Why start an ADU design from a blank page when your city has already approved one? Under California’s AB 1332 and local standard-plan programs, a growing number of cities and counties publish pre-approved ADU plans — complete plan sets that have already been reviewed for building-code compliance. Choose one, and the building department skips the from-scratch design review: it checks only how the plan fits your specific lot. That can cut months off permitting and save thousands in design fees.
This hub collects every verified California pre-approved ADU plan program in one place. Each entry is labeled with the city or county that approved the plans — and that label matters, because a plan pre-approved in one jurisdiction has no standing in another. Where a city or county gives its plans away as public downloads, we link the official PDF files directly. Where plans are owned by design firms, we link the official catalog so you can license the plan from its designer. We verify programs against the government’s own pages and add new cities as their programs are confirmed.
Start Here: City of Los Angeles — the Free YOU-ADU Plan
The City of Los Angeles runs the largest standard-plan program in the state through LADBS. Its city-owned plan, the YOU-ADU — a 1-story, 1-bedroom, 455 sq ft design — is free to any applicant, and 28 more designs are licensed through the program’s firms. Our full guide walks through the catalog, the submittal process, and how to decide between a standard plan and a custom design:
- Los Angeles Pre-Approved ADU Plans: The LADBS Standard Plan Program — our complete City of Los Angeles guide
- YOU-ADU Standard Plan (PDF) — the free City of Los Angeles plan set, from LADBS
- LADBS ADU Standard Plan Submittal Checklist (PDF)
- LADBS ADU program page
Free Pre-Approved ADU Plan PDFs
These cities and counties own their plans and give the full plan sets away as public downloads. Remember: California’s 2025 Building Standards Code took effect January 1, 2026, and some sets below were approved under the prior code cycle — confirm the current set with the issuing city or county before you rely on it.
City of Newport Beach — ADU Standard Plans
Five free, public-domain plan sets from the City of Newport Beach. The detached plans come in three architectural styles.
- Plan 1 — Small Studio, 448 sq ft (PDF)
- Plan 2 — One Bedroom, 672 sq ft (PDF)
- Plan 3 — Large Studio, 504 sq ft (PDF)
- Plan 4 — One-Car Garage Conversion (PDF)
- Plan 5 — Two-Car Garage Conversion (PDF)
- City of Newport Beach ADU plans page
Los Angeles County (Unincorporated Areas) — Building & Safety Standard Plans
For properties in unincorporated Los Angeles County (not the City of Los Angeles — see the featured section above), the county Public Works Building & Safety division posts free standard plan sets:
The county’s Department of Regional Planning also ran a Standard ADU Plans Pilot of designer-owned plans; its posted pre-approvals ran through December 31, 2025, so check that page for the current status before relying on a pilot plan.
San Diego County (Unincorporated Areas) — Standard ADU Plans
San Diego County gives away six complete standard plan sets (PDF and CAD) for unincorporated areas. The sets are about 85% complete — site-specific details are filled in for your project. Links below are the 24×36 sets; 11×17 versions are on the county page.
- Plan A — 1,200 sq ft, 3-bed / 1-bath (PDF)
- Plan B — 1,200 sq ft, 2-bed / 1-bath (PDF)
- Plan C — 1,200 sq ft, 2-bed / 2-bath (PDF)
- Plan D — 1,000 sq ft, 1-bed / 1.5-bath (PDF)
- Plan E — 800 sq ft, 1-bed / 1-bath (PDF)
- Plan F — 600 sq ft, 1-bed / 1-bath (PDF)
- San Diego County standard ADU plans page
City of Sacramento — Shelf Ready ADU Plans
Three free, all-electric plan sets from the City of Sacramento, drawn to the 2022 Residential Code. Mirroring is allowed; other modifications are not. All three sit under the 750 sq ft impact-fee threshold.
- Studio — 367 sq ft (PDF)
- 1-Bedroom — 559 sq ft (PDF)
- 2-Bedroom — 747 sq ft (PDF)
- City of Sacramento Shelf Ready plans page
Sacramento County (Unincorporated Areas) — Shelf Ready ADU Plans
Sacramento County posts five free full plan sets for unincorporated areas — two smaller studio/1-bed designs, an 870 sq ft 2-bed, a 1,000 sq ft 2-bed, and a 1,184 sq ft 3-bed:
- Plan A1 “Laurel” — full plan set (PDF)
- Plan A2 “Willow” — full plan set (PDF)
- Plan B “Redwood” — full plan set (PDF)
- Plan C “Elderberry” — full plan set (PDF)
- Plan D “Magnolia” — full plan set (PDF)
- Sacramento County Shelf Ready ADU announcement
City of Fresno — Pre-Approved ADU Plans (Template ADU Program)
The City of Fresno gives its five template plans away free. Each comes in three elevations — Contemporary, Craftsman, and Gable — and includes solar. Apply through the city’s permit portal using the plan’s TADU number.
- Plan 1 (23-TADU-001) — 340 sq ft studio (PDF)
- Plan 2 (23-TADU-002) — 499 sq ft, 1-bed (PDF)
- Plan 3 (23-TADU-003) — 625 sq ft, 1–2 bed (PDF)
- Plan 4 (23-TADU-004) — 625 sq ft over a 625 sq ft garage (PDF)
- Plan 5 (23-TADU-005) — 1,015 sq ft, 3-bed / 2-bath (PDF)
- City of Fresno ADU program page
City of Huntington Beach — HB Pre-Approved ADU Plan
One free city plan: a 1-story detached 490 sq ft, 1-bed / 1-bath ADU offered in California Ranch, Bungalow, and Spanish Colonial exteriors. The city allows no modifications or deviations.
City of Pasadena — ADU Standard Plans Program
Pasadena’s city-designed plans are public domain and free. The plan currently available citywide is Prototype A, a 374 sq ft studio updated to the 2025 CBC. The city’s five earlier standard plans expired December 31, 2025 and, since January 1, 2026, may be used only on residential properties red-tagged in the Eaton Fire. No modifications are allowed, and a hold-harmless agreement is required.
City of Oakland — Pre-Approved ADU Plans
Oakland publishes three free, city-owned, permit-ready plan sets drawn to the 2022 codes, with a fast Engineer-of-the-Day review track: a 435 sq ft studio, a 625 sq ft 1-bed, and a 746 sq ft 2-bed.
- Studio — 435 sq ft plan set (PDF)
- City of Oakland ADU page — all three sets, including the 1-bed and 2-bed plans
City of Fontana — Standard ADU Plans
Three detached standard plans, all designed by Tang Structural Engineers and posted free on the City of Fontana’s program page (the designer’s contact information is posted there as well; site-specific plans and permit fees still apply):
- “Morning Glory” — 462 sq ft, 1-bed / 1-bath (PDF)
- “Carnation” — 738 sq ft, 2-bed / 2-bath (PDF)
- “Sunflower” — 1,143 sq ft, 3-bed / 2-bath (PDF)
- City of Fontana Standard ADU Plans page
More Free Programs — Download from the City
These cities also give their pre-approved plans away free, but the files are served from the city’s own program page (plan portals, ZIP sets, or stamped-set workflows) rather than as direct PDF links:
City of Anaheim — ADU Express / Pre-Approved Plan Catalogue
Four free plans in the city’s official catalogue: a 224 sq ft studio, a 499 sq ft 1-bed / 1-bath, a 990 sq ft 2-bed / 2-bath, and a 1,199 sq ft 3-bed / 3-bath. Use an unmodified plan through ADU Express for the fastest track; attached and conversion ADUs are not Express-eligible.
City of Santa Ana — Pre-Approved ADU Plans Program
Ten free plan sets (downloaded as ZIP files from the city’s document library), all 750 sq ft or smaller so they stay impact-fee exempt: 399 sq ft studios and 499 sq ft 1-beds in Ranch, Spanish, and Traditional styles, a 625 sq ft 1-bed Contemporary, 677 sq ft 1-beds in Craftsman and Spanish, and a 749 sq ft 2-bed Contemporary. Eligibility screens apply — single-family lot, outside FEMA flood zones A/AE and the French Park, Downtown, Floral Park, and Heninger Park historic districts.
- Studio plan set — City of Santa Ana document library
- 1-Bedroom plan set — City of Santa Ana document library
City of Riverside — Dwell Riverside Permit-Ready ADU Plans
Four free city-commissioned plan sets — 746 sq ft 1-bed / 1-bath, 800 sq ft 2-bed / 2-bath, 1,020 sq ft 2-bed / 2-bath, and 1,200 sq ft 3-bed / 2-bath — each in Craftsman, Ranch, and Spanish exteriors, with foundation options for all soil conditions. ADU Express eligibility screening applies.
City of Citrus Heights — Permit-Ready ADU (PRADU) Program
Three free city-owned models pre-approved by the Building Division — 499 sq ft 1-bed / 1-bath, 599 sq ft 1-bed / 1-bath, and 749 sq ft 2-bed / 1-bath — in 18 variants with different roof lines, finishes, accessible layouts, and mirrored formats.
City of Escondido — Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU)
Four free detached plans, downloaded as ZIP plan sets from the city’s program page: Plan 1, 484 sq ft studio or 1-bed / 1-bath; Plan 2, 644 sq ft 2-bed / 1-bath; Plan 3, 851 sq ft 2-bed / 2-bath; and Plan 4, 1,000 sq ft 2–3-bed / 2-bath. Cosmetic changes only — no structural changes.
City of Encinitas — Permit-Ready ADU (PRADU) Program
Free downloads from the city’s website since 2019: eight pre-approved plans from studio through 3-bedroom, with customizable exterior option packages.
City of Chula Vista — City Standard ADU Plans
Six sizes (498 sq ft 1-bed; 748 sq ft 2-bed; 749 sq ft rectangular and L-shape; 999 sq ft and 1,199 sq ft 2–3-bed), each with a mirrored variant, downloadable from the city’s ADU page at no charge. Using one requires contracting with the plan’s designer (SnapADU), signing the city’s hold-harmless agreement, and adding site-specific engineering.
City of Elk Grove — City Pre-Approved ADU Plans
City-owned pre-approved detached plans in Studio, 1-Bedroom, and 2-Bedroom types. Download the reference set from the city’s page to plan with; once your site-specific submittal is approved, the city issues the identical set stamped “Approved.” A hold-harmless agreement is required. The city also pre-reviews designer plans, whose full sets come from the design professional.
Designer-Licensed Plan Catalogs
In these programs the plans belong to private design firms. The city or regional agency pre-reviews and lists them, but you license the plan from its designer — there are no public construction PDFs. A license is still typically far cheaper than commissioning a custom design.
City of Los Angeles — LADBS Designer Plans
Beyond the free YOU-ADU, LADBS lists 28 designer-owned standard plans (280–1,200 sq ft) that you purchase directly from the design firm. See the full catalog table in our Los Angeles guide.
City of San Jose — Preapproved ADU Program
San Jose reviews plans from local design vendors and lists them for homeowners; you work directly with the plan’s designer, and qualifying projects get an expedited review track.
City of Long Beach — Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) Program
Long Beach’s PAADU plans are owned by their designers, not the city — approved plans are listed on the program page with the plan owner’s contact information for purchasing. The program is active under Information Bulletins IB-068 and IB-078 (2026), and qualifying projects can be approved over the counter with same-day permit issuance.
City of Glendale — Standard ADU Plan Program
Glendale’s approved standard plans are designed and sold by private firms; the city lists the approved plans on its ADU page.
City of San Mateo — ADU Plans Gallery
San Mateo’s official gallery collects designer plans that have been through the city’s pre-approval process. Browse designs in the gallery and license the one you choose from its designer.
City of Roseville — Preapproved ADU Plans
Roseville’s AB 1332 page lists its preapproved plan — BD25-4920, a 748 sq ft detached 2-bedroom ADU by Selective Ventures LLC. The page posts the plan sheets; the full set and use terms come from the designer, and a site-specific submittal is still required.
Napa & Sonoma Counties — Napa Sonoma ADU Center Standard Plans
A regional program run by the nonprofit Napa Sonoma ADU Center with the cities and counties of Napa and Sonoma: 50+ plans from dozens of vendors, 150–1,200 sq ft, studio through 3-bedroom. Each gallery listing shows which jurisdictions have pre-reviewed that plan. Plans are licensed from the vendor — many carry a $0 license fee when bundled with the vendor’s construction contract.
City of San Diego — Accepts Other Jurisdictions’ Plans
The City of San Diego has no city-owned plan library. Under AB 1332 it instead accepts, on a 30-day review track, the San Diego County Standard ADU Plans, the City of Chula Vista Standard ADU Plans, and the City of Encinitas Permit-Ready ADU Plans (all linked above). Note the city’s condition: applicants must contact the plan provider directly about the cost to license the pre-approved plan, and plans must meet currently adopted codes. Designers can also submit their own plans for pre-approval under the city’s master-plan process (Information Bulletin 114a).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these plans really free?
Many are. City- and county-owned plan sets — like the City of Los Angeles YOU-ADU, the Newport Beach sets, and the San Diego County sets — are free public downloads. Designer-owned plans in catalog programs (LADBS’s firm plans, San Jose, Long Beach, San Mateo, the Napa Sonoma gallery) are licensed from the designer for a fee set by the firm. Either way, “free plans” does not mean a free project: permit fees, site work, utility connections, and construction still apply.
Does using a pre-approved plan mean I skip the permit process?
No. Pre-approval covers the design — the building itself has already passed code review. You still file a permit application with site-specific documents (plot plan, foundation and utility details for your lot), pay permit fees, and pass inspections during construction. What you skip is the long design plan-check, which is where custom projects spend most of their review time.
City program or county program — which one applies to my property?
It depends on where your property sits. Inside an incorporated city, that city’s building department and plan program govern. In an unincorporated area, the county’s program applies instead — Los Angeles County and San Diego County both publish their own free sets for unincorporated properties. A plan pre-approved by a city has no standing with the county, or with any other city. When the label on this page says “City of,” the plan belongs to that city only.
Can I modify a pre-approved plan to fit my lot?
Site-specific elements — where the unit sits, its foundation, utility runs — are expected to be adapted to your parcel as part of the submittal. Changing the design itself (moving walls, adding rooms, raising ceilings) generally takes the project outside the pre-approval, and the building department will treat it as a custom plan with full plan check. A few programs allow cosmetic changes only. If the design needs real changes, a custom design is usually the better route.
Can ADU Cities help me use one of these plans?
Yes. We check whether a pre-approved plan actually fits your lot and your city’s current code cycle, prepare the site-specific documents, handle the submittal and corrections, and build the unit. Call 888.627.1131 for a free consultation — or start with our ADU floor plans guide and the Los Angeles standard plan guide.
Found a Plan You Like?
Pre-approved or custom — our team checks lot fit, prepares the site-specific documents, and manages submittals, corrections, and inspections. Call 888.627.1131 for a free consultation.
Programs, catalogs, and requirements change, and plan sets approved under earlier code cycles may need re-confirmation with the issuing city or county. Verify the current program and plan status with the jurisdiction before relying on a specific plan. This page is general information, not legal advice.
