Calling all architects and designers!
A design contest is currently underway in the City of Norwalk, Connecticut, to develop a compendium of pre-approved ADU plans to facilitate ADU construction, lower costs for property owners and expand the customer base for the design community. “The City of Norwalk is seeking the assistance of architects and designers to aide in the development of ADUs,” according to a press released issued July 22, 2026, by the city’s Department of Planning & Zoning. The concept aims to streamline the ADU approval process by allowing use of pre-approved detached ADU plans.
“Norwalk recognizes the housing crisis that is gripping the city, state and nation,” the release noted. “There is no quick or singular solution that will solve this problem…it is clear that this crisis can only be solved through policy changes, construction of additional affordable and market-rate units and creative reuse of underutilized parcels.”
The city’s design contest seeks input from architects and designers to create “great looking” ADUs that conform to Norwalk’s zoning regulations which will then be voted on by the public and selected as “pre-approved” ADU plans. Entries will be posted with no identifying information to ensure that no bias forms any of the selections. A judging score from 1 to 100 will be used to evaluate entries based upon overall building aesthetic (45 points), uniqueness of design (20 points), allocation of space (20 points), senior living/ADA accessibility (10 points), sustainability measures (5 points). Any entry receiving a score of at least 70 will be accepted as a pre-approved ADU plan. Property owners and developers must then purchase a raised stamp set of plans from the designer or architect, accompanied by a letter confirming the purchase as part of the building permit submission.
Further information on the plan selection process, plan acquisition and use, and detailed contest submission instructions are available on the Planning & Zoning department’s website. Go to www.norwalkct.gov and click on the Planning & Zoning Department link.
The design contest concludes on Oct. 16, 2026.
For more information, please contact Carmody’s Real Estate & Land Use lawyers:
Liz Suchy
Partner
203.252.2656
[email protected]
This information is for educational purposes only, to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.