diff --git a/geoapps_utils/base.py b/geoapps_utils/base.py
index 26515ce..fa899d9 100644
--- a/geoapps_utils/base.py
+++ b/geoapps_utils/base.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from geoh5py.groups import UIJsonGroup
 from geoh5py.objects import ObjectBase
 from geoh5py.shared.utils import stringify
-from geoh5py.ui_json import InputFile, monitored_directory_copy
+from geoh5py.ui_json import BaseUIJson, InputFile, monitored_directory_copy
 from geoh5py.ui_json.utils import fetch_active_workspace
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, ValidationError
 
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ def start(cls, filepath: str | Path | InputFile, mode="r+", **kwargs) -> Self:
         :param filepath: Path to valid ui.json file for the application driver.
         :param kwargs: Additional keyword arguments for InputFile read_ui_json.
         """
-
         ifile = (
             cls.read_ui_json(filepath, **kwargs)
             if isinstance(filepath, str | Path)
@@ -168,7 +167,7 @@ def update_monitoring_directory(
             )
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_default_ui_json(cls) -> Path | None:
+    def get_default_ui_json_path(cls) -> Path | None:
         """
         Get the default ui.json file path for the application.
 
@@ -178,6 +177,22 @@ def get_default_ui_json(cls) -> Path | None:
             return cls._params_class.default_ui_json
         return None
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_default_ui_json(cls) -> BaseUIJson:
+        """
+        Load the driver's default ui.json template from disk
+        with no parameters filled in.
+
+        :return: The default ui.json configuration.
+        """
+        ui_json_path = cls.get_default_ui_json_path()
+
+        if ui_json_path is None or not ui_json_path.exists():
+            raise ValueError(f"Driver {cls} does not have a default ui.json.")
+
+        ui_json = BaseUIJson.read(ui_json_path)
+        return ui_json
+
 
 class Options(BaseModel):
     """
@@ -264,7 +279,6 @@ def build(cls, input_data: InputFile | dict | None = None, **kwargs) -> Self:
 
         data.update(kwargs)
         options = cls.collect_input_from_dict(cls, data)  # type: ignore
-
         try:
             out = cls(**options)
         except ValidationError as errors:
diff --git a/tests/driver_test.py b/tests/driver_test.py
index ae19a77..947196b 100644
--- a/tests/driver_test.py
+++ b/tests/driver_test.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from geoh5py import Workspace
 from geoh5py.groups import UIJsonGroup
 from geoh5py.objects import Points
-from geoh5py.ui_json import InputFile
+from geoh5py.ui_json import BaseUIJson, InputFile
 from geoh5py.ui_json.templates import group_parameter, object_parameter
 
 from geoapps_utils.base import Options, get_logger
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def test_base_driver(tmp_path):
 
     driver = TestParamsDriver(params)
 
-    assert TestParamsDriver.get_default_ui_json() is None
+    assert TestParamsDriver.get_default_ui_json_path() is None
 
     driver.start(tmp_path / "test_ifile.ui.json")
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def test_base_options(tmp_path):
 
     driver = TestOptionsDriver(options)
 
-    assert TestOptionsDriver.get_default_ui_json().exists()  # type: ignore
+    assert TestOptionsDriver.get_default_ui_json_path().exists()  # type: ignore
 
     assert isinstance(driver.params, TestOptions)
     assert driver.params_class == TestOptions
@@ -141,6 +141,16 @@ def test_base_options(tmp_path):
     assert json_dict.get("client", None) == "{" + str(pts.uid) + "}"
 
 
+def test_get_empty_ui_json():
+    # Driver with BaseParams has no default ui.json path
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="does not have a default"):
+        TestParamsDriver.get_default_ui_json()
+
+    # Driver with Options subclass that has a default_ui_json returns a BaseUIJson
+    ui_json = TestOptionsDriver.get_default_ui_json()
+    assert isinstance(ui_json, BaseUIJson)
+
+
 def test_params_errors():
     with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="'input_data' must be "):
         BaseParams.build(input_data="bidon")  # type: ignore