Invest in your property by learning the benefits of building an ADU while getting permit-ready plans in San Antonio. | Rendering by the City of San Antonio
In case you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know about the national housing shortage. But did you know that in the last decade, the shortage in SATX has gotten worse, currently lacking 54,000+ units for the population?
One proposed way of helping create more places to live is to increase the occupancy of your property with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — think: A suite for your in-laws. Here are the basics on ADU’s in San Antonio.
What’s an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot that has a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. They can be detached structures (like a guest house, tiny home, or she shed), garage apartments, additions, basements, or internal apartments to the main house.
Here’s an example of a Permit-Ready Plan 2 which features a 530-sqft casita with a two- or one-bedroom configuration.
Photo by the City of San Antonio
The City of San Antonio is encouraging its residents to build ADUs, and use them for renting out to others in order to combat the housing shortage.
Permit-ready plans
The city released a collection of permit plans that prospective residents can use. These designs are approved by the Development Services Department.
The permits include floor plan designs as well as vertical construction details that are not site specific. Those using the approved designs and make 80% or less than the area median income may have their ADU fees waived.
Permit-Ready Plan 5 features the biggest ADU at 800 sqft which has a metal roof, wood siding, and enough space for an open-concept living area.
Render by the City of San Antonio
Here are the various ADU permit dimensions:
The Maricela: Permit-Ready Plan 1: 375 sqft
The Santiago: Permit-Ready Plan 2: 675 sqft
Hideaway Haven: Permit-Ready Plan 3: 490 sqft with a porch
Inside Out: Permit-Ready Plan 4: 794 sqft
Hinter Haus: Permit-Ready Plan 5: 800 sqft
Where do I start?
Take a deep dive on the city’s ADU portal. Here, you’ll find financing + construction resources, permits, and how to find a contractor.
Furniture Downsizing Sale | Thursday, Oct. 24-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Times vary | Forward Storage | Cost of purchase | Find hidden treasures at this home furniture yard sale.
Elsewhere Too-Groundbreaking Ceremony | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 4-5 p.m. | 4507 N. Loop 1604 W. Access Rd. | Free | Celebrate the groundbreaking of Elsewhere’s second outpost with the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
Friday, Oct. 25
Spacecon San Antonio | Friday, Oct. 25-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Times vary | Freeman Coliseum | $75+ | Shop a superhero + space-themed vendor market, meet comic artists, listen to celebrity panels, and meet Hollywood stars like Josh Brolin and Rosario Dawson.
Spooky Book Fair Opening Night | Friday, Oct. 25 | 4-8 p.m. | Nowhere Bookshop | Cost of purchase | Relive the magic of book fairs with new merch, Halloween-themed drinks, and a wide selection of horror + mystery novels.
Cochineala: Nature & Art Halloween Festival | Friday, Oct. 25 | 6-10 p.m. | Confluence Park | Cost of purchase | Festival activities include puppy yoga, bat bike rides, smoothie biking (making a smoothie using a bike), night market, and a showing of “Gremlins 2.”
Saturday, Oct. 26
SATX Baddie Bootcamp | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | River North Icehouse | $40 | Coach Bri and Coach Vero are inviting you + your boo thang to get fit with a Halloween-themed workout followed by a baddie brunch and mingle.
Charis Park Grand Opening | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 10 a.m. | Charis Park at Sunset Ridge | Free | Celebrate the Alamo City’s newest green space with sample coffee + bites from One Another Coffee and Scott’s Pizza.
Toast to the Trees | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 5-7 p.m. | The Cherrity Bar | $32 | Celebrate the achievements of local nonprofit Bexar Branches with a special charity cocktail + menu.
A new condo development is coming to Helotes. The Gabriel will have amenities like a private four-acre park with bike + walking trails, saltwater pool, a pickleball court, and private garages. Pre-construction pricing starts in the $200,000s. A construction timeline has not been announced.
Announced
Spurs Sports & Entertainment announced the Gunn Auto Group as its new naming rights partner. Therefore its parks at The Rock at La Cantera will be renamed to Gunn Family Park and Gunn Family Coyote Dog Park.
Sports
Toyota Field is hosting the championship match of the National Women’s Soccer League x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup tomorrow at Toyota Field. Come watch the KC Current face the Gotham FC starting at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $24.
Biz
Carpenter Carpenter’s Go Fish Market has rebranded to Go Fish Wine & Oyster Bar. The restaurant is offering a revamped happy hour menu from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and features $1 oysters + discounted wines. (MySA)
Cause
CarFest SA is looking for volunteers for its April events in 2025. RSVP to for its volunteer webinar happening on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more volunteer opportunities, check out these San Antonio organizations.
Shop
Alebrije is offering pan de muerto at its location for a limited time. For $3.50 each, you can grab these sweets to spruce up your Día de los Muertos altar. Don’t know how to make an ofrenda? We got you covered.
Coming Soon
Panera Bread is opening two new locations. It’s location at 4343 Medical Dr. opens on Tuesday, Oct. 29, and the other at 10610 Culebra Rd. opens on Friday, Nov. 15. The first 50 customers for two days at either restaurant will receive a year’s worth of bagels + cream cheese. (SA Current)
Answered
“How often do you grab a late-night snack?” — is the question we asked you earlier this week. Here’s what readers said: 59% are not up late enough, 22% say twice a month, and 19% say one to two times a week. Give our guide a read for late-night inspo.
Listen
What can Tony Perezchica offer to the Astros as the new third base coach? Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Houston Astros with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Wellness
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Category
Outdoors
They come out at night
Meet the inhabitants of the Bracken Cave Preserve. | Photo by @ya_lo_issay
While Austin may be known as Bat City, did you know that San Antonio has its own reputation with this fang-tastic creature?
Just 25 miles north of the Alamo City, you can watch 15 million Mexican Freetail bats soar into the evening sky — making it the world’s largest-known bat colony.
Bracken Cave Preserve
Owned by Bat Conservation International (BCI), Bracken Cave Preserve is located near Natural Bridge Caverns and is open during the summer months, when the bats become migratory.
BCI also works with other Texas organizations to protect the natural resources + wildlife that live here.
While the cave is currently closed for the 2024 season, Bat Week starts on Wednesday, Oct. 24 and offers resources like starting a bat club, going for a bat walk, and building bat houses.
Hair Food’s highly rated heat protectant spray. The sulfate and paraben-free formula features nourishing ingredients like coconut + argan oil. It’s suitable for all hair types and protects against heat damage up to 450°.
I don’t currently own a home, but one of my dreams as a photographer is to have my own studio. I had never thought of building an ADU before, but after writing today’s story I’m more inclined to consider it as an option in the future.
