What needs review before choosing a layout

Homeowners usually start with a floor plan. We start with the parcel. Six checks decide which project types are realistic on your lot, and they are worth doing before you fall in love with a layout.

The six checks

Check 1

Zoning and lot

Your parcel’s zoning, lot size, lot coverage, and whether a second unit is allowed where you are. Rules differ by city and change; we check the current ones for your address.

Check 2

Setbacks and placement

How far a structure must sit from property lines, the main house and easements. This often decides between a detached unit and an addition.

Check 3

Size limits

Cities cap unit size, often relative to the main home or the lot. We confirm the cap before any layout is drawn.

Check 4

Utilities

Panel capacity, sewer or septic location and depth, water pressure, and gas. Utility work is the most common surprise, so we look here first.

Check 5

Access and parking

Whether equipment can reach the build area, and whether the city asks for replacement parking when a garage is converted.

Check 6

Existing structure

For conversions and additions: slab condition, ceiling height, roof framing, and anything that would need correction to meet code.

How the checks map to project types

If the review finds	It usually points to
Room in the yard that clears setbacks, and sewer within reach	Detached casita
A tight lot but an open side of the house, and a roof that can be extended	Attached living space
A garage you do not park in, with ceiling height and a nearby sewer line	Garage conversion
Panel at capacity	Any type, with a panel upgrade or sub-panel in the budget
Septic rather than city sewer	Any type, after the septic system is reviewed for the added fixtures
Zoning that does not allow a second unit	An addition without a kitchen, or no project. We will say so.

What to have ready

Your address. We pull the parcel, zoning and lot dimensions from public records.
A few photos: the yard where a unit might go, the garage inside and out, the electrical panel, and any survey or plot plan you have.
Your goal: family, guests or a rental. It changes what we optimize for.
Whether you are in an HOA. HOA rules can be stricter than the city's.

What a review is, and is not

A property review is our professional read of your site. It is not a city approval, and it does not guarantee a permit. Only the city decides what is allowed on a parcel. Your city publishes its rules through its planning department; for Phoenix, start at the Planning and Development Department. Rules change, so we check the current ones for your address rather than relying on a summary.

After the review you get a plain answer: which project types look realistic, what the likely complications are, and what a site visit needs to confirm. Then the layout conversation starts on solid ground. Request a property review →

Request a property review

Find out what your property can hold.

Send the address and your goal. Anthony Alexander Lopez or Juan M Lopez Solano will review zoning, setbacks and utilities and reach out within one business day. No obligation, and no city approval implied: it is our professional read of your lot.

Prefer to talk? (602) 386-6623 · See completed projects