300 Sq Ft Floor Plans for a Backyard Studio in California
Compare three 300 sq ft floor plans for a backyard studio ADU in California, then place one in 3D in your own yard.
- 150 sq ftSmallest efficiency unit a city may allow
- 750 sq ftNo impact fees under this size
- 60 daysCity decision on a complete application
- 16 ftHeight a city must allow, detached
FLOOR PLANS
Our 300 Sq Ft Floor Plans
Three ways to split one small footprint.
Elongated studio with a split bathroom
Shower and toilet in separate rooms, a galley kitchen down one wall, and glass doors at the far end.
Square studio with a work corner
Kitchen and bathtub share the back wall, with closets beside the bath and a desk by the window.
Plan with a separate sleeping room
A walled sleeping room, a bath with a tub, and a kitchen open to the living room.
DIMENSIONS
How Big Is a 300 Sq Ft Floor Plan?
Three rectangles that each make 300 sq ft. Stake one out on your lot.
FOOTPRINT
The most even shape: kitchen on a long wall, bath at one end.
NARROW LOT
For a narrow strip of your lot. Back the bath onto the kitchen to share plumbing.
LONG AND NARROW
One room wide. For scale, a 12 × 20 ft one-car garage is only 240 sq ft.
how big 300 square feet is300 sq ft LAYOUT
What Fits in 300 Square Feet
A kitchen, a full bath and a bed fit when each zone does two jobs.
Cooktop, sink, dishwasher and fridge in one run. That leaves room for a table that doubles as a desk.
3D AND AR VIEWER
See a 300 Sq Ft Plan in 3D
Place a plan in your own yard in AR, then walk around it to see how close it sits to your fence and your back door.
See our 400 sq ft ADU floor plans or read 200 square feet: house or shed.
PROCESS
From a 300 Sq Ft Plan to a Permit
State law sets the outer limits for every city.
Confirm what your lot allows
For a new detached ADU, a city can require no more than 4 ft of side and rear setback, and must allow 16 ft of height, or 18 ft near qualifying transit.
Fit the plan to your site
A floor plan is a starting point. Site plan needs to show all utilities. Construction drawings submitted from January 1, 2026 must meet the 2025 Energy Code and show aging-in-place features.
Submit to your building department
Send the complete set and answer any completeness comments quickly, because the review clock runs from a complete application.
Build
Construction starts once the permit is issued. You are ready to send the plans for bids after the first review by the jurisdiction.
FAQ
300 Sq Ft ADU Questions
Yes, state law allows it. It counts an efficiency unit as an ADU, caps a detached ADU at 1,200 sq ft, and bars cities from setting a minimum size that rules out an efficiency unit. Your setbacks and height limit decide where it goes.
Pick a Plan, Then Check It Against Your Lot
NEXT STEP
Bring a plan you like, or just your address, to a call. We'll look at setbacks, utility runs and which layout fits. Or browse ADU house plans or studio ADU design ideas.