Want to add a rental or guest space without months of design work and back-and-forth plan checks? If you live in Clovis, the City’s pre-approved ADU plans can help you cut design costs and move through permitting faster. You still have to show your site meets the rules, but the plan set is already vetted. Below you’ll learn how the program works, the key rules, timelines, and a simple checklist to get started. Let’s dive in.
How Clovis’ pre-approved ADU plans work
The City reviews full ADU plan sets from designers and posts approved options online with the designer’s contact info. You pick a listed plan, get a signed release from the plan author, and submit your building permit with a site-specific plot plan. The City then verifies your lot details and issues the permit if everything checks out. The program’s purpose is to expedite permitting and lower upfront design costs for homeowners, as outlined on the City’s Pre-Approved ADU Plans page.
The simple path in Clovis
- Select a plan from the City’s pre-approved list and contact the plan author for a release.
- Prepare a plot plan that shows the ADU location, setbacks, and utilities on your lot.
- Submit your building permit application referencing the chosen plan and allowed options.
- Complete any required specialty items, then proceed to permit issuance and construction.
What still needs review
Pre-approved plans do not replace site checks. Clovis still verifies utilities, setbacks, fire requirements, grading and drainage, and other health and safety items. The City notes that fire sprinkler and other specialty plans may require separate submittals, even when you use a pre-approved plan, per the program details.
Why these plans speed permits
California’s AB 1332 requires every local agency to offer a preapproval program and gives qualifying detached ADUs that use a preapproved plan a faster clock. For those projects, the City must approve or deny a complete permit application within 30 days, per the bill text for AB 1332. The state’s housing department also updated its ADU Handbook in January 2025 to clarify ministerial review and best practices, which you can find on HCD’s ADU resources page.
Clovis ADU rules at a glance
Clovis’ municipal code aligns with state law and sets the local numbers you need to know. You can review the full standards in the Clovis Municipal Code, Section 9.40.
- Allowed units on single-family lots: generally 1 ADU + 1 JADU.
- Sizes: detached ADU up to 1,200 sq ft; attached ADU up to 50% of the primary dwelling or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is greater; JADU up to 500 sq ft; minimum 220 sq ft for ADUs/JADUs.
- Setbacks: standard 4 ft from side and rear property lines.
- Height: detached ADUs on single-family lots are typically one story and 16 ft tall, with limited exceptions in specific conditions.
- Design: ADUs should be architecturally compatible with the primary home and meet all building and health codes.
When a custom plan makes sense
Pre-approved plans have limited options. If you want major layout changes or special features beyond the allowed options, your project may need full plan review. Your lot can also drive decisions. Easements, slope, trees, and utility locations can affect placement and costs. If you are part of an HOA or have lender or insurance rules to consider, review those early. State law limits local owner-occupancy rules for ADUs, while JADUs still follow different requirements. For a clear overview of state guidance, see HCD’s ADU resources.
Fees, timeline, and what to prepare
Using a pre-approved plan reduces plan-check time, but it does not eliminate site work or fees. Local agencies can still charge standard permit fees and may charge for preapproval, as noted by the California Building Officials’ summary of pre-approved ADU plan programs. To avoid delays, assemble a complete package and anticipate possible specialty submittals like fire sprinklers.
What you may need to submit:
- Building permit application referencing your selected pre-approved plan and options.
- Site plan showing the ADU footprint, setbacks, utilities, and driveways.
- Grading or drainage plans if required; sewer or septic documentation; fire review and any sprinkler plans; energy and solar compliance as applicable. The City outlines these expectations on its program page.
Quick checklist for Clovis homeowners
- Confirm zoning and lot eligibility with Clovis Planning.
- Choose a plan from the City’s pre-approved list and get the plan author’s release.
- Prepare a plot plan with accurate distances to property lines and existing structures.
- Request a written fee estimate and permit timeline from the Building Division.
- Coordinate utilities early and clarify any fire, energy, or solar requirements.
Other City programs to explore
Clovis offers a Cottage Home Program with a limited set of free plans for properties with alley access, plus a partnership with Self-Help Enterprises that may help with financing in certain cases. Review these options on the City’s ADU information page.
Fit this into your real estate plan
Whether you want a long-term rental, a suite for extended stays, or a future resale boost, an ADU can add flexibility and value to a Clovis property. If you are weighing a move to the Sierra foothills while keeping a Clovis home, an ADU might help offset your mortgage and create options. You can also pair a Clovis ADU strategy with a foothill purchase designed for lifestyle or income. If you want a clear plan and trusted local connections to designers and contractors, reach out to Tchukon Shanks for guidance.
FAQs
What is Clovis’ pre-approved ADU program and how fast is it?
- Clovis posts vetted ADU plans you can use, and for detached ADUs that use a preapproved plan, state law targets a 30-day approval or denial of a complete permit per AB 1332.
What are the core size, setback, and height limits in Clovis?
- Detached ADUs can be up to 1,200 sq ft, with 4 ft side and rear setbacks, and are typically one story and 16 ft tall on single-family lots, per the Clovis Municipal Code.
Do owner-occupancy rules apply to ADUs in Clovis?
- State law limits local owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs, while JADUs have different rules; see HCD’s ADU resources for current guidance.
What do I need to submit when using a pre-approved plan?
- Expect a permit application referencing the plan, a plot plan with setbacks and utilities, and any required specialty items like fire sprinkler, energy, or solar documents as listed on the City’s program page.
How do the Cottage Home Program and pre-approved plans differ?
- The Cottage Home Program offers a limited set of free plans for certain lots with alley access, while the broader pre-approved list covers more plan types and requires a release from the plan author; see the City’s ADU page for details.
