Frequently Asked Questions for Designers

This page is geared towards designers, architects, and prefab ADU companies.

Welcome to the Napa Sonoma ADU Standards Program

The Napa Sonoma ADU Standard Plans Program is a multi-jurisdictional effort administered by the nonprofit Napa Sonoma ADU Center in collaboration with local cities and unincorporated counties across Napa and Sonoma.

What is the goal of the program? Our goal is to make the process of building an ADU easier, faster, and more affordable for homeowners so that we can build more housing for our community. This program is a pilot that we hope will scale beyond our region in order to bring more ADU design options to more homeowners.

CURRENT PARTICIPATING DESIGNERS

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The Basics

Napa Sonoma ADU is a nonprofit that works with homeowners and local governments in Napa and Sonoma counties to support ADU development.

  • Resource-rich website
  • Regular webinars
  • Feasibility consultations for homeowners
  • Support via ADU Office Hours

Much of our work has been funded by Napa Valley Community Foundation (also our fiscal sponsor) with support from Community Foundation Sonoma County as well as state grant funds received through several of our jurisdiction partners.

This new program makes it easier to find ADU designs and go through the development review process, saving time and money and connecting ADU designers, architects, and prefab companies with potential customers. It also helps jurisdictions respond to community housing needs.

The program includes an online gallery featuring:

  • ADU plans that have been “pre-reviewed” for compliance with applicable building codes, and
  • Other “off the shelf” ADU designs available to homeowners at reduced cost (these plans still require code compliance review).

All 16 jurisdictions in Napa and Sonoma (14 cities and 2 counties) have helped shape this program and are a part of this work. This is one of the first comprehensive, multi-jurisdiction programs of its type in the country. Each jurisdiction decides which plans plans they will accept as “pre-reviewed,” with a third-party reviewer conducting code reviews for the selected site-built plans. Some jurisdictions may opt to also conduct their own parallel review. 

When using the program gallery, homeowners are able to see whether a listing is “pre-reviewed” in their jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction listed in the “pre-reviewed” section of an individual plan page links to more information about the complete ADU plan submittal requirements for their jurisdiction.

Click here for a video tour of the ADU gallery to understand how it works.

Not at this time. Converting a garage or other existing space to living space is a great way to create an ADU, but it is challenging to create standard plans for conversions, which are by necessity very site and structure-specific for each individual project.

Pre-Reviewed Plans

“Pre-reviewed plans” include both site-built and prefabricated plans that have been reviewed for compliance with applicable building code requirements. In some cases, local code variations may require further review or preclude you from using a plan for your specific site (e.g., due to a Historic District, flood plain, slope, etc.). 

NOTE: In all circumstances, a pre-reviewed plan will still require additional information and tailoring before it can be submitted to a jurisdiction for ADU permit approval.

If your plan is chosen to be “pre-reviewed” then we will request a submittal for additional documentation, such as a full-planset, structural calculations (if applicable), Title 24 analysis with the four standard orientations, etc. The submittal will be reviewed by building department reviewers and/ or a third-party reviewer, and if approved it will be listed as pre-reviewed.

See the Pre-Review Submittal Checklist (opens in a new tab)

We hope that use of a “pre-reviewed” plan will reduce the time it takes for an ADU permit application to be approved, but we cannot guarantee it. We are encouraging participating jurisdictions to provide further reduced review times as well as reduced review fees, but those decisions are entirely up to them and the other agencies involved in their review processes (e.g., utilities and fire districts). We believe that over time, having permit-ready plans that jurisdiction staff have seen before and are familiar with will result in faster reviews, whether as an official policy or due to it being part of their regular practice.

There were many plans that we thought were great, but which did not make it into the initial short-list of plans for pre-review. We refer to these plans in the gallery as “off the shelf,” since they’re shortcutting what would otherwise be a fully custom design process. Even though they still need to go through the full code review process to get a building permit, they should save considerable time and money. By including these plans in our gallery, we hope to make it easier to find a design that works for you and connect with the designer or architect who can help you get there.

Staff from jurisdictions across Napa and Sonoma counties helped our nonprofit review the 55+ plans that were submitted for consideration by designers, architects, and prefab companies in our first-ever statewide open Call for Submittals. Staff were asked to score each plan based on the criteria set forth in the Call for Submittals, including cost, privacy, context/compatibility, adaptability, accessibility and sustainability. We reviewed plans based on these scores, making sure we provided choices across all size categories and that the selections reflected both local and broader statewide architects and designers. Key themes that came up during deliberations included livability (did the unit include storage? space for a washer/dryer? privacy?); accessibility/adaptability (was the unit wheelchair accessible, or could it easily be made to be?); and price point. In the future, we plan to re-open the Call for Submittals so that the gallery of plans can continue to grow.

If you would like to receive an invitation to submit in the future please complete this form.

Yes. Once we have this first version of the program up and running, we hope to be able to add more plans, including additional permit-ready plans that have been reviewed for code compliance by one or more of our jurisdiction partners.

Be sure to sign up on our interest list to be informed about opportunities.

We plan to make this part of the program in the future, including for modular building plans, recognizing that soils types vary across the two county-area and that slope issues will need to be addressed on a site-specific basis.

Site-built plans are for ADUs constructed on your property. In this gallery you will find site-built plans that have been “pre-reviewed” for compliance with applicable building codes as well as site-built plans that will need to be reviewed through a standard process. Your jurisdiction will determine the level of additional code review required, including the fees for the review. Even if using a pre-reviewed plan, you will need to work with your designer/architect to submit the plan along with additional details about your site (such as a site plan, utility connection plan, etc.) to get a building permit. Speak with the designer or architect whose plan you select to understand the level of support they will provide you through the full ADU permitting process.

Prefabricated plans are ADUs that are largely built off-site in a factory and then transported and installed on your property on a permanent foundation. All prefabricated ADUs are pre-reviewed for building code compliance at the state or federal level. Just like site-built plans, additional site-specific information (such as a site plan, utility connection plan, a foundation plan, etc.) will need to be submitted to your building department to get full permit approval. Speak with the prefab company whose plan you select to understand the level of support they will provide you through the full ADU permitting and building process. Watch our on-demand webinar on prefab ADUs for more information about the different types of prefab ADUs and what to consider when making the decision to go with a prefab ADU.

We hope so, yes!

State law requires that jurisdictions issue decisions on complete ADU permit applications within 60 days, and many of our jurisdiction partners have internal policies to do it in an even shorter time period — but in reality, some jurisdictions have struggled to complete ADU permit processing within 60 days because of issues like staff shortages, not receiving complete applications, and more.We are working with jurisdictions to streamline the process for “pre-reviewed” plans, but sometimes there will be site-specific issues that popup or delays on behalf of other involved agencies (e.g., utilities and fire departments). Go to your jurisdiction’s ADU webpage (see list below) to learn more about how they are supporting implementation of ADUs, including their policies and practices around pre-reviewed ADU plans.

Designer FAQs

This program allows you to connect with more homeowners interested in purchasing your ADU plans, at no cost to you. The Napa Sonoma ADU Center and participating jurisdictions conduct significant community outreach and education within our community to spread the word about ADUs to homeowners. By being a part of the program gallery, your brand will be marketed to thousands of homeowners.

In return for being featured in the gallery we ask designers to establish a “license fee” that you will charge for use of your design. We do not mandate what the fee should be, but recommend a maximum fee of $1,000. The idea is to sell your plan multiple times to recoup your design costs. The fee will be stated on the site along with estimated construction costs so that homeowners can shop with confidence. They can then choose to work with you to complete their full ADU permit application (e.g., site plan) or can choose to work with an architect of their choice (in which case we recommend having them sign a liability waiver).

We launched the beta version of the program in May 2022 and plan to begin adding additional designers to the gallery on a rolling basis in the future. Add yourself to our interest list in the meantime. We will reach out to you when we reopen the program for additional submissions.

If you already have a plan in the gallery that is not pre-reviewed and you want it to be, or you want to add a plan and make sure it’s pre-reviewed, we intend to offer a fee-based option for designers to engage our third-party reviewer to conduct the initial code review. Please note, that the decision of whether to consider the third-party reviewer’s code check as being sufficient for pre-review status lies with each of the participating jurisdictions. We expect to learn how best to make this process work for everyone after launching our beta version of the program in May 2022.Be sure to sign up on our interest list to be informed about opportunities.

Any edits or updates to your plan listing may take several days to update as our staff reviews each listing.

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This is our beta launch. Please check back for:

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy browsing our gallery of plans!

CONTACTING THE DESIGNER

Please submit your email and accept our terms and conditions to access designer contact information.

Terms & Conditions

Please read these Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) carefully before contacting the Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) designer or firm and potentially proceeding with the purchase (licensing) of an ADU plan, as it contains important information regarding limitations of liability.

Your use of the ADU Plan Gallery found at www.plans.napasonomaadu.org (“Gallery Page”) to access designer contact information is conditional upon your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms.

By using the Gallery Page to obtain designer contact information, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these Terms, then you do not have permission to use the Gallery Page to obtain designer contact information.

1 – Approval Authority. Your local jurisdiction’s building department has final review and approval authority for any ADU construction drawings and related permit application materials.

2 – Confirming Site Suitability Prior to Plan Purchase. It is your responsibility to understand what may or may not be allowed on your property by consulting with your local jurisdiction about requirements, regulations and limitations prior to purchasing an ADU plan.

3 – Plan Ownership and Responsibility. Any plans you purchase are the property of the ADU designer or firm that developed them, and use of those plans are subject to any copyrights, conditions, requirements or limitations established by the designer or firm.

4 – Liability from Plan Purchase and Use. Any liability or legal action arising from your engagement with a designer or ADU firm or from the purchase and use of their plan shall be governed by the contract you sign with that designer or firm. Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation and Baird+Driskell Community Planning, who developed and manage the Gallery Page, are in no way a party to that contract or in any way, shape or form liable for your use of the plan and resulting ADU.

5 – “Pre-Review” Status. Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and Baird+Driskell Community Planning, acting as their contractor, engaged a third-party reviewer, BPR Consulting Group, to review some of the plans featured on the Gallery Page for compliance with applicable building codes. The letter reflecting BPR Consulting Group’s review and conclusions is provided on the site as a courtesy and represents BPR Consulting Group’s professional judgment based on the information provided to them by the relevant designer or ADU firm. Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation and Baird+Driskell Community Planning do not warrant for the accuracy of the review and are in no way responsible or liable for their work. Further, Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation and Baird+Driskell Community Planning do not claim or represent that BPR’s review letter has any authority in the review and approval process with any specific jurisdiction.

6 – Hold Harmless. Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and Baird+Driskell Community Planning have created this Gallery Page as a service to help property owners search for ADU plans that may meet their needs and connect them with the ADU designer or firm that developed and owns those plans. Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation and Baird+Driskell Community Planning in no way warrant or are liable for the quality, constructability or safety of any plan featured on the site or for any financial or legal issues resulting from a property owner’s engagement with a designer or firm located through use of the Gallery Page.

7 - No Warranty on Website. The Gallery Page is provided “as is,” no warranty, express or implied (including any implied warranty of merchantability, of satisfactory quality or fitness for a particular purpose or use) shall apply to the Gallery Page, whether arising by law, course of dealing, course of performance, usage of trade or otherwise.

8 - Availability, Errors and Inaccuracies. Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and Baird+Driskell Community Planning assume no liability for the availability, errors or inaccuracies of the information, products or services provided on the Gallery Page. We may experience delays in updating information on the Gallery Page. The information, products and services found on the Gallery Page may contain errors or inaccuracies or may not be complete or current. Products or services may be incorrectly priced or unavailable. We expressly reserve the right to correct any pricing errors on the Gallery Page. The inclusion or offering of any product or service on the Gallery Page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of such product or service by us.

9 - Damages and Limitation of Liability. In no event shall Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and Baird+Driskell Community Planning be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of, relating to, or in any way connected with your access to, display of or use of the Gallery Page or with the delay or inability to access, display or use the Gallery Page, including but not limited to your reliance upon information appearing on the Gallery Page, any computer viruses, information, software, linked websites operated by third parties, products or services obtained through the Gallery Page, whether based on a theory of negligence, contract, tort, strict liability, consumer protection statutes or otherwise, even if Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and/or Baird+Driskell Community Planning have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

This limitation of liability reflects the allocation of risk between you and us. The limitation specified in this section will survive and apply even if any limited remedy specified in these Terms is found to have failed of its essential purpose. The limitations of liability provided in these Terms inure to the benefit of Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and Baird+Driskell Community Planning.

10 - Governing Law, Severability, Dispute Resolution and Venue. These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. These Terms shall not be governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the Sale of International Goods, the Uniform Commercial Code nor Incoterms.

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of that right or provision. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Gallery Page, and supersede and replace any prior agreements we might have had with you regarding the Gallery Page.

Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms including but not limited to the interpretation or breach thereof shall be resolved in a court of competent jurisdiction in Napa County, California.

You and Napa Sonoma ADU Center, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and Baird+Driskell Community Planning agree that each may bring claims against the other only in your or its individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any class or representative action.

11 - Changes to Terms. We reserve the right to make changes to these Terms at any time.

We will notify you of making any changes to these Terms by posting the updated terms of service to this Website.

CONTACTING THE DESIGNER

To move forward with this plan, please contact the designer using the information below.

Plan name:

Designer:

Email address:

Other contact information:

[None specified]

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Send an email to yourself (or someone else) with a link to this listing and designer contact information. You can also add notes about the listing.