In the face of the affordability crisis that continues to grip the housing market, Orange County homeowners are finding a silver lining: building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) through a program called Ready Set Orange. Launched last year, this initiative provides a range of pre-designed floor plans and streamlines the once-tedious permit process. Camilo Betancur became the first in the county to secure construction permits through the program, revealing to the Orange County Government, "When I learned about this program on the news, I thought about my parents."
As the program gains traction, it's clear that ADUs are more than just practical; they're a relief for residents like Maykel Permuy, who struggled under the weight of high rents. "My mom lives with me now," Permuy stated in an interview, per the county's press release, "She needs her own place, but rent is expensive. I gave up looking for a while. When I heard about Ready Set Orange, I wanted to pursue it." With Ready Set Orange, applicants have soared to 323 since its inception, and 122 have moved past the initial zoning hurdles as of mid-March, small victories in Orange County's battle against housing scarcity.
Permuy and Betancur selected the Clementine model, a 531-square-foot plan fashioned with visual appeal and functionality in mind. The design includes a main and rear entrance and a thoughtful provision for independent living. Moreover, Betancur shaved off approximately $10,000 in architectural fees by forgoing custom plans. He expressed relief about the expedited process: "Going back and forth with an architect could’ve taken months," he confided with the Orange County news release. "But in this case, we saved a lot of time and money. The process was easy and fast."
