A pre-approved ADU plan is a permit-ready plan that already has the approval of the city authorities. Such ADU plans are created in order to reduce the duration of the building permit submittal process, which requires a thorough analysis of each site plan to be in compliance with state and local law regulations.
Permit issuance is usually what takes a lot of time during the construction of accessory dwelling units. Therefore, having a pre-approved ADU plan is suitable for an interested ADU owner who does not want to deal with long bureaucratic processes.
Note that ADU pre-approved plans are typically much lower in cost compared to the original architectural plans.
How do Pre-Approved Plans Work?
As I have mentioned, the permitting process for a pre-approved ADU is much faster than for the customizable options of these plans. So, what are the differences, and why do pre-approved ADU plans work this way?
The secret is in the pre-approved designs that are reviewed by government representatives in advance. If you go to your city’s official website, you might find pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units there. This means they have already undergone the process of examination for compliance with the legal requirements. Such documents already have the square footage, height, and room planning that are needed for the permit application submission.