Encinitas has adopted a Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Units (PRADU) Program that helps residents create so-called ‘granny flats’, and a recent open house on the subject was a huge success.
Accessory dwellings are small housing units that people build on their property to accommodate aging relatives, or children coming home from college who want to live nearby, but retain their independence. The city’s PRADU Program gives ready-to-use architectural plans for this type of dwelling to residents for free.
The city has approved eight designs for this type of housing, ranging from studios to multi-bedroom houses. In order to encourage residents to build these small home, Encinitas has waived the need for some permits, and promised it will move quickly to approve permits for any of the eight pre-approved designs.
Geoff Plagemann, the city’s associate planner, believes that residents could save anything from $2,000 to $4,000 on permit fees, depending on the size of the unit, and another $8,000 to $14,000 on designs – a total of as much as $18,000 upfront. Officials in this situation could use brochure printing to illustrate the preapproved plans.
Catherine Blakespear, the mayor of Encinitas, said this new approach helps residents get over the roadblocks in the home building process, and the time consumed in dealing with city regulations. She said she wanted to take the city out of the process so people can move ahead with pre-approved projects quickly.