Category: Ventura

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Ok – You’ve remodeled …Are you ready to build a new home????

You’ve done a remodel or two … now it’s time for a new home right?
         
          “What would it take to build a new home?”

Sometimes I look at it this way:

A remodel is like editing an existing book.
A new home is writing one from scratch.
With a remodel, the structure, layout, and site already exist.

A new home begins with a blank canvas:
• The site
• Orientation to sun and views
• Grading roads / driveways
• Structural systems and soils conditions
• Energy requirements
• Fire and zoning regulations
• Septic, utilities, and access

Every decision affects the next.
And in areas like Ojai and Ventura County, hillside conditions, scenic resource review, fire zones, and permitting can add additional layers to the process.

The advantage of a custom home is that everything can be designed intentionally — around the way you actually live.

Part of my role is helping homeowners organize those layers early through design, 3D visualization, and navigating the permitting process before construction begins.

If you’ve been thinking about building a new home — even casually — I’m always happy to talk it through.

Thanks,
Otis Bradley
Otis Bradley Company, Inc.
OtisBradley.com
310-963-7900

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Big Toys for Big Boys

Big toys for big boys… Do you need this on your job maybe maybe not but if you bought a chunk of land in Ojai you definitely will

Otis Bradley
Otis Bradley Company, Inc.
New homes • Complex Remodels • Permits • Consultation
OtisBradley.com

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Say Goodbye Guest House –  Hello ADU

ADU – Isn’t that a horrible name – so institutional?

Accessory Dwelling Unit – not so warm and fuzzy as a cute little guest house nestled in the oak trees … but that’s where we are. You can call it a “guest house” but the city and the county will call it an ADU.

WANTED! – Your cities and towns are heavily promoting ADUs but are they easy to permit and cheap to build?

A baffling variety of ADU’s exist. 
You can have an attached ADU, 
a detached ADU, 
a junior ADU 
or an ADU within an existing accessory structure. 

The states (not only California but all over the US) have put pressure on cities and counties to create more “dwelling units” and they think ADU’s will help.

Additionally, many cities and counties are willing to look the other way from past discretions.  Illegal units can be converted into “legal” units with “Compliance Programs”.  This bizarre challenge has not been successful.  Many previously built “dwellings” are significantly different than current required building codes causing havoc in the “approval process.”  Think about everything from a “Yurt” to a shack that might have been converted….

Building an ADU

Ventura County

With the exception of using the Ventura County pre-approved plans, building an ADU requires all the same steps as building a new house for the most part. Although, I believe the state promotes the idea that they are doing everything to reduce requirements and speed up permitting time, from my experience it isn’t any different. 

Ventura County actually has 3 “pre approved” plans which you can use. 

You can access them here 

Ojai 

Requirements in the city of Ojai are pretty much the same as the County.  You can build a new 1200 SF ADU (1800 SF if you have over 10 acres).  Previously Ojai limited the size of a second “residence’” to 640 SF.

Interestingly, parking requirements change if you build an ADU.  

You can find the Ojai requirements here