Submit the required materials from the Pre-Approved ADU Application Checklist to the Building Inspection Division. Plans for different ADU models should be submitted as separate applications. An overview of the required materials is provided below. Please see the checklist for the complete list of the submittal requirements.  

• Building Permit Application 

• Architectural Plans (Floor Plans, Roof Plans, Elevations, and Section Drawings) 

• Structural Plans and Calculations 

• Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical Plans 

• Detail Sheets 

• Energy Calculations 

• Truss Calculations 

The Planning and Building Inspection Divisions will review ADU applications for pre-approval. Approval or feedback will be provided within 60 days of receipt of a completed and accurate application. Note that plans may require more than one round of City review. 

When designing plans, please note that most ADUs must be approved ministerially by State Law. ADUs that are up to 800 square feet with four-foot side and rear setbacks generally must be approved (Gov. Code §66321). ADUs larger than 800 square feet must abide by all objective standards in the Newark Municipal Code. It may also be valuable to review the ADU height limits established in NMC §17.26.040. Also, please note that impact fees, charged when a site-specific application is submitted, will not be assessed for ADUs that are less than 750 square feet. 

Pre-Approved ADU plans will only be valid during the 2022 California Building Code cycle which runs through 2025. New applications will need to be submitted when the City of Newark adopts the new California Building Codes (anticipated in January 2026).  

If an ADU has been pre-approved, the Design Professional’s contact information will be posted publicly in the Plan Gallery. The City requests that Design Professionals provide renderings, floor plans, and building information such as size, style, height, bathroom count, and bedroom count to be displayed as well. Also, Design Professionals should denote if the plan is for a pre-fabricated or site-built ADU. 

Design Professionals retain copyright to their plans, so any property owner who wishes to use a pre-approved ADU plan posted in the Plan Gallery must contact the plan’s author first. Should a Design Professional no longer want their plans to be posted in the Plan Gallery, they may submit a request to the Planning Division. Plans will be removed within 30 days of receipt of this request. 

Review the Pre-Approved ADU Site-Specific Application Checklist to understand any requirements around parcel eligibility. Applicants may look at the official Zoning Map and Zoning Code to understand if the parcel is zoned for residential use and, therefore, eligible for ADU construction. 

If you have questions about whether your property is eligible for an ADU or want guidance on navigating the pre-approved ADU process, please contact the Planning Division (planning@newarkca.gov).  

View the information regarding each plan in the Plan Gallery (coming soon) to find one that best suits your needs. If you are curious about how a particular ADU may fit on your property, you may experiment with ADU size and placement using Symbium.  Symbium may be used as a general guide, but its results are not official and do not guarantee approval from the City of Newark as other factors may impact allowable ADU size and placement. 

Use the contact information listed in the Plan Gallery to obtain the plans from the Design Professional and coordinate plan submittal and contracting. It is highly recommended to have the Design Professional do the site-specific submittal to avoid delays. Homeowners may not make any alterations to posted, pre-approved plans. 

Note that ADUs may either be pre-fabricated (pre-fab) or developed by a Design Professional. Pre-fab ADUs are generally constructed in parts or completely in a factory and assembled on-site by the vendor.  ADUs designed by a Design Professional are typically constructed entirely on-site. Homeowners may request the Design Professional to manage contracting or recommend a contractor. Homeowners may also hire a different contractor, if they prefer. If the Design Professional is not managing contracting, homeowners will likely still need to pay a fee to acquire the plans. 

Review the City’s ADU Ordinance (NMC §17.26.040) and Pre-Approved ADU Site-Specific Application Checklist to understand the design standards and submittal requirements. For any further questions, applicants may also check out the Newark ADU website and the Residential Code (NMC Chapter 15.09) or contact the Planning Division (planning@newarkca.gov) and Building Inspection Division (building.inspection@newarkca.gov). Information on fees is included below on this webpage.  

Please note the “Site-Dependent Submission Requirements” in the checklist, which includes requirements that may depend on the site’s location and characteristics. These requirements include: 

• ADUs that are located in the Flood Zone will need to submit a Soils Report and follow the Flood Zone mitigation requirements found in NMC §15.40. You may determine if your property is in the flood zone by entering your address into the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Please reach out to the Building Inspection Division with any questions about ADUs in the Flood Zone. 

• ADUs designed over 1,000 pounds per square foot will need to submit a Soils Report. 

• Projects that make any improvements to the public right-of-way will need to apply for an encroachment permit. More information can be found on the Engineering Division’s website. 

Submit the required materials from the Pre-Approved ADU Site-Specific Application Checklist to the Building Inspection Division. An overview of the required materials is provided below. Please see the checklist for the complete list of submittal requirements.  

• Building Permit Application 

• Pre-approved ADU Plans 

• Site Plan 

• Foundation plans 

• Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan 

• Waste Management Plan 

The Planning Division, Building Inspection Division, Engineering Division (if needed), and Fire Department will review site-specific applications for approval. Resubmitting exclusively the pre-approved ADU designs will be considered an incomplete submission. All site-specific materials must be submitted with the pre-approved designs for a site-specific application to be considered for approval. Approval or feedback will be provided within 30 days of receipt of a complete and accurate application. Note that plans may require more than one round of City review. 

The following fees are charged for Pre-Approved ADU Application Review: 

• Application 

• Plan Review 

• Record Automation and System Maintenance 

• State Building Standards Commission 

• State Strong Motion Instrumentation 

More information regarding these fees may be found in the Master Fee Schedule. 

Due to the complexities of the type of fees charged for Pre-Approved ADU Site-Specific Application Review, please see the Master Fee Schedule. For any questions regarding these fees, please contact the Building Inspection Division (building.inspection@newarkca.gov). 

For ADUs 750 square feet or more, Impact Fees will be charged. A Community Development Maintenance Fee (CDMF), based on 0.5% of the construction valuation, will also be charged. For any questions regarding these fees, please contact the Planning Division (planning@newarkca.gov).