Rebuilding made easier: Butte County releases free ADU and small home plans
Butte County has introduced a set of free, pre-approved building plans for small homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The plans are part of a broader effort to support wildfire survivors and address the region's ongoing affordable housing crisis.
'We have had numerous wildfires here. We've had layered disasters for years,' said Paula Daneluk, the county's Director of Development Services.
It's been nearly six years since the Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise, four years since the North Complex Fire and three years since the Dixie Fire. Combined, the fires destroyed more than 23,000 structures across the county, leaving a long and difficult path to recovery.
'Affordable housing is an issue not just in Butte County, but across the state,' Daneluk said.
According to the 2024 Affordable Housing Needs Report, more than 8,000 low-income renter households in Butte County lack access to affordable housing. Repeated wildfires have only made the crisis worse by driving up housing costs and reducing supply.
'Obviously, we do not have enough affordable housing, and the goal is that we have a house for everybody who needs one,' Daneluk said.
To help meet that goal, the county made three free building plans available for small homes and ADUs, which are secondary units that can be built on the same lot as an existing single-family home.
'These plans were designed specifically to be affordable,' said Daneluk. 'They are an opportunity for us to get sticks out of the ground and have units built.'
The plans meet all applicable building codes, accessibility requirements, and zoning standards. They were created with input from local designers and are built to allow the use of locally sourced materials.
'When we worked with the designer, that was the direction that was given. That the buildings themselves had to be designed in such a way that all the materials could be locally sourced here in Butte County,' Daneluk said.
By offering these plans at no cost, the county estimates residents could save thousands of dollars in architectural and design fees, and potentially months in permitting and planning.
'People don't have to go out and hire an architect and spend all that money,' Daneluk said. 'These are free, ready-to-go-off-the-shelf building plans.'
After years of destruction, county officials hope the initiative offers residents a practical path forward.
Additional resources for wildfire recovery and rebuilding are available through the Butte County Department of Development Services.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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