As part of ongoing efforts to address the region’s housing shortage, Santa Barbara County will begin offering pre-approved designs for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) starting this August. ADUs are small, self-contained residential units that can either be attached to or built separately from a primary home. The move is intended to simplify the permitting process, reduce design costs, and encourage more homeowners to build secondary units on their properties.
Highlights
- Santa Barbara County will provide pre-approved design and construction plans for ADUs.
- Pre-approved designs could save homeowners up to $25,000 in design and permitting fees.
- The county aims to encourage housing development by eliminating the need for reviews on standard designs.
Several Central Coast Counties Have Already Implemented Pre-Approved Plans for ADU Construction
The Board of Supervisors recently approved a $150,000 contract with RRM Design Group to develop the plans. According to Lisa Plowman, director of Planning and Development, the designs will allow homeowners to build ADUs faster and more affordably.
“I think it will help applicants move more quickly through the process,” Plowman said, noting that savings could reach up to $25,000 compared to custom designs. “All those construction documents are already reviewed, and so that will really speed up things in the permitting aspect of it too.”…