Yes. As of October 2026, the City of Fresno offers five pre-approved ADU plans, from a 340 sq ft studio to a 1,015 sq ft three-bedroom unit, each in three exterior styles. The city's Quick Start Guide lists the plans and plan check as free for property inside Fresno city limits. Construction and permit fees are still yours.
What are the five plans?
Each plan comes in Craftsman, Contemporary or Gable styling and includes solar panel drawings.
| Plan | Layout | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Studio, one bath | 340 sq ft (20 x 17 ft) |
| 2 | One bedroom, one bath | 499 sq ft (30 x 17 ft) |
| 3 | One or two bedrooms, one bath | 625 sq ft (25 x 25 ft) |
| 4 | Plan 3 built over a garage | 25 x 25 ft footprint |
| 5 | Three bedrooms, two baths | 1,015 sq ft (41 x 26 ft) |
Who can use them?
Fresno's Quick Start Guide says the property must be inside Fresno city limits, in a zone that allows homes or already has one, with room for setbacks and access to utilities.
Some Fresno mailing addresses are in unincorporated county areas, which Fresno County reviews. Clovis, Selma and Madera County have their own plans; see our area pages.
What is not free?
Construction, utilities, site work and the building permit. The 2023 Quick Start Guide listed building permits at up to $2,400 and school impact fees that vary by square footage, and said other agencies may charge more.
Those fee figures date from the 2023 guide; we confirm current fees for your permit.
Do I still need a site plan?
Yes. A pre-approved plan covers the building itself. You still show where it sits on your lot, with setbacks, utility routes and the existing structures.
The city now sends pre-approved and custom ADU plans straight to a building permit, without a separate Zone Clearance, as of October 2026.
Which plans avoid impact fees?
Plans 1, 2 and 3, and the Plan 3 living space in Plan 4, are under 750 sq ft, so under Government Code §66311.5 they are exempt from impact fees as of October 2026.
Plan 5, at 1,015 sq ft, would pay fees in proportion to its size. Plans 1 and 2 are also under 500 sq ft, which exempts them from school fees.
When is a custom design better than a city plan?
It depends on your lot and your goal. A city plan cannot convert a garage or attach to the house, and it may not fit a narrow or oddly shaped yard. If you need a specific layout, an accessible bathroom or a footprint the plans do not offer, a custom set is the better route, as our design and permits page explains.
Related
Sources, as of October 2026: City of Fresno ADU Program page; City of Fresno ADU Quick Start Guide (October 26, 2023); California Government Code §66311.5; HCD ADU Handbook (March 2026).
Updated October 2026