The main steps towards gaining a permit to construct your ADU are as follows.

Gather materials for the building permit application.

1

Meet with City Plan for a pre-submission meeting.

2

Revise your application materials post-meeting and submit the application through City Squared.

3

Submit your notarized deed restriction to the city clerk’s office.

4

How To Use City Squared

  • 1.

    Log in to City Squared, or register if you do not have an account.

  • 2.

    Select your permit type. The department is “Building (1 and 2 family only) - Public” and Permit type is “Addition”.

  • 3.

    Type in your property address and select it as the site of your building.

  • 4.

    If you are working with a contractor, add them to the project here.

  • 5.

    If you are working with a contractor, provide workers compensation certification from them.

  • 6.

    Upload all of your documents and application materials. A full list of these materials can be found in the section below.

  • 7.

    Read the certification, then type your name to sign.

  • 8.

    Enter your payment information for the permit application here, or choose “Pay in office” to submit your fee in-person.

  • 9.

    Review your application, then click “Submit”. You’re done!

Materials for Building Permit Application

For more information on each component of the application, refer to the links included with each description.

All documents must be submitted through City Squared; the signed and notarized Deed Restriction must also be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office.

The deed restriction, affidavit of residence, and zoning table can be found on the Resources page of this toolkit.

Documents

  • This can be accessed online or by contacting the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.

    Contact Jenine Wilson, Contract Records Technician
    90 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT 06511
    (203) 401-2570
    jwilson@rwater.com
    http://www.rwater.com

  • Contact: Ricardo Ceballos, Project Engineer
    260 East Street, New Haven, CT 06511
    (203) 466-4211
    receballos@gnhwpca.com
    http://www.gnhwpca.com

  • File the Accessory Dwelling Unit Deed Restriction on the land records at the City Clerk’s Office, 200 Orange Street New Haven, CT 2nd Floor. Upload a copy of the recorded Restriction with your application to City Squared.

  • Please read the Accessory Dwelling Unit Owner Occupancy and Leave of Absence Rules. Then read, sign, and notarize the Accessory Dwelling Unit Affidavit of Residence.

    Links to these documents can be found on the Resources page.

  • Fill out the zoning table provided on the resources page.

Drawings must be at least 8.5 x 11”, and at a scale no smaller than 1/16” = 1’-0”. A sample drawing set can be found on the Resources page of this toolkit.

Drawings and Photographs

  • Floor plans must be provided of every floor in the structure. Every room shown on a floor plan must be labeled. Floor plans may be a sketch.

  • A plot plan and plot elevation is required. The plan must include the building envelope of all structures on the site and show the property line and proposed and required setbacks. The elevations must include all sides of the structure(s) directly associated with the improvements.

  • Provide photographs of front, sides and rear of the existing property.

    All photographs must be in color, no less than 8” x 10” and submitted on individual sheets of paper.

    Each photograph must be accurately labeled with the location being shown and the description of the proposed work area(s).

    Photographs that have been altered in any way need to be labeled as such, indicating the type of changes including but not limited to photo-shopping or cropping.

    Photographs must be submitted to document all work areas and show an overview of the structure or object being modified.

  • Surveys are not required for ADU’s in existing structures. If a survey is provided, it must be signed and sealed (with the survey date indicated). Surveys must be on sheets no smaller than 8 1/2 ” x 11” and drawn to scale not smaller that 1” = 30’ feet.

  • Contact the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (GNHWPCA) to obtain this.

    Contact: Ricardo Ceballos, Project Engineer
    260 East Street, New Haven, CT 06511
    (203) 466-4211
    receballos@gnhwpca.com
    http://www.gnhwpca.com