by Scott Youngren, Special to the Village News
In its efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has introduced an innovative, pre-approved floor plan program that incentivizes homeowners in unincorporated areas, including Fallbrook, to build an accessory dwelling unit, commonly called a granny flat, on their property.
Currently, you can find 6 no-cost, permit-ready plans for one, two, or three bedroom ADUs posted on the San Diego County Website
According to the San Diego County website, “You can use these plans for a dwelling unit in areas under the County’s Jurisdiction. The plans are approximately 85% complete. You must fill in project-specific information to have a complete set of plans. The Dwelling Unit Checklist summarizes the information you are required to provide. The Dwelling Unit Checklist Guidance explains the requirements for a complete set of plans.”
Check if you live in the County’s jurisdiction with this map.
More information about the development of these plans is included in this letter.
This is really helpful stuff for those of you planning to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit anytime soon! Even better, more plans will be added in the future.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who spearheaded the effort, believes that these pre-approved plans can save property owners as much as $15,000 in design costs. She says this amount is doubled by the County’s five-year ADU fee waiver program launched in January, which also can save as much as $15,000, for a total potential savings of $30,000 per unit.
Building an ADU: Tips From a Professional ADU Contractor
As a full-service general contractor who has built several ADUS of differing sizes and styles during over 30 years in business, I want to stress that costs vary and the actual amount of money saved on each project depends on a wide array of factors.
Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly agree that the savings offered by the county is substantial. In addition, the combination of the two programs streamlines the construction process, making it less time-consuming and more stress-free.
Building an ADU is a great way to address the affordable housing shortage and provide a home for one’s aging parents, adult children, on-site caregiver or others. It also can provide rental income, but please note: these granny flats cannot be utilized as short-term rental units.
Other restrictions and requirements apply, so you (and ideally your licensed, experienced contractor) need to do your research before diving into the project. In regard to fee waivers, for instance, although several fees and permits are waived (including building permits, drainage and Department of Environmental Health, Parks and Recreation and Transportation fees, among others), you still must comply with rigorous safety standards as well as setback requirements and other elements.
Homeowners should also know that although they will enjoy significant savings on design and processing, there still will be associated expenses. For example, when applicable, site plans, grading plans, septic design and other plans/calculations must be created and submitted with the pre-approved plans.
Also, although the plans allow for some flexibility, if structural components are altered, the project will be subject to standard plan checks. We are happy to answer any questions you have about the pre-approved plans or process if you call our Fallbrook office.
Rely on the Pro’s to Build Your ADU
As you can see, the county has made the building of an ADU on your property easier and more cost-effective. However, many issues need to be considered before building an ADU is within the reach of homeowners who previously could not afford to do so.
It’s important not to deal with an unlicensed, unqualified “guy” or lowest bidder. Take the time to to partner with a licensed, experienced construction company that can navigate the process and help you obtain your compact but charming slice of paradise.
If you want to learn more about ADU’s or schedule a consultation of your property, give our office a call and let’s get started!
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