Yellow River Construction Inc designs and builds ADUs in Arcadia — detached backyard units, garage conversions and JADUs — with one licensed team for permits and construction. CSLB #1161539 (B — General Building, C-10 — Electrical). 中文服务。
Arcadia’s Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) program
Arcadia runs a Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (PAADU) program. It works a little differently from most cities: rather than reviewing brand-new designs, Arcadia only accepts plans for detached ADUs that the city has already approved on a real project after January 1, 2023 and that meet current objective design standards. Other program rules from the city’s page:
- Detached ADUs only, new construction (not conversions), and not combined with a new main house.
- Each designer may submit no more than two plans.
- Designers keep their copyright — homeowners who want a listed plan contract with that designer.
- Designers submit a plan for city review to get it pre-approved; the approval lasts until the city adopts new building or zoning codes that affect the plan.
What a PAADU plan saves a homeowner
Per the City of Arcadia, choosing a pre-approved plan means:
- No Planning review — the plan goes straight to Building review.
- Expedited plan-check review in the Building Division.
You still need a site plan, and permit fees are set by the city — check with Arcadia Building Services for current fees when you apply. Applications are filed online through the Arcadia EDGE e-permit portal. Pre-approved plans may not be used in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone unless the plan was specifically designed with the alternative details required there — relevant for some parcels in Arcadia’s northern foothills. We check the official fire-hazard map for your address first.
YRC and Arcadia
YRC does not have a plan on Arcadia’s PAADU list today. Because of Arcadia’s rule that a plan must first be approved on a real Arcadia project, our path is to build ADUs here through the standard process first; a design approved that way could later be submitted to the program. Our home-page project gallery includes an Arcadia ADU design rendering that is currently in development. We can also build a plan you purchase from a designer on the city’s list.
Arcadia design expectations
Arcadia is known for careful design review of homes, and its ADU rules rely on objective design standards — measurable requirements for roof form, materials, windows and placement. Getting these right on the first submittal is the difference between a quick approval and multiple correction cycles. We draw to the current standards and include the details reviewers look for.
Common Arcadia ADU projects
- Detached ADU on a large lot — many Arcadia parcels have room for a full 1,200 sq ft, two- or three-bedroom unit.
- Multigenerational suites — single-story, accessible layouts for parents, with wide doorways and a step-free entry.
- Garage conversions — often a faster route when the existing garage is in good condition.
Before you start: our lot check
- Confirm zoning, lot coverage and any hillside or fire-zone status.
- Locate sewer, water and gas lines and plan the new electrical feed; most all-electric ADUs need a load calculation and often a service upgrade.
- Check protected trees — Arcadia regulates certain oak trees — and access for construction.
- Pick a path: PAADU plan from a listed designer, a YRC custom design, or a conversion.
Timeline and free quote
State law requires a decision on a complete ADU application within 60 days, and within 30 days for a detached ADU using a pre-approved plan (AB 1332). Construction time depends on size and inspections. We quote each project after a free lot check.
Free quote — send us your address and we’ll call you back within 24 hours. 免费报价。
Arcadia ADU questions we hear often
Can I build a two-story ADU in Arcadia?
State law guarantees at least a 16-foot single-story ADU, with taller limits in some situations. Whether a two-story unit works on your lot depends on Arcadia’s current standards and your zone — we check this during the lot review.
Does a PAADU plan let me skip the site plan?
No. The city requires a site plan for every pre-approved plan, plus the homeowner submittal checklist.
Official Arcadia resources
- City of Arcadia — Pre-Approved ADU (PAADU) Programs · Planning Division (626) 574-5423, Planning@ArcadiaCA.gov
- California HCD — ADU Handbook