Danville Provides Free ADU Plans To Residents

DANVILLE, CA — The town of Danville is making free plans for accessory dwelling units available to residents.

ADUs, colloquially known as mother-in-law units or granny units, are separate housing units built by owners on the same property parcel. They may be attached to or detached from the main house, and are popular among renters and multigenerational households. Local governments across the country, facing housing shortages, have sought to make it easier for homeowners to build ADUs on their property.

Now Danville is seeking to incentivize ADUs through its newly launched Garden Cottage Program is now making readily available plans for a 640-square-foot studio, an 840-square-foot one-bed, one-bath unit and a 1,000-square-foot two-bed, two-bath unit, the town announced in a news release Monday. Plans are tailored to fit Craftsman, Mediterranean and Contemporary housing styles.

The plans were rendered by local architects and come permit-ready and pre-vetted, meaning residents' projects may see expedited processing and lower building permit fees, the town said. Residents will still need to call on design professionals to ready a site plan and account for grading plans.

The Garden Cottage Program has been in the works since the beginning of the year, according to the town's website.

Anyone seeking more information may check out the town's webpage on ADUs or contact Civil Engineering Associate Guillermo Santolaya at (925) 314-3352 or gsantolaya@danville.ca.gov.