Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU)

Overview

What is an ADU? Click here to see the City's Accessory Dwelling Unit Web Page.

In 2020, The California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded the City Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant funding to design pre-approved ADU building plans that will be available for download and use by Escondido residents. This effort was underscored by the Escondido City Council who adopted the Sixth Cycle Housing Element which identified housing goals, policies, and programs including Program 2.1 which focused on facilitating the construction of ADUs to provide additional housing opportunities for lower and moderate-income households and to comply with new state law requirements.

In 2023, the State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1332 which requires local agencies to  make pre-approved ADU plans available by January 1, 2025. To meet the state legislature’s ambitious deadline and deliver on the Housing Element’s objectives, the City of Escondido has developed a comprehensive program that will accelerate ADU permitting for the City of Escondido.

What are PAADU Plans?

PAADU plans are pre-approved designs for new construction, detached ADUs that can save time and money on design and engineering costs. While plans have been reviewed and accepted by the City, they are NOT specific to a property or site. Applicants are still required to submit a building permit and go through the standard ADU permitting process.

Where Do I Start?

The Pre-approved ADU (PAADU) Guidebook & Publication Materials serve as a resource and roadmap to help residents navigate through Escondido’s PAADU permit process, reducing uncertainty in what may be a complicated process. Use any of the following documents to help you get started with the PAADU permitting process.

• PAADU Guidebook  English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) - helps applicants navigate the entire PAADU process.
• Initial Considerations Handout English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) - offers a series of topics and considerations to help homeowners prepare for their ADU building journey. 
• The PAADU Program Process Sheet English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) - provides step-by-step guidance on the PAADU permit application process.
• Create Your Site Plan Worksheet English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) - helps sketch a site plan.
• The PAADU Option Selections Handout English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) - provides an overview of customization selections that need to be made to submit a PAADU application. 
• The Old Escondido Neighborhood PAADU Adaptation Guide English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) - exhibits a selection of features that can be added to PAADU plans to match historic architectural styles. 
• Frequently Asked Questions Sheet English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) – common questions asked by the public around ADUs.

PAADU Plans

Four pre-approved ADU Building Plans are available to the public for download and use. 

Note: ProjectDox, the City's permitting website, requires plans to be uploaded individually in accordance with a specified naming convention. The ZIP files below have been labeled to meet these naming convention standards. Applicants are only required to rename the file with their specific permit number. 

Example: If your permit number is B24-2022 and the PAADU file is named "B00-0000A102-Site Plan," you will have to rename your file "B24-2022A102-SitePlan."

• To use a ZIP file, you can create one by selecting files or folders, right-clicking, and choosing an option like "Compress" or "Send to ZIP" (depending on your operating system). 
• To access the contents, simply double-click the ZIP file to view or extract the files. 
• Extraction can be done by dragging the contents out or using an "Extract" option. 

For assistance with utilizing these approved plans with the City's ProjectDox Online Plan Review Software, please contact the Planning Division at planning@escondido.gov.