City of San Antonio Launches Online Casita Permit-Ready Plans
Published on May 12, 2025
The Strategic Housing Implementation Plan includes an Affordable Housing Initiative to support Accessory Dwelling Units.
SAN ANTONIO (May 12, 2025) – The City of San Antonio announces the launch of its Casita Program, and has made a Casita Permit-Ready Plan Library available to the public online. This innovative initiative is designed to streamline the process of building casitas, also known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and promote affordable and inclusive housing options for people throughout the city.
Historically, casitas have been an important part of San Antonio neighborhoods. In 2021, the City Council adopted the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP), which outlined strategies to increase and preserve available and accessible housing affordability. In 2022, San Antonio achieved a major milestone by updating the Unified Development Code, which simplified and reduced the costs of building new casitas.
Casitas can benefit both the homeowner and the renter. They create opportunities in existing neighborhoods with established infrastructure to provide owners with extra income to stay in their homes, and renters with affordable options throughout San Antonio.
“We are committed to ensuring San Antonio’s residents have access to more affordable housing options in established neighborhoods,” said Veronica Garcia, the 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.”
The Casita Permit-Ready Plan Library offers designs that have been reviewed and approved by the City’s Development Services Department. These plans save prospective builders both time and money, eliminating the need to start from scratch. The designs are complete and pre-approved. They are not site-specific, allowing flexibility in implementation.
The available plans 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 developed a comprehensive online Casita Program website that includes detailed resources and guidance on constructing and financing a casita. This initiative is designed to support the community in navigating the permitting process, understanding financial options, and utilizing available incentives for building new casitas.
For more information on the Casita Program, the available permit-ready plans, and available resources, please visit SA.gov/ADU