Pre-Approved ADU Program

Pre-approved ADU plans

Streamlined ADU Permitting in Milpitas: A Win-Win for Homeowners and Professionals

The City of Milpitas is now offering a faster and more cost-effective permitting process for adding detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).

The Pre-Approved ADU Program offers standard construction plan sets designed by qualified professionals that are pre-approved by the City. This collaborative program between the City, design professionals, and homeowners make adding a new detached ADU to Milpitas properties easier and faster than ever before.

Benefits for Homeowners

• Pre-approved ADU plans designed by qualified professionals will expedite the overall plan review time which reduces permitting costs.
• Pre-approved plans that meet City building codes, will save time and reduce design uncertainty.
• Access to a network of pre-approved design professionals for more affordable construction.

Benefits for Qualified Professionals (Architects, Builders, and Designers)

• As a pre-approved vendor you gain a competitive edge by showcasing your expertise in the development of streamlined ADUs.
• Reduced project timelines with pre-approved plans.
• Pre-approved ADU plans and expedited permitting affords you more time to take on more projects.

How to Get Involved

Save time and money when you add a detached ADU to your property! For homeowners who want to take advantage of this pre-approved ADU program, please follow the steps below:

• Verify if your project site qualifies for the pre-approved ADU program.
  • This program is not applicable to properties located in the following areas. Search your property by entering the property address into the address bar located in the top left corner of the GIS map webpage and click on the property parcel on the map. A “Parcel Info” window will pop up. Scroll the pop up window to look for the following information to confirm if your property is located in the following areas, which will not qualify for this program.
    • “Hillside Building Code” area: “Hillside Building Code” area is defined as all properties east of North Park Victoria, Evans Road, and Piedmont Road per Milpitas Municipal Code sec. II-1-2.01. If “Building Code Restriction” in the Parcel Info window is indicated as “Hillside Building Code”, the property is located in the “Hillside Building Code” area. Please contact BuildingPermitCenter@milpitas.gov or (408) 586-3240 for questions.
    • Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA): Property located in SFHA will not qualify for this program unless the selected pre-approved ADU plans include flood resistant design option applicable to the project site. SFHA is defined as the area where the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) floodplain management regulations must be enforced per Milpitas Municipal Code XI-15-5.1(c)(1). If “Flood Zone” in the Parcel Info window is indicated with zones A, AE, AH, or AO, the property is located in the SFHA. Please contact LandDevelopmentEngineering@milpitas.gov or (408) 586-3329 for questions.
  • Detached pre-approved plans will qualify on parcels with zoning that allow single-family or multi-family residential uses and meet minimum State streamlined ADU requirements in compliance with MMC sec. XI-10-13.08. Please contact planningdepartment@milpitas.gov or 408-586-3279 for questions. 
  • Minor site development permit approval from Planning Department will be required for pre-approved ADU plans with building area exceeding 800 sq ft prior to applying for building permit. Pre-approved ADU plans selected for the site shall comply with all requirements as listed in Item F of MMC sec. XI-10-13.08 without modifications to the pre-approved ADU plans. Please contact planningdepartment@milpitas.gov or 408-586-3279 for questions.
  • Detached ADU shall not be located within any easement. Please contact LandDevelopmentEngineering@milpitas.gov or (408) 586-3329 for questions.
  • Any modifications to the pre-approved ADU plans will not qualify for this pre-approved ADU program.
• Explore the list of Pre-approved ADU plans below and contact the vendors to learn more about the design options, applicability of the pre-approved ADU plans to your project site, pricing, and permitting process.
• Pre-approved ADU plans are subject to site-specific constraints. Prior to contracting with the vendor, homeowners are encouraged to schedule an online appointment through the ADU Mondays program to meet with City staff to discuss if the selected pre-approved ADU plans are right for your property and to answer any questions on permit requirements. You can also email to adu@milpitas.gov for inquiry on this program.
• Contract with a pre-approved ADU vendor to prepare building permit submittal package. Please note that site specific plans are still required. Please review Pre-approved ADU Site Specific Plan Submittal Checklist (PDF) for submittal requirements.
• Submit your building permit application online. Please review Online Plan Submittal for electronic submittal requirements and instructions.
• Qualified permit applications under this pre-approved ADU program can significantly reduce plan review turnaround time (PDF) by as much as 50%. The plan review fee will be charged on an hourly basis, which will be lower than the full plan review fee. Please note that any modifications to the pre-approved ADU plans will not qualify for this program.

All qualified professionals are invited to submit applications for pre-approval of ADU plans. Obtain pre-approval by following the steps below:

• Review Pre-approved ADU Master Plan Submittal Checklist (PDF) for submittal requirements.
• Submit building permit application online. Please review Online Plan Submittal for electronic submittal requirements and instructions. “Project Address and Description” shall be input as “Pre-approved ADU Master Plan – (Company Name) – (ADU Model Plan Name)”. Note that each model plan shall be submitted as a separate permit.
• A large portion of Milpitas is located in SFHA. Designers are encouraged to incorporate flood resistant design option in the plan. Pre-approved ADU plans with flood resistant design option will be applicable to more properties in the City.
• Permit applications for pre-approval of ADU plans will be reviewed under the standard plan review turnaround time (PDF). The plan review fee will be based on the standard Fee Schedule (PDF).
• Once the review is approved, a brief description of the size/type of pre-approved ADU plans and vendor contact information will be featured on this webpage until the City adopts new building or zoning codes. Updated plans shall be submitted through the pre-approval permitting process.
  

Pre-approved ADU plans are only valid for permit applications submitted under the current code cycle. Complete pre-approved ADU submittal package to be updated to the new code cycle shall be submitted for review and approval in order to be eligible for site specific permit application submitted after the effective date of the new code cycle.

Below are the submittal procedures for updating the pre-approved ADU plans:

• Review Pre-approved ADU Master Plan Submittal Checklist (PDF) for submittal requirements. Note that the submittal package shall include a narrative of change letter with below information:
  • Permit no. of previously approved Pre-approved ADU plan
  • List of changes due to code update and the relevant code sections
  • List of changes initiated by design change and not as a result of code change. If none, please state that there are no design changes.
    Note: All changes listed in the letter shall be clouded on plans.
• Submit building permit application online. Please review Online Plan Submittal for electronic submittal requirements and instructions. “Project Address and Description” shall be input as “Pre-approved ADU Plan Code Update  – (refer to Permit no. of previously approved Pre-approved ADU plan)”. Note that each model plan shall be submitted as a separate permit.
• Permit applications for code update of previously approved pre-approval of ADU plans will be reviewed under the standard plan review turnaround time (PDF). If there are only changes due to code update, the plan review fee will be based on the plan review time spent on an hourly rate basis.  If there are changes initiated by design change, the plan review fee will be based on the standard Fee Schedule (PDF).
• Once the review is approved, the updated pre-approved ADU plans applicable to the new code cycle will be featured on this webpage.

Pre-Approved ADU Plans

The following is a list of pre-approved ADU plan size/type with vendor contact information for use in the City of Milpitas, subject to limitations as listed under the Homeowners’ section above.

Basically Homes, powered by Vitalizebuild Construction

info@vitalizebuild.com
408-545-8066
1bd/1ba, 499sqft
(Pre-approved under 2022 California Codes)

Please note that the approval of pre-approved ADU plans does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any specific designer, contractor, or other design professional by the City of Milpitas.