The Board of Supervisors has expressed support for easing regulations on rural owner-built homes.
The proposed changes, approved by supervisors Dec. 10, could reduce the cost of building a qualified home by 25%. In western Nevada County the average cost of building a house is $400 a square foot, while in eastern county it reaches $800 a square foot.
The Board is considering reinstating a Title 25 ordinance the County had in place from 1999-2016. Title 25, which refers to a section of state housing regulations, would allow owners in rural zones to bypass certain requirements such as building a roof-mount solar system, adding dimmer light switches or obtaining engineered construction documents - as long as minimum health and safety standards are met.
A final vote is scheduled early next year. If approved, the ordinance could go into effect as soon as February.
“We’re in a full-blown housing crisis,” said Supervisor Heidi Hall. “The more flexible we can be, the better.”
Supervisors requested staff make the proposed ordinance less restrictive than originally suggested. They also wanted staff to remove the pilot program that would potentially phase out the program after three years. They supported letting owners immediately rent out properties they built. Staff had originally proposed that owners wait two years until seeking renters.
The original Title 25 ordinance was discontinued because of declining interest. During the 17 years it was in effect, the County received just 70 applications for builds with only 55 homes completed. However, rising construction costs and limited housing options have brought the ordinance under consideration again. Staff plan to conduct public outreach to inform the community about the new ordinance.
“The proposed ordinance focuses on maintaining safety while addressing the current housing shortage, escalating costs and the need for flexibility for both homeowners and the building department,” said Building Director George Schureck.
For more information, contact the Building Department by email Building.Department@nevadacountyca.gov and by phone 530-265-1222.
