Businesses » Development Services Permit Center » Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Preapproved ADUs

Are you looking for a faster, lower-cost way to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)?

Standardized construction plans that are preapproved by the City enable the fastest, lowest-cost permit process.

You are still required to submit a site-specific plan that shows the location of the preapproved ADU. A Contractor or builder usually handles the permit process.

Same-day permit issuance! 

If the site-specific plan and related documents are accurate and complete, permits may be issued on the same day of the scheduled plan review meeting. Exception: Projects with a deferred site-specific structural submittal may take longer to review. To use preapproved plans, the project must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Lot must be zoned residential and have an existing single-family home or duplex.
  • Lot must NOT be located in a geohazard zone, landslide zone, flood zone or Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) area; see the ADU Universal Checklist to determine these designations. 
  • The project must NOT require a Fire Variance.
  • The project address must NOT have an open Code Enforcement violation.

HOMEOWNERS - HOW TO GET A PREAPPROVED ADU

I want to use preapproved ADU plans. How do I proceed?

Explore the Preapproved ADU Vendor List. You may wish to contact several vendors and learn about their options, pricing, and installation approach. Be sure to confirm the vendor's role in submitting the plans and securing the building permit. It is highly advised that you have the vendor or contractor pull the permits. This keeps the liability for the work with the professional service.  

Vendors - Join our Preapproved ADU Vendor program.

Preapproved ADU Vendor list

Listed in alphabetical order, the following vendors offer ADU plans that the City of San Jose has preapproved:

Abodu
Website: https://abodu.com/
Contact: hello@abodu.com or 650-398-0158 
What's Preapproved:  

  • 330 sq. ft. ADU foundation-only with State-approved factory-built housing
  • 495 sq. ft. ADU foundation-only with State-approved factory-built housing
  • 610 sq. ft. ADU foundation-only with State-approved factory-built housing
  • 785 sq. ft., 2bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, foundation-only with State-approved factory-built housing

Acton ADU
Website: https://actonadu.com
Contact:  info@actonadu.com or 408-369-1103
What's Preapproved:  

  • 347 sq. ft. Studio 
  • 748 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms
  • 749 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Adore Homes Inc.
Website: https://adore-homes.com/
Contact: info@adore-homes.com or 650-397-2405
What's Preapproved:  

  • 674 sq. ft. 2 bedroom ADU foundation-only with State-approved manufactured home

ADU4life, Inc.
Website: https://adu4life.com/
Contact: Greg Popovich gpop@adu4life.com or 925-788-6018
What's Preapproved:

  • 500 sq. ft. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  • 739 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 1 & 1/2 bathrooms

Alto Housing, Inc.
Website: https://www.altohousinginc.com/models
Contact: office@altohousinginc.com or 650-599-9660
What's Preapproved:  

  • 966 sq. ft. 2 bedroom ADU foundation-only with State-approved manufactured home

APEX Homes
Website:  https://www.apex-homes.us/
Contact: 669-666-9782
What's Preapproved:

  • 495 Sq. Ft. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  • 749 Sq. Ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  • 991 Sq. Ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  • 1,194 Sq. Ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  • 1200 Sq. Ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Breakthrough Builders
Website: www.sfbayadu.com
Contact: kamal@sfbayadu.com
What's Preapproved:

  • 1,000 sq. ft. ADU with State-approved factory-built panels with site-specific structural submittal

Ca2Homes
Website: UniADU.com
Contact: 408-786-4221 (Andrew) Nghia Nguyen, AIA
Address: 1754 Technology Drive, Suite 133, San Jose, CA 95110
What's Preapproved:

  • Detached ADU 499 sq.ft. , 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
  • Detached ADU 747 sq.ft. , 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

CityPaks
Website: https://citypaks.com/
Contact: lori@citypaks.com or 408-412-1154
What's Preapproved:

  • Detached ADU Studio 455 sq. ft.
  • Detached ADU 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom 589 sq. ft.
  • Detached ADU 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms 748 sq. ft.

Connect Homes
Website: https://connect-homes.com/san-jose-adu
Contact: hello@connect-homes.com or 888-959-2261
What's Preapproved:  

  • 460 sq. ft. 1 bedroom ADU
  • 640 sq. ft. 1 bedroom ADU

Framework First
Website: https://frameworkfirst.com/models/
Contact: mail@frameworkfirst.com or 831-596-5969
What's Preapproved:    

  • 660 sq.ft.1 bedroom, 1 bathroom  

Inspired ADU
Website: https://inspiredadus.com
Contact: hello@inspiredadus.com or 800-503-5769
What's Preapproved:  

  • 747 sq. ft. 2 bedroom

J. Kretschmer Architect
Website: https://www.getadu.com/preapproved-adu
Contact: getadu@jkretschmer.com or 408-221-0771
What's Preapproved:  

  • 476 sq. ft. 1 bedroom ADU

Mayberry Workshop
Website: http://www.mayberryworkshop.com/adu
Contact: ADU@mayberryworkshop.com
What's Preapproved:

  • 532 sq. ft.1 bedroom, 1 bathroom  
  • 749 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  • 900 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Modal
Website: http://www.livemodal.com
Contact: sales@livemodal.com or 855-584-2637
What's Preapproved:

  • 357 sq. ft. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  • 417 sq. ft. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  • 567 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Next Stage Design
Website: https://www.nextstagedesign.com/case-study/adu-floor-plans-500-sq-ft/
Contact: office@nextstagedesign.com
What's Preapproved:

  • 500 sq. ft. 1 bedroom ADU

Oak and Willow Construction, with Blaine Architects
Website: https://blainearchitects.com/oakandwillow
Contact: info@oakandwillowbuilds.com or 408-772-1095
Blaine@blainearchitects.com or 408-890-8800
What's Preapproved:

  • 799 sq. ft. ADU

Open Remodel
Website: https://www.orhomes.us/
Contact: https://www.orhomes.us/contact or 408-357-3043
What's Preapproved:

  • 748.5 sq. ft. 2 bedroom ADU

prefabADU
Website: https://www.prefabadu.com/
Contact: michelle@prefabadu.com & daniel@prefabadu.com or 707-429-3300
What's Preapproved:

  • 390 sq. ft. 1 bedroom ADU
  • 640 sq. ft. 2 bedroom ADU

SYMBiHOM
Website: https://www.symbihom.com/symbihom-san-jose-master-permit-adu
Contact: Info@symbihom.com
What's Preapproved:

  • Attached or Detached garage conversion to ADU Studio, 1 BR, or 2BR of 300-850 sq. ft. and with State-approved factory-built panels.*
  • Attached garage conversion to JADU up to 500 sq. ft. with State-approved factory-built panels.*
    * A site-specific structural submittal will require plan review. 

Valley Home Builders Inc.

Website: https://valleyhomebuilders.com/pre-approved-adus
Contact: npaolercio@valleyhomebuilders.com or yzayed@valleyhomebuilders.com
What's Preapproved:

  • 650.8 sq. ft. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom detached ADU  
  • 748.8 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms detached ADU

Villa Homes
Website: https://villahomes.com/blog/fast-adu-sanjose/
Contact: hello@villahomes.com
What's Preapproved:  

  • 440 sq. ft. ADU foundation-only with State-approved manufactured home
  • 569 sq. ft. ADU foundation-only with State-approved manufactured home
  • 747 sq. ft. ADU foundation-only with State-approved manufactured home

West Peak Construction, with J. Kretschmer Architect
Website: https://www.getadu.com/west-peak-preapproved-adu 
Contact: daniel@westpeak.biz or 415-966-6178
What's Preapproved:  

  • 748 sq. ft. 2 bedroom ADU

QUESTIONS?

Contact our ADU Ally:
Email: adu.ally@sanjoseca.gov
Phone: 408-793-5302