Building with Snap ADU

Already have your financing for the project lined up? Feel free to skip this step. Otherwise, now's the time to explore funding options. You will have an estimated all-in cost for your complete ADU project (design, permit, sitework, build), and we can recommend lenders specializing in ADU financing.

Your next step is a Virtual Site Visit led by Bob, our Director of Project Consultation, who has guided hundreds of San Diego homeowners towards their ADU goals since 2020. Using satellite imagery, zoning research, and your goals, we’ll define what’s truly buildable on your lot and surface any early red flags. You'll then receive a Feasibility Snapshot and a detailed Proposal outlining anticipated all-in costs, timeline, and key considerations for your ADU. Our Snapshot analyzes 75+ property factors and is reviewed by our design, permitting, and construction leads - drawing on the experience of a team that has successfully delivered over 100 ADUs. This means you get not just numbers on a page, but a coordinated, real-world picture of what it will take to make your ADU a reality. After you receive the SnapShot, we'll also support you through your decision process with subsequent review meetings to cover any questions you might have.

Every successful ADU starts with knowing where you can actually build. In this stage we conduct our initial site visit, create a scaled site plan, analyze zoning and development standards, and complete an initial utility assessment to establish your true buildable envelope. This step lays the foundation for everything that follows, giving us accurate information to place your ADU correctly, and meet code. We also provide an updated scope of work & total cost.

Not every project requires this step, but if your ADU involves customizing a floor plan, adding a garage or deck, connecting multiple ADUs, or addressing special site scenarios or foundation conditions, we'll address those here. Our team can also incorporate requirements for HOAs, historic review submittals, septic layouts, or preliminary city/agency reviews for factors like brush management. These services are scoped as needed to ensure your ADU design is appropriately customized, approvable, and buildable.

Property reports are the “X-rays and lab tests” of your ADU project, allowing us to verify our assumptions about your property. A licensed surveyor confirms exact lot lines, property elevations, and setbacks; utility mapping locates sewer, water, gas, and electric lines; and utility planning verifies panel capacity and coordinates with SDGE. Even if not listed as a requirement up front, plan checkers or inspectors may still require these later, which can add cost and delays if not already completed. By securing these reports early, you get reliable data for budgeting and design — and avoid costly surprises mid-project. At this time we will also complete any required boundary surveys, soils reports, or title reports.

With verified survey and utility data in hand, we refine your ADU design into a buildable plan. Our team develops detailed floor, roof, and electrical plans, plus door & window schedules, cabinet layouts, and exterior renderings so you can clearly visualize the finished home. We update the site plan to reflect all survey and utility findings (both electrical, and gas/water/sewer), confirm zoning and access, and adjust the ADU footprint for the best fit. Finally, we deliver a revised preliminary budget that incorporates real-world site conditions, giving you a reliable picture of your total investment before moving into construction documents.

After your approval of the final Feasibility Study, we produce the full set of construction documents (CDs) required for permits and building. This package includes architectural plans, structural engineering, Title 24 energy compliance, and building code checks required for permit applications. We will also incorporate any project-specific requirements for MEP design, grading plans, landscaping plans, septic layouts and right-of-way design. Once the CDs are finalized, we present a Construction Estimate Agreement (CEA), locking in the price for up to 6 months during the permitting process.

Permitting is where many ADU projects stall, but it’s where SnapADU excels. Our in-house team prepares and submits the full application package, manages communication with city reviewers, and incorporates plan check comments until approval is secured. We also manage utility service orders, HOA and coastal approvals, and guide you through required signatures and fees. Most importantly, we advocate for you if agencies request items beyond what state ADU law allows, keeping your project moving and your budget protected.

We support our clients in making interior & exterior design selections early in the process to ensure we can keep your project on time and on budget. While the city is reviewing your plans, you’ll make your design choices. You can choose an included standard design from our Look Book or select finishes a la carte. We can also work with your provided materials.

Once we have permits, construction can typically start moving within 2-4 weeks. We handle the entire process, all the way to the final punch list with you to make sure your ADU meets or surpasses your expectations. Timing on this phase will depend heavily on the responsiveness of the city inspectors and also the size of the unit (with two story units taking about a month longer).

Timing: 6-8 months

Your ADU is backed by SnapADU’s industry-leading warranty program, covering workmanship, systems, and structure. After move-in, our team is here to support you with clear guidelines for submitting any warranty requests, prompt evaluations, and reliable resolution.