Newton residents will help choose designs for a new gallery of backyard cottages, with public voting scheduled for November after the city closed submissions to its Backyard Blueprints competition.

The city is reviewing entries submitted by the Oct. 19 deadline. Eligible designs will move to a public vote, with prizes of $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000 for the top three finishers, according to the city’s project page.

Exact voting dates and instructions have not been posted. The city expects to launch the design gallery in mid-December.

The competition focuses on detached accessory dwelling units, or ADUs: small, self-contained homes on the same property as a principal residence. Entries were open to design students and professionals, including architects, builders and manufacturers, with licensed-professional review required.

Plans capped at $1,000

Homeowners will be able to purchase eligible designs directly from their creators for no more than $1,000. Designers may charge less.

The gallery aims to reduce the expense of starting an ADU project, but purchasing a plan will not provide everything needed to build. The city’s review covers requirements that can be evaluated without a specific property.

Homeowners will still need to address setbacks, utilities, drainage, foundations and other site conditions. Additional design, engineering and permitting work may carry separate costs. The plans do not constitute permit approval, the city says.

Grant supports the competition

A $19,500 AARP Community Challenge grant supports Backyard Blueprints, according to Fig City News’ coverage of the Finance Committee’s August meeting.

The program follows the state’s Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge, which produced a free online collection of designs. Newton’s competition uses public voting to select its prize winners and allows designers to sell the full plans.

AARP requires its funded projects to be completed by Dec. 15.

What Newton allows

Newton generally permits a new detached ADU by right up to 1,000 square feet or half the principal residence’s floor area, whichever is smaller. Some detached units may reach 1,200 square feet under specified conditions; units up to 1,500 square feet require a special permit.

The ADU and principal residence must remain under common ownership. Short-term rentals are prohibited, and rental periods must exceed 30 days, according to the city’s ADU guidance.

Residents can learn more at an ADU Resource Fair on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St.

Voting updates and newsletter registration are available on the Backyard Blueprints page. Questions can be sent to [email protected].