Homeowners in Moraga, Lafayette and Orinda can now get professionally designed accessory dwelling unit plans for free, thanks to a new tri-city partnership announced Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The three cities are working with RRM Design Group to build a shared library of pre-approved ADU plans available at no cost to local property owners, according to a Town of Moraga civic alert. Grant funding is covering the design work, though the specific grant source has not been identified publicly.
Residents can review the draft plans now and weigh in through a public survey open through Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. The town said feedback will shape refinements before the Moraga Town Council considers adopting the plans, with the next regular council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 329 Rheem Blvd. It's unclear whether Lafayette and Orinda will hold separate adoption votes.
What pre-approved plans mean for homeowners
Pre-approved ADU plans let property owners skip the architectural design phase, which can cost thousands of dollars. California's Assembly Bill 1332 required all cities to offer pre-approved plan sets by Jan. 1, 2025, and mandates that cities review permit applications using those plans within 30 days, half the 60-day window for custom designs, according to a state ADU regulations guide.
The tri-city library now brings Lamorinda into compliance with that mandate while pooling resources across three jurisdictions.
Homeowners who use the plans will still need to secure planning and building permits, including a site plan, foundation plan and geotechnical report where required, according to Moraga's ADU information page. The pre-approval covers architectural design, not site-specific requirements.
ADUs booming statewide
California leads the nation in ADU construction. More accessory dwelling units are now being permitted statewide than traditional single-family homes, according to a May 2026 Pew Research report. About 40 U.S. jurisdictions have some form of pre-approved plan program as of 2026.
In Seattle, pre-approved plans cut approval times by a factor of 2.6, and ADU permitting nearly doubled the year after that city released its plan gallery in 2019.
Moraga's ADU rules in flux
The announcement lands three days before Moraga's newly amended ADU ordinance takes effect. The town amended its ADU ordinance on July 8, with the new rules taking effect Aug. 7. A separate incentive program, the ADU Accelerator Program, expired March 15.
How to participate
Residents can access the draft plans and survey through the Town of Moraga's website. The survey closes Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. The Moraga Town Council's next meeting is Sept. 9 at 329 Rheem Blvd.
