City program

Pre-Approved ADU Plans in San Jose, California

Browse official and accepted pre-approved ADU plans for San Jose, California. Compare plan size, bedrooms, providers, approval status, official source links, permit requirements, and fees.

Program status: source-backed listings Last checked May 4, 2026

Summary

Location
San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, USA
Accepted plans
37 accepted plans
Providers
21 providers
Origin programs
1 program
Plan size range
330 to 1,000 sq ft
Permit sources
12 sources

How to use this page

  1. Pick a plan size and bedroom count.
  2. Check whether the plan originated locally or is accepted from another city/county program.
  3. Open the official source.
  4. Confirm current status with the local building department.
  5. Ask the provider what site-specific work, plan licensing, engineering, and utility review are still required.

Accepted Plans

37 plans

Permit Requirements

13 requirements

All

Hazard zone exclusion (preapproved program)

Official city source

Lot must NOT be located in a geohazard zone, landslide zone, flood zone or Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) area.

Last checked
May 4, 2026
Notes
See ADU Universal Checklist (Bulletin 210) to determine designations.

All

Same-day permit issuance possibility

Official city source

If the site-specific plan and related documents are accurate and complete, permits may be issued on the same day of the scheduled plan review meeting (exception: deferred site-specific structural submittal).

Last checked
May 4, 2026
Notes
Not listed in source

All

Required submittal documents

Official city source

Bulletin #211 ADU Building Plan Requirements, Bulletin #213 Inspection Checklist for ADUs, Building Division Directive B-002/B-007 (Detached ADU Fire Separation Distance), Title 24 Residential Energy Calculations and Mandatory Checklist, Cal-Green Checklist, Geotechnical Investigation Report (as applicable), Water Flow Letter from water company, Form 302 Address Assignment, Form 312 ADU Property Owner Declaration (or Form 313 JADU Deed Restriction Agreement, wet-signed).

Last checked
May 4, 2026
Notes
Not listed in source

All

Vendor recommended to pull permits

Official city source

It is highly advised that the preapproved-plan vendor or contractor pull the permits to keep liability for the work with the professional service.

Last checked
May 4, 2026
Notes
Not listed in source

Fees

13 fee records

Official Sources

12 sources

San Jose ADU FAQ

6 answers

Does San Jose have accepted or pre-approved ADU plans in this directory?

Yes. The current San Jose, California page lists 37 accepted plans from 21 providers in the source-backed export.

What ADU plan sizes are listed for San Jose?

The listed San Jose plan records range from 330 to 1,000 sq ft. Use the individual plan cards to confirm bedrooms, bathrooms, plan documents, and provider details because some fields are not listed by every official source.

Where do the San Jose ADU plan records come from?

They are tied to 12 official sources in this page's source set, including City of San José, Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative + Cities Association of Santa Clara County, and City of San José (via Internet Archive). Each plan, fee, and permit note should still be checked against the linked official source before use.

Can Santa Clara County or nearby city ADU plans be used in San Jose?

The current San Jose records do not show accepted plans from a separate Santa Clara County or nearby city program. Treat outside pre-approved plans as unavailable in San Jose unless an official San Jose source says they are accepted.

Do pre-approved ADU plans guarantee permits in San Jose?

No. A source-backed accepted plan can reduce plan review work, but San Jose can still require site-specific review, zoning checks, fees, utility coordination, and current code compliance. This page lists 13 permit requirements to help flag items to verify with the local building department.

Are San Jose ADU permit fees and requirements listed?

This page includes 13 fee records and 13 permit requirements for San Jose. These are source-backed summaries, not a final permit quote or approval checklist.