Purpose and reading guide
Understand the idea before permit documents.
Supported for this screen
Information supplied in the fictional intake or shown in the sample source register. It remains tied to its stated source and limits.
Used to frame the review
A working condition that has not been verified. If it changes, the screening conclusion may change.
Evidence still required
A record, measurement, survey, consultant, utility provider, or agency response is needed before relying on the condition.
Fictional property + goal
A detached backyard ADU idea.
- Sample identity
- Fictional Parcel F-01
- Illustrative context
- Southern California residential parcel; no city or county identified
- Existing condition
- One-story detached house and open rear yard, based on a fictional owner sketch
- Homeowner goal
- Explore an approximately 700-square-foot detached, one-story backyard ADU
- Priorities
- Preserve parking and useful outdoor space; avoid unnecessary early plan expense
- Review format
- Remote information screen; no site visit or field measurement
Sample source register
What this fictional screen reviewed.
Fixed source cutoff: August 15, 2026| Input | Use in this sample | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Fictional intake | Project goal, priorities, and stated existing conditions | Supplied |
| Illustrative owner sketch | Relative house, yard, and proposed ADU area | Supplied |
| Sample planning summary | Demonstrates how mapped designations would be logged | Sample |
| Sample property summary | Demonstrates how record-derived characteristics would be logged | Sample |
| Sample permit index | Demonstrates an online record search with an incomplete-history warning | Sample |
| No survey or title material | Legal boundaries, easements, and encumbrances remain unresolved | Missing |
| No utility confirmation | Connection location, capacity, and provider conditions remain unresolved | Missing |
Source rule: Missing online information does not prove that a condition, record, easement, permit, or restriction does not exist. It becomes a named check with an owner and next source.
Known property information
Known for this screen—not verified in the field.
- Project typeKnown
The stated goal is a new detached, one-story backyard ADU of approximately 700 square feet.
- Property useKnown
The fictional intake describes an existing residential property with one detached house.
- Open rear areaKnown
The illustrative sketch shows an area behind the house that may warrant measurement and a test layout.
- Homeowner prioritiesKnown
Preserve existing parking, retain useful outdoor space, and avoid premature permit-document expense.
- Review boundaryKnown
No survey, measured base plan, utility confirmation, consultant conclusion, or agency response was provided.
Working assumptions
- The owner sketch generally reflects the current relationship between the house, yard, and parking.
- The project remains a detached, one-story ADU idea rather than an addition or conversion.
- No unreported structure, easement, grade change, or utility constraint occupies the illustrated rear area.
- The homeowner is willing to revise the size or location if verified conditions require it.
Items requiring verification
- Measure the house, lot relationships, access path, parking, and proposed work area.
- Confirm legal boundaries, easements, and any title or survey issue that affects placement.
- Retrieve relevant permit records and reconcile the existing house and accessory improvements.
- Confirm utility route, connection conditions, and capacity with the appropriate provider or consultant.
- Ask the reviewing agency or responsible licensed consultant about any issue that depends on interpretation or professional judgment.
After the priority checks
Three project paths—not three promises.
- 01
Test the stated idea
After boundaries and key clearances are established, prepare a measured test layout for the approximate 700-square-foot detached concept.
When this path is usefulUse when the verified rear area, access, parking, and utilities support carrying the original goal forward.
- 02
Adjust size or location
Reduce, reshape, or relocate the study if a verified condition conflicts with the original area or homeowner priorities.
When this path is usefulUse when the project remains plausible but a clearance, easement, utility route, outdoor-space goal, or existing condition changes the fit.
- 03
Pause before design
Resolve the controlling record, survey, consultant, utility, or agency question before preparing a layout.
When this path is usefulUse when another step can prevent unnecessary drafting or when the responsible decision-maker has not confirmed a material condition.
Sample screening conclusion
Promising, with checks still required.
The stated residential use, detached one-story goal, and illustrated open rear area justify further checking. No verified dimension, legal boundary, record history, utility condition, consultant conclusion, or agency response establishes the project yet.
- Measured fit differs from the sketchRevise the size or location before further drafting.
- A boundary or easement affects the rear areaObtain survey or title follow-up and repeat the affected screen.
- Existing records conflict with conditionsReconcile the record before relying on the project base.
- A utility route or capacity is constrainedReview alternatives with the provider or responsible consultant.
- Agency interpretation controls the answerObtain focused written direction or responsible licensed-professional input.
Practical next actions
Do the smallest useful checks first.
- 01Confirm the physical base
Obtain measured existing conditions and the property-line or survey information needed to locate work reliably.
- 02Reconcile existing records
Compare relevant permit records and supplied information with the measured condition; route conflicts before design.
- 03Check utilities and access
Identify the likely service route, provider questions, access constraints, and any consultant input needed.
- 04Resolve controlling questions
Seek focused agency or responsible licensed-professional input only where the answer depends on interpretation or professional judgment.
- 05Choose the next service
Proceed to a measured test layout and project-specific proposal, revise the idea, pause for evidence, or stop.
