Verify and Purchase
Following our suggestion below for an enjoyable and time saving process
The more you know in this first step the better prepared you are for a successful project.
Step 1- Verification
Option 1: DIY verification (free)
Please look up the city website to see if your property is in any of the zones listed above and in a residential zone. If your property is in one of the hazardous zones, you are still allowed to build your ADU but more requirements must be met and the process takes longer time instead of 1-day permit approval.
You may contact the city's planning department for help.
Please follow our measurement guidelines on the home page to determine if the ADU plan you like would fit and proceed to step 2.
Again, please consult a surveyor to know the exact measurements to avoid costly changes later.
Option 2: We provide in-home consultation service for a cost of $200/ 1-hour visit *.
What we do in this 1-hour visit?
We perform the tasks in option 1 above instead of you, PLUS:
Show you our plans and make recommendations on how the ADU should be located for privacy, reducing the impact on the main house, and avoiding potential fire sprinkler requirements.
Answer all the questions you have with our more than 22-year experience in house design.
At the end of the meeting, you will know if you potentially be able to build the ADU and ideas how the ADU looks like in the context of your property.
After the in-home consultation, please email the city's planning department with your address if you want a confirmation that you can build the ADU. We will provide you with the direct email address.
Please email us with your address to book an appointment.
(*) the $200 you paid for this service will be credited back to you once you purchase our plans.
Step 2- Purchase our plans and services
To get a building permit for our preapproved plans on your property, you will need to purchase our plans AND building permit acquiring service.
Plan Costs*:
750 Comfort: $5,000
500 Fit: $4,000
500 Senior Living: $4,000 (FREE to Wheel Chair Owner)
(* to the contractors: we offer discounts to contractors who purchase our plans directly, please email with the property address and your company name)
What included in our plans (deliverables):
Coversheet with scope of work and all requirements by codes
Minimum construction specification per codes
California Green Building Code Checklists
City of San Jose ADU checklists
Energy Calculation Reports
Generic Site Plan and notes, Floor Plans, Elevations, Sections, Roof Plan, Lighting Plan, and Details.
Structural drawings (and calculations)
Building Permit Acquiring Service:
Even though you have our preapproved plans, you will need to locate and lay out our plan on your property properly and submit it to the city for the permit. While some owners are able to do this with some apps and skills, the city encourages homeowners to hire a professional (architect) to prepare all required plans and documents.
Our fee for this service varies and is based on the location and size of the property. On average, it is $2,000.
What we do in this service:
Measure the existing house footprints and distance to fence (assuming fences are the property lines if there is no survey provided by the owner).
Prepare the site plan, locate the ADU, indicate the fire department path... so that all setback, easement, and fire safety code requirements are met. (Fire sprinklers may be required if the ADU location is too far from the public right of way) .
Acquire (on your behalf) the fire flow and the fire hydrant location from your water company.
Prepare the required plan set and documents.
Submit to make an appointment.
Sit in the meeting with all departments' plan-check engineers during the appointment to answer questions and clarifications.
Get the plans approved or revise the plans as needed until approved.
Step 3- Pulling the Permit
Once the plans are approved, the City's Building Department will start the permit issuance process by sending an email to instruct you to pull the permit.
The permit can only be issued to you (owner-builder) or your contractor.
Only you or your contractor can follow up with the due diligence (signing the application, paying permit fees....) and pull the permit.
An experienced contractor would know how to handle the permitting process. So, please consult a contractor before you pull the permit.
Step 4- Construction
Our service is fulfilled once the permit is issued. Please follow your contractor's guidance during the construction process.
Our service includes customer service when there are questions/ clarifications (RFIs- Request for Information) needed.
We provide the following services for additional fees:
Construction administration/ supervision.
Enhanced architectural design including finished material specifications and interior design service.
Questions?
Email us ca2homes@yahoo.com with your address or contact the City of San Jose 408.793.5324 to ask about CA2homes' Preapproved ADU plans.
