VitalizeBuild City Guides

San Jose city is a leader in promoting ADUs - one of the first cities to adopt AB1033 to allow selling ADU separately as a condo and offer preapproval ADU plans. It's also one of the few cities that allow 2-story ADUs. VitalizeBuild has done many projects in pockets like Willow Glen, West San Jose, Almaden, and Berryessa.

Santa Clara City has its ADU preapproval program and is usually one of the most efficient city with its own utility company Silicon Valley Power. It's also one of the first cities to allow multiple ADU on one lot.

Sunnyvale city has the fastest ADU approval path with its over-the-counter approval process for any ADU or addition less than 800sqft. It's also one of the most progressive city that allows front-yard ADUs.

Cupertino city is one of the first Bay Area cities to adopt ADU preapproval plans. It also allows front-yard ADUs if there's no other way to fit the ADU in the backyard.

Los Altos city is one of the pioneers in allowing up to 4 ADUs on its lot, none of which is counted towards floor area ratio calculation. It's also one of the few cities that allows 2-story ADU with 18 feet height limit.

Campbell is one of the few Bay Area cities that allows 2-story ADU. With larger sized lots, homeowners tend to build larger sized ADUs

Palo Alto has its unique environmental standards and unique Eichler style neighborhoods. Planning's individual review process could be challenging, but luckily it does NOT apply to ADUs. Its own utility company makes the building process easier.

Milpitas city pays for your ADU plan check and permitting fees! Althought the lots in the cities tend to be smaller, the city encourages ADUs and sometimes allow front yard ADUs

Mountain View is a great city to build 2-story ADUs! With 28 feet height limit and no daylight plan requirments, the second story can have 4 feet setback just like the first story!

Unincorporated Santa Clara County includes parts of San Jose, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos. VitalizeBuild has completed multiple projects in these pockets

Saratoga city is one of first Bay Area cities to allow 4 ADUs. If you have trees close by, arborist report is typically needed. Soil report is required for most detached ADU projects

Redwood city is one of the few Bay Area cities that allows 2-story ADUs. Building vertically is a perfect way to fit a larger ADU on a smaller lot.

San Mateo city is one of the very few Bay Area cities that allows ADU to be larger than 1200 sqft if it's smaller than the main house. It also allows 2-story ADU. In fact, we are building one!

If you are builidng ADU in Fremont, you have to be careful with the soil condition, especially if you are closer to the hills. Fremont's sewer company is USD, which has some unique requirements for sewer connections

Unincorporated San Mateo county includes a large of Redwood City, Emerald Hill, Menlo Park, San Mateo, and pennisular pockets.