Accessory dwelling units are one of the most flexible ways to add space, care for family, or create future rental income. Dublin now offers permit-ready ADU plans that can save time and money while simplifying approvals. Here is how the program works, what it includes, and what to expect from first idea to final inspection.
Permit-ready ADUs: what to expect
Cities create permit-ready ADU plans to lower design costs and speed up permitting. Dublin’s program provides pre-drafted plan sets that the City says were reviewed for building-code compliance and are available to homeowners at no cost. The goal is faster approvals and fewer surprises for typical backyard ADUs and garage conversions according to the City of Dublin.
State law also supports this path. AB 1332 requires local preapproval programs and enables an expedited review clock when you use a preapproved plan and submit a complete application per CALBO’s summary of pre-approved ADUs. Dublin layered in local incentives too, including a limited-time permit fee waiver for eligible ADUs and an ADU Accelerator rebate pilot that can reduce out-of-pocket costs per the City’s announcement.
Bottom line: permit-ready plans simplify design and can shorten review. You will still complete site-specific steps, coordinate utilities, and meet zoning rules.
How permit-ready plans work
Permit-ready plans are pre-drafted designs the City makes available. Dublin’s package includes floor plans, elevations, electrical and plumbing sheets, structural calculations, and preliminary energy calculations. There are eight prototype designs, from small studios to 2-bedroom layouts, including garage conversion options. The City estimates these plans can save about 15,000 dollars in design and engineering costs per the program page.
What is different from a custom design?
- Faster start: the building design is already drawn and reviewed at a high level by the City.
- Clear scope: you know the structural system, layout, and basic energy approach from day one.
- Lower soft costs: you are not paying a designer to start from scratch.
Where do you still do work?
- Site-specific elements: you must provide a site plan that shows where the ADU sits on your lot, address grading and drainage, and handle any geotechnical or utility requirements. The City’s checklist explains the owner submittals needed to turn the prototype into a complete permit package per the Prototype Plans page.
When is a custom route better?
- Irregular lots with tricky slopes or access.
- Designs that need substantial changes beyond the prototype’s limits.
- Projects aiming for maximum size or unique features that fall outside the pre-drafted sets.
Eligibility and site basics
Every site is different, but most Dublin ADUs follow a few core rules:
- Size: ADUs can be as small as 150 square feet and up to 1,200 square feet. Junior ADUs have separate rules. Always verify your target size against the municipal code see Dublin’s ADU regulations.
- Height and setbacks: Detached ADUs are commonly capped at 16 feet in height, while attached ADUs often follow the main home’s district limits. Some projects qualify for reduced setbacks under state law. Check your zoning and any Planned Development rules per Chapter 8.80.
- Parking: Many properties must provide one off-street space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less. Garage conversions typically do not need replacement parking. Compact, tandem, or uncovered spaces may count if allowed by code see parking standards in Chapter 8.80.
- Utilities: Some ADUs trigger connection or capacity charges. In Dublin, the Dublin San Ramon Services District publishes water and wastewater capacity fees. The district lists an ADU wastewater capacity charge example at about 11.41 dollars per square foot as of mid-2024, indexed annually per DSRSD. State law limits when a separate connection is required, especially for smaller ADUs, but you should confirm with the utility provider see Government Code context.
Also note: Dublin forbids short-term rentals under 30 days for ADUs and JADUs, and does not require owner-occupancy for ADUs permitted under current state rules per the City’s short-term rental page and local code.
Choose a plan that fits
Start with how you will use the ADU in 3 to 10 years. Aging parent suite, long-term renter, or a flexible home office that can convert later? Then match the plan to your yard and access.
- Studios and small 1-bed units maximize rent per square foot and fit tight lots.
- Larger 1-bed or compact 2-bed layouts work well for family use and long-term tenants.
- Garage conversions keep costs down by using the existing structure, but they still require structural, insulation, and energy upgrades.
Dublin’s prototypes span about 224 to 909 square feet across several architectural styles, so you can usually find a layout that respects privacy, light, and yard circulation per the program overview.
What you can customize
Within the prototype sets, limited tweaks are often allowed, such as:
- Finish materials and appliance packages
- Interior fixtures, cabinet selections, and surface upgrades
- Some window or door placement options noted in the plan set
These choices affect durability and long-term maintenance. Pick finishes that clean easily, resist moisture, and hold up to tenant turnover per the City’s notes on limited customization.
What usually stays fixed
To keep approvals fast, expect these elements to remain as drawn:
- Building footprint and exterior wall locations
- Load-bearing walls and roof structure
- Core electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems
Significant design changes trigger new engineering and extra review, which can reduce the speed benefit of the prototype plans as the City cautions.
Permitting and approvals process
Here is a simple path from idea to permit using Dublin’s permit-ready plans.
- Feasibility check
- Confirm basic zoning, size, height, and parking allowances for your lot.
- Walk the site for access, tree conflicts, slopes, and utility locations.
- Select a prototype plan
- Request the plan package from the City by emailing your address and desired plan number. The City will send the plan set so you can prepare a complete submittal per the Prototype Plans page.
- Prepare your submittal
- Assemble the site plan, utility information, energy forms as required, and the City’s checklist items. Add any geotechnical report or site-specific structural details if needed see the City’s checklist.
- Apply for permits
- Submit to Building and Safety. If you are using a preapproved plan under the city’s program and your application is complete, you may qualify for an expedited review path consistent with AB 1332’s 30-day target. Otherwise, standard ADU shot-clock rules still apply for complete applications per CALBO’s guidance.
- Respond to corrections
- Expect plan check comments about site conditions, utilities, or minor code clarifications. Answer quickly and completely to keep momentum.
- Permit issuance
- Once corrections are cleared and fees are paid, you receive permits and can start construction.
Documents you will prepare
- Site plan with setbacks, building footprint, and utility tie-ins
- City prototype plan set and cover sheets
- Application forms and plan check checklist
- Title report or deed if the City requests ownership verification
- Energy and structural supplements as required
- Utility letters or pre-approvals for water, sewer, and electrical capacity
Timelines and checkpoints
- Intake and completeness: the City verifies that your application has all required items.
- Plan review cycles: you may see 1 to 2 rounds of comments for straightforward sites.
- Utility coordination: confirm DSRSD capacity fees and any meter work early to avoid delays per DSRSD’s fee schedule. In the Bay Area, electrical upgrades and provider scheduling can also extend timelines in some cases as reported about PG&E-related delays.
Costs, fees, and financing options
Think in buckets:
- Design and engineering: often reduced or eliminated by the prototype set. Dublin estimates about 15,000 dollars in potential savings here per the City’s overview.
- Permits and plan check: Dublin offers a fee waiver for eligible ADUs submitted within the current program window. ADUs under 750 square feet qualify, and larger ADUs can qualify if deed-restricted to low-income households for 55 years. Estimated savings are about 2,500 to 6,000 dollars if eligible per the City’s fee waiver page.
- Impact and utility fees: State law exempts ADUs under 750 square feet from local impact fees and limits proportional fees for larger ADUs per Government Code. Utilities are separate. Budget for water and wastewater capacity charges and possible service upgrades. DSRSD gives an ADU wastewater rate example of about 11.41 dollars per square foot per DSRSD.
- Site work: grading, drainage, foundation, trenching, and utility laterals.
- Construction: labor and materials for the structure, interiors, and finishes.
- Contingency: add 10 to 15 percent for unknowns.
Financing options:
- Savings or family funds
- Home equity line of credit
- Cash-out refinance
- Renovation or construction loan
Model your expected rent or family use, consider vacancy periods, and be conservative on timelines.
Build, inspections, and utilities
Construction usually follows this sequence:
- Site prep and grading
- Foundation and underground utilities
- Framing, rough plumbing, and rough electrical
- Insulation and drywall
- Finishes and fixtures
- Final utility connections and commissioning
Inspections happen at key milestones. Keep the approved plans on site and track correction items in writing. For utilities, coordinate early:
- Water and sewer: contact DSRSD for capacity fees, connection details, and meter strategy per DSRSD’s guidance.
- Electrical: plan for panel capacity, potential service upgrades, and provider scheduling. Regional reports note that utility coordination can add time if upgrades are required as covered by local news.
Always hire licensed, insured professionals and collect lien releases at payment milestones.
Renting your new ADU
Plan for long-term stability:
- Confirm local rules: Dublin prohibits short-term rentals under 30 days for ADUs and JADUs per the City.
- Set clear lease terms: length, rent, deposits, utilities, parking, and pet policies.
- Tenant screening: apply consistent, fair criteria and follow fair housing laws.
- Insurance: speak with your carrier about coverage for an accessory unit.
- Management: decide if you will self-manage or hire a property manager.
If you are considering a fee waiver or affordability program, note any deed restriction requirements before you finalize rent assumptions per Dublin’s fee waiver program.
Avoid common ADU pitfalls
- Access constraints: narrow side yards or steep grades can complicate construction logistics.
- Utility surprises: factor in water, sewer, and electrical capacity early. Get fee quotes from DSRSD and scope electrical upgrades with a licensed contractor.
- Over-customizing: big design changes to the prototype set can erase time savings and add engineering costs per City guidance on customization limits.
- Incomplete submittals: follow the City checklist and label every sheet.
- Schedule gaps: order long-lead materials early and build slack time around utility work.
How a local agent helps
A neighborhood-focused agent can save you time and stress on ADU projects by:
- Screening lots for access, setbacks, and likely plan fit
- Sharing contractor and designer referrals with ADU experience
- Providing rent comps and resale guidance for different ADU sizes
- Coordinating timelines so you can line up financing, permits, and bids
- Navigating offer terms if you are buying a home for ADU potential
If you want hands-on help to evaluate your lot or find an ADU-friendly home in the Tri-Valley, reach out. I will walk you through the steps, introduce vetted vendors, and help you plan a budget you can live with.
Start Your Path to Homeownership with Abelino Espinoza-Sanchez. Bilingual support. Clear timelines. Local connections.
Your next steps to get started
- Define your goal: family use, rental income, or future flexibility
- Review Dublin’s permit-ready plan options and pick a starting point per the City’s ADU page
- Gather site info: lot survey, photos, utility locations, and any title or easement notes
- Talk to utilities about capacity and fees, especially DSRSD for water and sewer see DSRSD
- Explore financing with your lender and set a contingency budget
- Schedule a consult to map out timeline and vendor next steps
Estoy aquí para ayudarte. If Spanish is easier, we can review your options en español y preparar un plan paso a paso.
FAQs
What do Dublin’s permit-ready ADU plans include?
- The City provides floor plans, elevations, electrical and plumbing plans, structural calculations, and preliminary energy calculations for eight prototype designs per the City.
Do I still need a site plan and utility info?
- Yes. You must add site-specific documents like a site plan, any geotechnical report, and utility coordination to make a complete permit package per the Prototype Plans page.
Can I get faster approval by using a prototype plan?
- Possibly. AB 1332 enables an expedited 30-day review when you use a preapproved plan and submit a complete application. Not all projects qualify, and completeness matters per CALBO.
How much can I save by using a prototype plan?
- Dublin estimates about 15,000 dollars in design and engineering savings, plus a 2,500 to 6,000 dollar fee waiver for eligible ADUs submitted during the program window per the City.
What sizes and styles are available?
- About 224 to 909 square feet, with studio to 2-bedroom options in multiple architectural styles, including three garage conversion designs per the City.
Are short-term rentals allowed for ADUs in Dublin?
- No. Rentals under 30 days are prohibited for ADUs and JADUs per the City.
Will I pay impact or capacity fees?
- ADUs under 750 square feet are exempt from local impact fees. Larger ADUs may pay proportional impact fees. Separate utility capacity or connection charges can still apply. DSRSD publishes current water and sewer fees see Government Code and DSRSD.
How do I request the plan set from the City?
- Email the City with your property address and chosen prototype plan number to receive the plan package and checklist for submittal per the Prototype Plans page.
