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Pre-permitted Plan Library
& Resource Center
Transforming Communities through small-scale urban infill
our mission is to transform communities by strategically developing small-scale urban infill housing to create sustainable and inclusive environments that empower residents and drive lasting social and economic change.
What is an ADU?
ADU - or an accessory Dwelling Unit; is a phrase used in zoning codes to differentiate between a primary dwelling and a subsequent living quarter that includes a bathroom and kitchen. We like the term Accessory Building.
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Uses:
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office or studio,
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library, study, home gym, game room, home-theater, meditation room,
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extra bedroom for a growing family,
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apartment for an aging parent or teen,
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rental apartment to a friend or a relative,
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short-term or long-term rental uniT
Our smallest model also meets the IRC definition of a tiny home.*
An Accessory Building such as this offers an abundance of opportunities, flexibility, and options that can evolve and expand over time. Building an Accessory Building is an investment in the future.
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Step 1: Does my property allow an ADU?
To determine which jurisdiction your property is located in
If you are in the City of Tucson:
Follow the steps presented in this document - COT Casita Worksheet
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Property Research Online links you to Tucson zoning description
If you are in Pima County:
Find information about guest houses in Pima County
To find details about your zoning from Property Research Online
follow these steps:
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Search for your address
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Click the word “assessor” on the right side of the screen after Pima County Data
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Scroll down to the first table and click on the word “Zoning”
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You will be taken to a table that provides the zoning designation for your jurisdiction, click on it to read more information about your zoning
Step 2: Choose a unit
Each property is unique and not all plans will be allowed. Choose your plan based on allowable square footage by zoning and overall dimensions - it needs to fit on your site with existing buildings and setbacks.
COT Casita Model Design Competition Winner!
COT Casita Model Design Competition Winner!
COT Casita Model Design Competition Winner!
All Products
Urban Infill Project (UIP) Plans are listed below by name and square footage. Overall building dimensions and room configurations are on the design drawings available below.
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Plans are drawn with attention to accessibility for people to age-in-place and to provide housing stock for wheelchair users. All doors are 3’ wide rough openings and kitchen and bathroom clearances align with ICC accessibility standards for dwelling units.
Note: these are for your use in site planning and zoning review and are NOT the permitted construction documents.
Micro 144 SF
Studio Loft*
Uses: studio, extra bedroom, office, rental unit and more!
*This unit meets the IRC definition of a tiny home.
Lumen 605 SF
Studio
Uses: Rental unit, office, intergenerational living and more!
Roost 436 SF
Studio
Uses: Rental unit, office, intergenerational living and more!
Lumen 825 SF
1 Bedroom
Uses: Rental unit, office, music studio, Intergenerational living and more!
Roost 623 SF
1 Bedroom
Uses: Rental unit, office, music studio, Intergenerational living and more!
Lumen 1000 SF
2 Bedroom
Uses: Rental unit, office, Intergenerational living with room for live-in caretaker, and more!
Roost 768 SF
2 Bedroom
Uses: Rental unit, office, Intergenerational living with room for live-in caretaker, and more!
Step 3: Submit a site plan for zoning approval
Urban Infill Project can provide a simple site plan template we recommend using in any of the following options (our permit offices will recognize them).
Option 1: Hire an outside practitioner to complete a site plan and zoning review on your behalf. They will charge you an additional fee to complete this work and they should clarify their schedule with you directly. Click HERE
Option 2: Homeowners may draw site plans on their own - many have had success doing this. There are online resources available to help:
STEP 4: PURCHASE PERMITTED CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
To purchase your pre-permitted Construction Documents please visit our SHOP page.​
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See FAQ's on our Resource Center to understand what changes to the plans are allowed.
Our Team
​Valerie Lane and Lisa Bowers established The Urban Infill Project in 2023 in response to the need for supplementary housing solutions in Tucson and surrounding Southern Arizona Communities. They both have established careers in Tucson, facilitating growth and construction and are passionate about the needs of their communities. They have come together with an explicit mission and have all the tools needed to provide clarity and ease in the process of building opportunity through housing.
Valerie Lane became a Registered Architect in Tucson in 2015. She has run an Architecture firm specializing in small-scale in-fill housing, historic preservation, and community design, established in 2009. She has taught Structures, Building Technologies and Construction courses in the School of Architecture at the University of Arizona since 2014. She obtained a Realtor’s License in 2020 to enhance the level of service she provides to clients and soon after opened a property development company, Valley Alley Community Development, to strengthen her ability to meaningfully contribute to the Tucson community. The Urban Infill Project is a continuation of her work and desire to provide viable housing solutions to the greater Tucson community.
​Valerie has lived in Tucson for 17 years and considers this her forever home. She has two young children and a couple of desert tortoises that will tie her to this community far into the future. She has met many people whom she considers extended family and is passionate about the strong and amazing community she is so lucky to be part of. Her work is her way of giving thanks to this amazing city and the people that live here.
In 2001, Lisa acquired Metro Permit Express, and in 2013 formed Tucson Expediting & Development (TED); creating a Metro Tucson area bridge between clients and municipal officials that has become known as the foremost expert in navigating various Building Codes, Ordinances and Design requirements for the private development community. In 2022 Lisa rebranded to form Sonoran Development Consultants and is a household name and necessity in the industry. Lisa easily navigates permitting obstacles and orchestrates a cohesive relationship between design teams and reviewing municipal agencies. Not only does she provide the service of navigating processes for Developers; she also provides local municipalities with customer perspectives and guides them in their internal processes so that the two worlds can find common ground on which to work.
Lisa is almost a Tucson Native and has a long history in the region. She is dedicated to the community of Designers, Builders, and Developers and has made it her life’s mission to ensure their visions are not met with resistance as they become reality. Lisa has become known as a powerhouse between her clients and the various municipal officials, making sure to learn everything they know so the shovel can hit the dirt. She has succeeded and excelled in this industry and will continue to lay the path for intelligent urban growth.