Front Yard ADU with 3 Car Garage in Carlsbad

Thinking about a custom ADU floor plan? Have something specific in mind for your ADU design? We can do that! Keep scrolling to check out many of the custom ADU plans we have designed & built in the past for homeowners. We can also stack or attach multiple ADUs if you are building in a multifamily zone or in the City of San Diego where you can build Bonus ADUs.

While most homeowners opt to match the exterior of their ADU with their main residence, some take customization a step further. You may want to consider choosing a more custom ADU floor plan to meet your unique needs. Custom ADUs offer an unparalleled level of personalization, making each unit as individual as its owner.

Why Choose a Custom ADU Floor Plan?

Ever thought about why some homes just feel “right”? It’s often because they’ve been tailored to fit both the land they sit on and the people they shelter. When it comes to ADUs, customization can stem from various needs and desires. Maybe your ADU is close to the neighbor’s fence or your main house. Perhaps that window placement isn’t ideal due to a slope in your yard, or you’re looking for a touch more privacy. And sometimes, it’s all about achieving that specific look you’ve always dreamed of.

A custom ADU floor plan allows you to tailor the space to your specific needs, property constraints, and aesthetic preferences. Whether you want a minimalist design or intricate details, the choice is yours. Custom ADUs can be designed to complement the architecture of your main residence or to work with uniquely constrained yard spaces.

However, it’s essential to keep in mind that all this personalization comes with a price tag. Custom ADUs can cost 5-10% more than their standard counterparts because of their unique designs. And if you’re thinking of adding some luxury touches, like high-end tiles or top-tier windows, the costs can climb a bit more.

The Custom ADU Design Process at Snap ADU

Discovery Process: The process begins with a discovery phase to understand your needs and provide a budget based on your site specifics & requirements. As part of this phase, we would also work to understand your vision for the ADU design, often starting with an existing plan and mocking up changes. In other cases, you may send us something you have drafted on your own. We will take your plan and all your property information as inputs in creating a highly detailed proposal for you.

Feasibility & Site Assessment: In our feasibility phase, we move on to measuring the site, mapping out basic topography, and also locating existing utilities. All these factors, along with detailed zoning codes, will be combined into a site plan. From there, we can further refine your ADU design.

Design Iterations: This is a collaborative stage with your ADU designer. We finalize the floor plan, typically including at least one live video conference session with you and our drafting team. Once a design and scope is agreed, we proceed with signing a construction estimate agreement to lock your pricing while we work with the jurisdiction on permitting.

Permitting and Approvals: Our expertise in navigating the regulatory landscape ensures a smooth permitting process.

Build Out: We are ADU builders with a background in custom home building. You can rest assured that every detail of your custom ADU will come to life exactly as envisioned when we build your ADU.

Opting for a custom ADU floor plan offers numerous advantages, from personalization and optimized functionality to seamless integration with your existing property. We invite you to reach out for a consultation to explore the possibilities of your custom ADU project.

Read more in our Custom ADU Guide.

Browse Floor Plans for Inspiration

If you’re considering a custom ADU, try checking out off the shelf floor plans to find something close to what you are envisioning. You can mark up plans to share with your ADU designer. This approach helps expedite your design process and reduce costs, even if you are going more custom.

1 Bedroom Floor Plans
2 Bedroom Floor Plans
3 Bedroom Floor Plans
4 Bedroom Floor Plans
Two Story Floor Plans

Several SnapADU team members live in Carlsbad, and we know the city’s regulations and processes very well. Turnaround times at the city are moderate. Carlsbad requires in-person submissions as well as soils reports (>500 sqft), both of which do add some processing time and expense. Also, some of Carlsbad is in the coastal zone and minor use permits are required in those areas.

What about Carlsbad’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Permit Ready Program?

You may have heard about the City of Carlsbad’s permit ready ADU program. Under the program, the city offers a handful of floor plans that may be used by the public.

However, these plans require property-specific modifications and additional documentation to meet full permitting requirements. While initially seeming cost-effective, pre-approved plans may not offer significant savings due to construction costs and potential design adjustments needed for your specific site. To our knowledge, the permitting time for these plans is also not any different than other ADU plans.

For a detailed exploration of using pre-approved ADU plans and their implications, read more about the considerations for using pre-approved ADU plans from cities.