Streamlined Permitting Process and Pre-Approved Designs Aim to Boost Accessory Dwelling Units Across the City
The City of San Antonio has officially launched its Casita Program, offering a new Casita Permit-Ready Plan Library online to help residents more easily build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), also known locally as casitas. This effort is part of the city’s Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP), a broader initiative focused on expanding affordable housing opportunities across San Antonio.
Casitas have long played a role in San Antonio’s neighborhoods, and the city is making it easier to bring them back. Following the 2021 adoption of SHIP and a major 2022 update to the Unified Development Code—which cut red tape and reduced building costs—homeowners now have a simpler path to adding ADUs to their properties.
“We are committed to ensuring San Antonio’s residents have access to more affordable housing options in established neighborhoods,” said Veronica Garcia, Director of the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. “By launching the Casita Program and making these permit-ready plans available, we are helping create access to opportunities for homeowners and their future neighbors by providing an innovative use of land within our city.”
Casitas offer a win-win for both property owners and renters: homeowners gain potential rental income that helps them stay in their homes, while renters benefit from more affordable housing choices in neighborhoods with existing infrastructure.
The new Casita Permit-Ready Plan Library features pre-approved designs reviewed by the City’s Development Services Department, which can save time and costs by skipping the need to start from scratch. These plans are not site-specific, offering flexibility for a wide range of properties.
The five available designs include:
• The Maricela – Permit-Ready Plan 1
• The Santiago – Permit-Ready Plan 2
• Hideaway Haven – Permit-Ready Plan 3
• Inside Out – Permit-Ready Plan 4
• Hinter Haus – Permit-Ready Plan 5
In addition to the plan library, the city has built an online hub with guidance on construction, permitting, financing, and available incentives for building a casita.
Residents can explore the full program and resources by visiting: SA.gov/ADU
