ADU Feasibility Consultations
For the Napa County Affordable Accessory Dwelling Unit (AADU) Forgivable Loan Program
ADU Feasibility Consults, just for applicants of the Napa County Forgivable Loan Program!
Wondering what kind of ADU and/or Junior ADU you can build on your property?
Sign up for an ADU feasibility consult by filling out our 10-minute questionnaire here! You’ll meet with an ADU expert and receive a customized ADU Feasibility Report.
Feel free to check out the FAQs for more info on the ADU Consults!
Ready to get started?
How it works
Fill out the sign up form below.
- Fill out our short 10-minute questionnaire
- We’ll do background research on your property and local ADU rules and invite you to schedule a zoom meeting
- We’ll hold a 1 hour virtual zoom meeting to discuss your project in detail and answer questions
- You’ll receive a written ADU Feasibility Report!
What to know
ADU Feasibility Consultations are provided for new ADU builds, not for assessing already existing, unpermitted ADUs.
If you have an unpermitted ADU, your local jurisdiction will have a process for working with you to get your ADU up to code.
If your parcel is on a septic system please read the FAQs below before continuing with the questionnaire.
Step 1: Take our 10-minute questionnaire
“
I am impressed with the well thought-out report that was customized based on the feedback that was given to the ADU Expert that conducted the site visit.
I am able to … weigh the pros and cons of the ADU options and make informed decisions based on that. I am also given a clear view of timing and next steps which is very helpful in starting the project.”
Napa Homeowner
Frequently Asked Questions about Feasibility Consults
At what stage of the ADU process should I get an ADU Feasibility Consult?
As early as possible! The goal of the consult is to make sure you have a deep understanding of the best ADU options for you given your goals and budget objectives. Doing so will save you time and resources in the long term. If you’re already far along in the process with a designer or architect, you may no longer need an ADU Feasibility Consult – instead, just reach out to us if you have questions along your ADU journey.
Who is eligible to receive an ADU Feasibility Consult?
To receive a consult, you must:
- Own a property located in one of our participating jurisdictions (consult the list on our Contact page)
- Complete the questionnaire on this page
- Be eligible to build an ADU or Junior ADU on your parcel
- Indicate you can reasonably expect to build given the project budget and costs.
Because these consultations are subsidized by a nonprofit, we want to ensure that we provide our consults to Napa and Sonoma County homeowners who are likely to follow through on concrete action steps to build their ADU. ADU Feasibility Consultations are provided for new ADU builds, not for assessing already existing, unpermitted ADUs. If you have an unpermitted ADU, your local jurisdiction will have a process for working with you to get your ADU up to code.
Can I get an ADU Feasibility Consult if my primary residence is on a septic system?
Yes, if you have confirmed that you can build on your current septic system or are able to upgrade it as needed for an ADU! If your house is on a septic system, please contact the local septic agency to find out if you can add an ADU to your property before scheduling your ADU Feasibility Consultation.
- For Sonoma County please contact Permit Sonoma Well & Septic at PermitSonoma-Well-Septic@sonoma-county.org or at (707) 565-2849
- For Napa County please contact the Napa County Environmental Health Division at Environmental@countyofnapa.org or at (707) 253-4417
- For further discussion of septic issues, check out our blogpost “What’s the deal with septic systems?” over at our ADU Info Center.
What information does the ADU Feasibility Consult provide me with?
The ADU Feasibility Consult does three things:
- Our ADU expert conducts background research on your parcel and the local rules in your city or county to determine whether your property is eligible to build an ADU. Usually, the answer is Yes!
- Our ADU expert conducts a 1-hour Zoom meeting with you to discuss your goals in building an ADU and to identify site-specific characteristics of your parcel that will guide our ADU recommendations for you.
- Our ADU expert will write up and give you an ADU Feasibility Report that details your unique ADU goals and our customized ADU recommendations for your parcel. It will explain the ramifications of your parcel’s characteristics and the local city or county ADU rules that apply to your parcel. It will also include concrete information and resources for you to take the next steps on your ADU journey!
What happens after the ADU Feasibility Consult is completed?
The ADU Feasibility Report you receive will contain a comprehensive list of next steps for you to take, including directing you to our list of vetted vendors, including designers, architects, builders, prefab companies and more. From there, you can request bids from those vendors (or any others of your choice not on the website) to continue the next stage of your ADU project!
What’s the catch? Do I have to commit to anything in the future?
All we ask if you receive an ADU Feasibility Consult from us is that you agree to complete a few short surveys from the Napa Sonoma ADU Center afterwards — one right after you receive the report, and another in the months to come — so that we can learn more about your ADU journey so that we can continue to improve our nonprofit services to help more Napa and Sonoma County homeowners in the future.
Does the Napa Sonoma ADU Center provide additional help to me after the ADU Feasibility Consult is completed?
Absolutely! We will always be here to answer your questions at no cost throughout your ADU journey. We’re also constantly developing new educational resources for Napa and Sonoma County homeowners, including our ADU workbook, ADU calculator, city rules, newsletter, blog, webinars, and more.
