PLANNING, PERMITTING & LAND
Planning, Permitting & Land breaks down the reality behind getting a modular home approved in California — including land constraints, zoning rules, city interpretation, and the back-and-forth that can reshape your design, timeline, and budget.
Navigating the Modular Home Building Permit in California: What We Learned
When we started the process of getting a modular home building permit in California, we assumed the hardest part was was behind us. In reality, the building permit turned out to be its own maze – with different players, requirements, and timelines than the planning phase. The permitting process...
SB-330 Housing Approval Process: What It Helps With – and What It Doesn’t (Real Lessons Learned)
SB 330’s housing review framework can be very different from what most homeowners and small‑scale builders expect – especially if you’re planning a modular home in California. In this post, I’ll walk through how the SB 330 California Housing Crisis Act works in real projects and what it meant...
What We Learned Navigating Modular Home Approval in California
When we started designing our modular home in California, we were told something that sounded incredibly promising: “You can build anything you want.” Our property sits in a planned development zoning district, which is intended to give cities flexibility in determining how the land is used for new builds....
Modular Home on an Urban Infill Lot: What Most Buyers Don’t Expect
Building a modular home (also known as prefab construction) on an urban infill lot requires a very different approach than building on a larger suburban parcel – especially in California, where stricter building codes and evolving housing laws can impact design, approvals, and construction. When we began designing our dream...
Modular Home Builder Roles: Dealer vs Factory vs Contractor (What We Learned)
Our modular home builder experience in California — what worked, what didn’t, and what we learned navigating permits, contractors, and factory coordination on a small lot.
How We Found an Overlooked Urban Infill Lot in the Bay Area (And Why Others Passed)
Think the Bay Area is too expensive? We found an urban infill lot in the Bay Area that everyone passed on because of a legal “catch.” From Planned Development zoning to securing a Certificate of Compliance, here’s how we claimed a 2,500-square-foot downtown lot for our future modular home.
The Real Cost of a Modular Home: What the Base Price Doesn’t Cover
Modular home costs often extend far beyond the factory base price. Here’s what we learned about site work, permits, delivery, upgrades, and the expenses most buyers don’t anticipate.
Modular vs Manufactured Homes: What’s the Difference?
Modular vs manufactured homes are often confused, and mobile homes add even more uncertainty. Here’s a clear explanation of the differences in construction, codes, financing, and long-term value.