Design the ADUs California Is Asking For
ADU Cities brings a statewide stream of California homeowners who are mid-project and need plans drawn — garage conversions, attached and detached ADUs, and junior ADUs, in cities from San Diego to Sacramento. Those homeowners need licensed architects and skilled drafters. We supply the projects and the builder. You supply the plans.
Approved Architects & Drafters in the ADU Cities network receive design referrals matched to their service area, and every plan set they produce is built by a design-build contractor who builds what is drawn — Mars Construction Industries Corp, CSLB #1138550.
What Partners Get
- Steady ADU design referrals across California. Our guides, videos, rent tools, and contractor directory bring in homeowners who are actively planning an ADU — not cold leads. When a project needs plans in your area, you hear about it.
- A builder who actually builds what you draw. Mars Construction Industries is a licensed design-build firm (CSLB #1138550). Your plan sets go to a builder who reads plans for a living — not to a homeowner shopping your drawings around.
- One pipeline, start to finish. Homeowner → plans → permits → build. One team shepherds the project through every stage, so your design work does not die in a permit queue or a handoff.
- An Approved listing in the ADU Cities network. Approved Architects & Drafters are the design professionals we refer our homeowners to. Apply here.
What We Look For
- Licensed architects (California license, verified against California Architects Board records) — or experienced drafters working under a licensee.
- Real ADU experience: working knowledge of California ADU law — SB 9, SB 897, and AB 68 — plus Title 24 energy basics.
- Turnaround discipline. Homeowners and permit timelines do not wait. We look for designers who hit the dates they quote.
- Pre-approved plan fluency. Many California cities now offer pre-approved ADU plan programs. Willingness to work from those frameworks where a city offers them moves projects faster for everyone.
How It Works
- Apply. Fill out the short application — license details, service area, ADU experience.
- Credential review. We verify architect licenses against state records and review drafters’ experience and work samples.
- Get matched. When a homeowner project in your service area needs plans, we connect you.
- Your work, your terms. You set your design fees and terms directly with the homeowner. ADU Cities does not mark up design fees.
Project Types
Garage conversions, attached ADUs, detached ADUs, and junior ADUs (JADUs) — single-family and multifamily properties, anywhere in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the network?
California-licensed architects, and experienced drafters who work under a licensee. If you design ADUs anywhere in California, you are who we are looking for.
Do I have to be exclusive to ADU Cities?
No. There is no exclusivity. Keep your own clients and projects — the network simply adds a stream of ADU design referrals on top.
What areas do you cover?
All of California. Our homeowner demand is statewide, and we match projects to architects and drafters in the project’s area.
What kinds of projects will I see?
Garage conversions, attached ADUs, detached ADUs, and junior ADUs — from first sketch through permit-ready plan sets.
How do I get paid?
Directly by the client, on the terms you set with the homeowner. ADU Cities does not mark up design fees and does not take a piece of your design contract.
Ready to Join the Network?
Approval is based on license and ADU experience. The application takes a few minutes.
Apply to Become an Approved Architect or Drafter →
Call ADU Cities: 888.627.1131
Business: ADU Cities — Mars Construction Industries Corp, CSLB #1138550. Questions about a project? Call for a free consultation: 888.627.1131.
