Pre-approved ADU plans reduce costs and streamline the permitting process.
The City of Eugene is launching a Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program to encourage construction of ADUs by offering property owners a selection of pre-approved building plans that can be downloaded for free or purchased for a set fee. This program aims to assist property owners in creating architectural plans, expediating the building permit process and reducing pre-construction costs.
The City has created two free, pre-approved accessory dwelling unit plans that are available to download now on the City website. These plans include options for variations in exterior materials and roof style. In the near future, additional plans will be available in an online library created by local architects.
Cost Savings
The two City plans are free, and the architect-submitted plans will be available for a set fee . Although property owners will still need to pay applicable systems development and building permit charges, using the pre-approved ADU plans saves the cost of plan review fees, in addition to saving time by streamlining the process.
Program History
Eugene is in a housing crisis. Years of underproduction, high construction costs and low wages have created an environment where many community members struggle to find housing they can afford. The City is classified as severely rent-burdened, meaning that a majority of community members spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. To address this, the Eugene City Council asked staff to recommend possible strategies and tools to address the barriers to housing affordability, availability, and diversity. The Pre-Approved ADU program is one tool to work towards that goal.
More Information about Building ADUs in Eugene
- ADUs are currently allowed in all neighborhoods.
- ADUs can be a maximum of 800 sq. ft. or 10% of the lot area in most zones (whichever is less).
- ADUs in most zones only need to meet the design standards required for ADUs and are not subject to other residential design standards.
- ADUs do not require additional off-street parking.
- Owner occupancy of either the ADU or the primary dwelling is not required.
- ADUs are not restricted by minimum lot size, lot dimension or maximum density.
- ADUs are allowed on alley access lots and flag lots.
- System Development Charges (SDCs) can be financed through the City for up to 10 years
Interested parties can visit the City of Eugene website to view the preapproved plans, download an ADU checklist, view stormwater information, learn about types of ADUs, and to view frequently asked questions.
For more information about the Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit Program, visit: www.eugene-or.gov/PreApprovedADU