Free ADU Plans in San Diego: Build Your Dream ADU

What Are Pre-Approved and Permit-Ready ADU Plans?

In order to begin any construction project, including building an ADU, you need architectural plans that are approved by the city. These building plans can either be custom, meaning they were created and designed specifically for your project by an ADU builder or architect, or they can be a pre-approved design.

Pre-approved designs (also known as build-ready ADU plans) do not take your specific needs or plot plan in mind, but they do factor in all of the city’s zoning laws and code requirements. So if you find a permit-ready plan for San Diego County, this means it meets all the building requirements for all the unincorporated cities in San Diego County, which can be found on this map.

However, it’s important to remember that a permit-ready plan is not the same as having a building permit. No matter what plans you intend to use to build your ADU, you still need to submit these plans to the city and get them approved before beginning the construction process.

Permit-ready ADU plans must still align with specific property conditions to ensure approval and successful construction.

Benefits of Using Pre-Approved ADU Plans

For many homeowners looking to build an ADU, pre-approved options make sense, especially if they don’t have any unique needs or limitations when it comes to lot space.

Some homeowners use build-ready ADU plans exactly as they exist, and others use them as a starting point in the design process and make modifications as needed. They may change the location of windows to allow for more natural light, for example, or swap the location of the in-unit laundry.

Whatever way you use pre-approved ADU plans, they have the potential to speed up your project timeline and save you in predevelopment costs. Even if you’re making modifications, these can sometimes be done without an architect. If your modifications do require the help of an architect, using an existing plan as your base will still save you time and initial design costs.

Pre-approved plans can streamline the initial stages of construction but may still require adjustments for site-specific details.

Do Pre-Approved ADU Plans Speed Up the Process?

Yes, submitting pre-approved ADU plans can speed up the permitting process for your ADU, especially when compared to custom ADU plans. They’re already vetted by local authorities, meaning the permitting process is faster. With pre-approved plans, the design review phase is far less extensive. The design review phase is where potential delays exist with custom designs, especially if something needs to be modified and resubmitted.

That said, note that California bill SB13 requires any building permit for an accessory dwelling unit be approved or denied in 60 days, this is a safeguard to prevent the permitting process from stalling, regardless of whether your plans are pre-approved or custom.

Pre-approved plans can accelerate permitting, but unexpected site challenges may still require adjustments during the process.

Can Pre-Approved Plans Be Modified?

Yes, pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans in San Diego can absolutely be modified. While they serve as a convenient foundation for building, modifications are often necessary to tailor these plans to your property’s unique needs and conditions. However, the scope of modifications and their impact on the process depends on the specific adjustments required and local regulations.

Pre-approved plans are designed to simplify the permitting process by complying with city regulations upfront. However, they are not one-size-fits-all. Site-specific factors like sloped lots, unusual layouts, or personal design preferences often require changes to ensure the final result aligns with your vision. These adjustments can range from minor tweaks, such as repositioning windows, to significant alterations, like expanding square footage or adapting to challenging terrain.

At Better Place Design and Build, we specialize in bridging the gap between pre-approved designs and fully customized ADUs. Our expertise ensures that your modifications enhance the plan’s functionality and aesthetics without unnecessarily compromising compliance or extending timelines.

Modifying pre-approved plans ensures your ADU fits seamlessly with your existing home and maximizes functionality.

When Custom Plans May Be a Better Fit

While pre-approved plans offer convenience, they may not always be the best option. For properties with unusual layouts, significant sloping, or unique homeowner preferences, fully custom plans may be more practical. Custom designs allow for complete flexibility and can integrate features that pre-approved templates simply can’t accommodate, such as multi-level ADUs or architectural styles that complement your home perfectly.

At Better Place Design and Build, we have a variety of floor plans for clients to choose from, from studio guest houses to multi-bedroom rental units. Through the review process, we work with clients to better understand their budget and their reasons for building an ADU. That way, we can suggest the modifications that best transform a generic floor plan into an ADU dream.

It’s also important to understand that floor plans don’t dictate the exterior or interior design of an ADU, and there are a range of design options, from California coastal to the traditional Spanish- style. This is also where working with a reliable ADU builder or design firm can make a difference.

Modifying Pre-Approved Plans

Modifying pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans is often necessary to ensure they align with your unique property needs and design preferences. These changes can range from minor adjustments, like repositioning windows, to significant modifications, such as expanding square footage or adapting to challenging lot conditions. However, the scope of these modifications can impact timelines, costs, and compliance requirements.

The table below provides a detailed breakdown of what to expect when adjusting pre-approved plans:

Do I Need an Architect When Using a Pre-Approved Plan?

If you’re using a pre-approved plan for your ADU, you may be able to save on the additional cost of an architect. It depends on how many customizations you are looking to make and if your single-family property has any unique characteristics.

When You Might Not Need an Architect

Pre-approved plans are designed to meet all local zoning laws, safety regulations, and building codes, which can eliminate the need for an architect’s plan review before beginning the permitting process. These plans cannot factor in setback requirements, though, as there’s no way to know your exact lot layout and where on the lot you plan on building. In most municipalities in California, the setback requirement is 4 feet from the property line.
If you are only looking to make small adjustments to your plan, like the placement of windows, many plan sites allow you to do that online without the need for an architect’s revision.

When You Might Want an Architect

While small plan adjustments can often be made without an architect, significant plan modifications, like expanding the overall square footage or incorporating custom features, should only be done by an architect.

Also, if your property has unusual lot dimensions or you want to build your ADU on sloped terrain, an architect should be brought in. While utilizing an architect will add additional costs to your construction budget in the short term, these costs will be worth it in the long run to ensure safety and mitigate the risk of delays during the permit process.

Better Place’s Role

At Better Place Design and Build, we pride ourselves on our honesty and transparency. When you schedule a consultation, we will come to perform a free property survey and also review any pre-approved plans you have found to give you an honest answer as to whether a pre-approved, fully custom, or semi-custom plan is right for you.

Even with pre-approved plans, involving an architect for significant modifications ensures compliance and design precision.

Are Better Place's Plans Pre-Approved?

No, our plans are not pre-approved—and that’s intentional. Think of them as placeholders designed to offer ultimate flexibility, allowing us to tailor the design to your property, needs, and vision. While pre-approved plans can streamline specific steps, they often fall short when it comes to reflecting the unique characteristics of your home, including its aesthetics and exterior design. At Better Place Design & Build, we focus on creating spaces that not only function beautifully but also complement the style and architecture of your property.

Our approach ensures you have the freedom to explore customizations and understand the scale and layout of your ADU before moving forward with the permitting process. Even when using pre-approved frameworks, each project must still undergo review based on your property’s specific conditions. By starting with a flexible design rather than a rigid template, we can seamlessly incorporate the details that matter most to you, ensuring your ADU is truly a one-of-a-kind addition to your home.

Even though plans may not be pre-approved, customizing them allows you to create a design that perfectly matches your property and needs.

How Better Place Can Help You Build Your ADU

Better Place provides peace of mind that your ADU project will be completed on time and on budget. That’s because Better Place provides more than just personalized design plans; it also provides seamless project management from start to finish.

Learn more about what we can offer your project by scheduling a free consultation.