A plan the city has already checked
Cities must now keep a set of pre-approved ADU plans. Building one skips most of plan check, and the city has 30 days to act on it.
You're likely a fit if
- Your city has a pre-approved plan that fits your lot
- You're happy with the plan as drawn (small changes are limited)
- The lot is fairly flat with easy access
How it runs
We check which approved plans fit your lot and setbacks.
The only part drawn new: where it sits and how utilities reach it.
Shorter review, because the building is already approved.
Same build as any detached ADU.
What owners ask
Are pre-approved plans cheaper to build?
Not much. The saving is in design and time, not construction.
Can I change the plan?
Small finish changes, yes. Moving walls usually sends it back to normal plan check.
Where this comes from
Checked October 2026. Laws change; we re-check every project against the current code before design. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
| Source |
|---|
| AB 1332 (2023), Gov. Code 65852.27 |
| LADBS Standard Plan Program |
Other programs
Since January 2025, California lets an existing apartment property add detached ADUs, one for every existing unit up to eight, plus conversions of garages and storage.
Learn more
SB 9 lets a single-family lot be split in two, with up to two homes on each.
Learn more
A garage apartment or back unit built without permits can usually be legalized as an ADU.
Learn moreDoes your property qualify?
Send the address. We check it against this program and every other one.