Building an ADU requires a variety of professional services, even before you receive a permit. All ADU projects, even when using a pre-approved plan, require site-specific work (such as site planning) that must be approved by your local jurisdiction before you can get a building permit to begin construction. Not all designers are able to provide support services (which includes site planning, plan customization, permitting support, and other services for hire) in all locations.
Plan listings on localized Plans Galleries indicate if the designer does or does not offer support services in your county. Look for this section if you are seeking a designer that offers support services in your area:
In counties where the designer does not necessarily offer support services, this section will appear:
Note: The above section does not always mean the designer is not available for certain support services. For instance, In the statewide California Plans Gallery, this section appears on all plans. Additionally, designers may be willing to help you with your ADU, even if they haven’t listed your location on their profile. If you are very interested in working with a specific designer, you are welcome to ask them about their availability for support services when contacting them.
If you are purchasing plans from a designer, and not hiring them for additional support services, you will likely need to hire a separate professional to assist in site planning, even if the plan is pre-approved.
