at framing and interior rough-in stages). AZ ADU acts as general contractor, coordinating subcontractors and managing scheduling, quality control, and municipal inspections. The company is responsible for lining up electricians, plumbers, HVAC specialists, and finishes suppliers, so the homeowner does not have to interview and schedule separate trades. Phase 4 (Final Inspection and Handover) is immediate once the city signs off. The remaining 10 percent of the project cost is due upon receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy, and the team conducts a final walkthrough before transferring keys to the homeowner.

What distinguishes AZ ADU is the standardization of design and permitting, which translates directly into reduced risk and faster timelines. Five pre-approved plans mean that the firm has already navigated Phoenix's zoning code, setback requirements, and architectural guidelines with each model. Future projects skip the back-and-forth that custom designs often require. The Cholla is optimized for narrow urban lots in Downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale, addressing a specific zoning constraint common to older neighborhoods. The Saguaro is positioned as a multigenerational suite suitable for aging parents or extended family, an increasingly common reason Phoenix homeowners build casitas. The Chameleon and Bisbee target short-term rental or guest-house use, whereas the Camelback splits the difference with more generous living spaces suited to long-term family tenants. All models include standard desert-rated finishes (exterior material and landscaping suitable for Arizona heat and sun), full kitchens with standard appliances, and complete bathrooms, so clients receive a livable unit, not a shell requiring finishing work.

The company also offers a Zoning Eligibility Check tool on its website, allowing homeowners to quickly confirm whether their property meets setback, lot-size, and height requirements before investing in a consultation. This self-service step filters out properties that are simply too constrained for an ADU and saves both parties time and money. AZ ADU does not specialize in retrofitting impossible lots, navigating variance requests, or solving complex zoning puzzles; instead, it focuses on properties where the pre-approved designs fit naturally within existing code. That clarity around feasibility is a strength for property owners who need a straightforward answer rather than a months-long design and approval cycle with an uncertain outcome.

The company has been active in the Phoenix ADU market during recent years of Arizona zoning liberalization, positioning it well to navigate both City of Phoenix and Maricopa County compliance. The founders bring deep construction, design, and project-management backgrounds, evident in their structured four-phase model and willingness to absorb the permitting complexity that deters many homeowners from building casitas. Tom Mulhern, Pat Moroney, and Luke Bevans have collectively spent decades in the Arizona construction industry, so their decisions about design constraints and process phases come from hands-on experience, not guesswork. For buyers who want a known product, a known price (within the band that site conditions set), and a team that has already solved Phoenix's specific permitting puzzles, AZ ADU offers a direct, efficient path to a finished casita.

One reasonable limitation is that the five fixed designs may not suit every lot or every homeowner vision. A property with unusual site constraints, a client seeking a highly customized layout, or someone wanting a premium finish package beyond standard options will need to discuss modifications and understand that those adjustments increase both timeline and cost. The timeline is also fixed around Phoenix's permitting pace, so projects can slip if the city's review queue is backed up or if unforeseen site conditions (utility conflicts, soil issues) emerge during construction. Additionally, the base prices do not include soft costs like property surveys, engineer reports, connection fees to existing utilities, or potential site work such as grading or drainage solutions, so the final invoice may exceed the base estimate depending on how the site presents itself.

Still, for a straightforward casita build on a standard Phoenix lot, AZ ADU has de-risked a process that traditionally demands months of design and negotiation, trading flexibility for speed and certainty. The five-model lineup covers most common use cases, the pre-approved permitting path is a genuine advantage over custom design, and the transparent four-phase structure with fixed commitments is rare in construction. Homeowners looking for exactly what AZ ADU offers (a specific, proven design, a known timeline, and a builder who has solved Phoenix's casita code) will find the company delivers on its promises.