Nevada County is accepting housing construction proposals from rural residents under Title 25.
The new ordinance, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in January and went into effect late February, allow owners in some rural zones to bypass certain requirements such as mandatory solar system installation, dimmer light switches or engineered construction documents – as long as minimum health and safety standards are met.
The program 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.
“By opening this application process, we are providing expanded housing options for our community,” said Supervising Building Inspector Nick McBurney. “We look forward to working with builders who want to take advantage of this more affordable alternative.”
The new ordinance is just one of several ways the Board of Supervisors is furthering its objective to increase housing. Other actions over the last year, include approving tiny homes on wheels as permanent residences, releasing an ADU Guidebook, offering tips on how to build accessory dwelling units like in-law or granny units, and pre-approved housing master plans.
Learn more at www.NevadaCountyCa.gov/Title25 or call (530) 265-1222.