The office in charge depends on the site. A City of Los Angeles project uses City steps. Other cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County have their own rules and filing systems. Confirm the permit office before choosing a plan or filing path.
What happens before drawings?
Do enough property review to confirm the legal lot and current buildings. Record the ADU type, usable space, access and utilities. Check for any mapped limits. Name who will obtain a survey or advice about structure, soil, trees, fire or historic rules.
The design brief should state the room count, size and planned use. Add privacy and access needs, finish level, budget and items bought by the owner.
What may the drawing package contain?
Project rules vary, but a complete package often uses the documents below.
- cover sheet, work and code details;
- current and planned site plans;
- area and zoning calculations;
- floor and roof plans;
- exterior elevations and building sections;
- door/window and finish details;
- foundation and framing plans/details;
- structural calculations where required;
- mechanical, electrical and plumbing details;
- Title 24 energy forms and supporting documents;
- drainage, grading or civil details where required; and
- manufacturer or deferred-submittal documents.
The current LADBS forms and publications page lists its 2026 document-submittal bulletin for a new ADU Standard Plan. A project may need fewer or more documents than the suggested minimum list.
Who owns and coordinates the design?
Ask for the legal name and role of each architect, engineer and designer. Do the same for the energy adviser, surveyor and permit contact. State whether the builder hires them or the owner must do so.
The agreement should identify the items below.
- number of concepts and revision rounds;
- who owns/reuses the drawings;
- site visits and measurements;
- consultant fees;
- agency submission and response duty;
- redesign triggered by budget or site details;
- construction-phase questions and revisions; and
- what happens if the building contract is awarded elsewhere.
What does pre-approved mean?
LADBS says its Standard Plan Program reviews set designs against certain building codes. The site still needs zoning and foundation review. West Hollywood makes the same point. Its pre-approved plan still needs a site check and may not fit slopes, power lines, setbacks or other rules.
Pasadena shows why program dates matter. The City ended general use of its old catalog after 2025, when a new state code cycle began. It now lists a narrow path for some Eaton Fire sites while it reviews new options. Check each standard-plan claim on the local office’s current page.
See standard plans versus custom ADUs.
Plan review is an exchange, not one date
A schedule should show the first filing and the check for missing items. Add local review, correction notes, the design team’s reply and refiling. Include other approvals, permit issue and any rule that must be met before work starts.
Ask the company to separate the stages below.
- statutory or agency review periods;
- its own response time;
- time waiting for owner choices;
- utility or outside-agency work; and
- total calendar duration.
Do not convert a review target into a guaranteed permit date.
How are permit and consultant costs handled?
Separate fixed design fees from expert estimates, public fees and utility charges. List costs that the owner pays back to the company. Mark each amount as known, an allowance or paid by the owner.
If a design-build company advertises one total, ask what happens when plan review requires structural, utility or site changes. The cost guide provides the categories.
What should be complete before construction pricing?
Early pricing can help with planning. A firm comparison needs a stable site plan, floor area and structural plan. It also needs finish details, utility assumptions and outside work. Give every bidder the same plan version.
Require an addendum log when drawings change. A company should confirm which dated set its price uses.
Permit duty belongs in writing
California CSLB guidance says a home-improvement contract should name who gets the permits. It should also name who attends inspections and answers correction notes. Assign later documents, added inspection fees and final approval records.
Use the builder comparison to record these duties.
Control revisions after submission
Keep a list of each drawing, its date, the change made and who received it. If the owner, local office or site changes the design, name the affected sheets. Do this before work moves ahead.
A quote should say which replies to correction notes are included. It should explain how owner changes are priced. Name who checks that the crew has the current approved plans. Add these tasks to the complete ADU budget. A low design fee can grow if planning and changes are left out.
Require written distribution of each approved revision to the owner, site supervisor and affected trades.
Frequently asked questions
Does a permit expediter approve the project?
No. An expediter may coordinate submissions and communication. The reviewing permit office makes the choice, and licensed design professionals remain responsible for their work.
Can construction start while plans are being reviewed?
Do not start permit-required work without the required approvals and permits. Ask the office in charge and project professionals about any lawful early-work path.
Is custom design always slower?
Not necessarily. A standard plan can be efficient on a compatible site. A custom plan may avoid repeated attempts to force an unsuitable footprint onto a constrained property.
Who should answer agency corrections?
The agreement should name the responsible designer or consultant and include a defined number or basis for correction responses.