by: AIA New York
With the passage of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative back in December, a new program designed to help homeowners navigate the complexities of building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) has recently launched. Housing affordability is one of New Yorker’s biggest challenges, and the ADU for You Program aims to streamline the process for homeowners to make it more accessible, streamlined, and efficient.
What is the ADU for You Program and the Pre-Approved Plan Library?
Through City of Yes, the New York City Department of Planning (DCP) legalized a new category of residence in the Zoning Resolution—the ADU. These are small apartments located on the same tax lot as a primary dwelling and include backyard cottages, an apartment built above a garage, and basement or attic apartments.
The ADU For You Program will serve as an online, public-facing resource for homeowners, connecting them with designers through a Pre-Approved Plan Library (PAPL) and helping them through the complexities of building backyard ADUs. Having your plan in the library will open the New York City market for you and help us fill the PAPL with well-designed, thoughtful options.
Important Notes:
- This invitation only includes backyard ADU (attached and detached) designs for this Request for Submissions.
- The publicly available PAPL documents will show representations of the pre-approved buildings. Homeowners must contact the designated industry professional and enter into a formal contract to access technical drawings.
Visit HPD’s website here to review submission guidelines.
📅 Key Dates & Submission Info
The Department of Buildings (DOB) will accept questions (Request for Information) from interested applicants in two phases:
Submit by August 22nd→ Responses provided the week of August 29th
Submit by September 2nd→ Responses provided by September 5th
Send questions to preapprovedadu@buildings.nyc.gov
Submission Window: September 8–26
Submission Deadline: September 26
Applicants are limited to one submission for attached ADU designs and two submissions for detached ADU designs of different sizes (e.g., studio, one bedroom), with a maximum of 3 submissions per applicant
Include a completed application form and $600 fee per submission
Applicants are not required to be a licensed architect, but drawings must be stamped by a NYC DOB Registered Design Professional (RDP), or a NYS licensed Engineer or Architect for DOB review
Email the full submission package to preapprovedadu@buildings.nyc.gov
Design Selection: Final design selections will be made starting in November 2025
If Approved: DOB will issue a Pre-Approved Plan Number. and plans will be featured in the ADU for You Pre-Approved Plan Library!