Poway
ADU and custom home builder in Poway
Poway's larger lots leave room to build. As an ADU builder and custom home builder in Poway, Rom Builders designs, permits, and builds backyard ADUs, additions, second stories, and new custom homes here, from the first site visit to the final walk-through.
Building in Poway
Poway calls itself "The City in the Country", and many properties here are larger than in most of San Diego. More land means more options, from a detached ADU set well away from the main house to a new custom home on a hillside lot.
It also means more to plan around. Some properties sit on slopes that need grading or retaining walls, some use a septic system instead of sewer, which affects where a new unit can go, and much of Poway lies in high fire hazard zones, where the building code calls for fire-resistant construction. We look at all of it on your property before design starts.
Large lots and rural streets
Away from the main roads, many Poway neighborhoods are zoned for rural residential living, with big lots, long driveways, and homes set well back from the street. That gives an ADU or an addition room to breathe, but it changes the planning: construction access for trucks and materials, how far utilities have to run, and grading on a sloped site all affect where the new space should go.
We walk the whole property with you at the free first visit, not just the spot you have in mind, so the placement works for privacy, views, access, and the connections back to the main house.
Permits in Poway
Poway is its own city, so projects here are permitted by the City of Poway, not the City of San Diego. Our architects and engineers prepare the plans for Poway's rules and your lot, and our permit expediters take them through the City until the permit is issued.
Close by, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Scripps Ranch are part of the City of San Diego, so projects there follow the City of San Diego's process instead. We confirm which one covers your address first.
What we build in Poway
Backyard ADUs
A separate home for a parent, a grown child, or a tenant where local rules allow. See our ADU page.
Custom homes
New homes on your lot, including hillside and view lots. See custom homes.
Home additions
Primary suites, ground-floor suites, and bigger living spaces. See home additions.
Second stories
More bedrooms while the yard stays. See second-story additions.
Garage conversions
A permitted unit from the garage you already have. See garage conversions.
Nearby areas
We also build in Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, 4S Ranch, Scripps Ranch, Escondido, and Ramona. Our office is in Tierrasanta, a short drive down I-15. See the full service area, or contact us for a free visit.
Other areas we serve
Common questions
Who issues permits for my Poway project?
The City of Poway. Our permit expediters prepare the submission for the City and work through its comments until the permit is issued.
My property is on septic. Can I still build an ADU?
Often yes, but the septic system affects where the unit can go and what it needs. We check it at the free feasibility visit, before any design work.
Is my lot in a fire hazard zone?
Much of Poway is. If yours is, the building code calls for fire-resistant materials and details, and our architects design for them from the start.
Do you build custom homes in Poway?
Yes. Our architects design the home with you, you see it in 3D first, and one project manager supervises construction from start to finish.
Can the ADU go far from the main house on a big lot?
Often yes. The farther it sits, the longer the water, sewer or septic, and electrical runs, so we weigh placement, access, and those connections together before choosing the spot.
Planning a project in Poway?
The first visit and feasibility check are free, and we can help you look into financing.