Map the utility route
Locate the main electrical service and any known sewer connection. Mark unknown routes clearly so the team can investigate them.
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Monte Sereno ADU Services
A detached home may fit the garden but still need a workable foundation, sewer route and electrical connection. Monte Sereno’s ADU guidance puts those questions on the same page as the floor plan.
Plan for your property ↓
Planning an ADU in Monte Sereno
Review the technical handout
The City’s ADU document covers electrical loads, sewer connections and building submittals. Ask your designer which items affect the first layout.
Prepare the permit file
Monte Sereno directs applicants to its electronic permit portal. Keep the site plan, project summary and supporting reports together.
02 / On the property
Draw a line from the home to the connection
Lay a transparent sheet over the sketch and trace the proposed sewer and electrical routes. If either crosses an existing structure or a tight access point, investigate that segment before fixing the building location.
ADU engineering ↗Official resources
Monte Sereno ADU and JADU requirements Monte Sereno online permit servicesMonte Sereno ADU questions
What does the City ask for on a detached project?
Its handout lists plans, a project summary and supporting calculations, and discusses soils reports for detached structures. Confirm your submission with Building.
What should I mark for the sewer discussion?
Show the existing building footprints, known lateral location and the proposed ADU plumbing wall. Flag any uncertain section.
Should I estimate electrical capacity from the panel label?
Give a panel photo to the electrician and ask for a load assessment. The City’s guidance specifically addresses electrical service.
Where does the permit application go?
Use Monte Sereno’s online permit service and the City’s instructions for the relevant permit type.
How should an attached option be compared?
Show the shared wall and nearby doors and windows. Ask the design team to identify separation details and utility connections.
What if a soils report is already available?
Share its date, scope and location with the project engineer and ask whether Building will accept it for the proposed work.
When should equipment locations be chosen?
Reserve space for heating and water-heating equipment while the plan is still flexible. Check access for maintenance.
Can I move the home to shorten utility runs?
Sketch the alternate footprint and compare its slope, privacy and access as well as the shorter connection.
How should engineering appear in the budget?
Ask for separate items for investigation, calculations, design revisions and any construction work they identify.
What is worth keeping after plan review?
Save approved sheets and correspondence next to your record of inspections. Keep superseded drawings clearly marked.