In a move designed to streamline the housing crunch, the City of Portland is rolling out free pre-approved plans for the construction of detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Portland's Development Services announced.

These ready-made designs aim to cut through red tape and save homeowners time and money; by choosing one of these city-sanctioned plans, a homeowner can skip the typical review process for life safety and structural requirements under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code; this means however, that although using the free plans can shave significantly on the permitting timeline, a range of other considerations must still be navigated including zoning, utilities, flood hazards, and system development charges.

The City of Eugene generously provided the base for these pre-approved plans, tweaked slightly for Portland's specific needs. This gesture of community spirit is a nod to similar ADU initiatives in other Oregon cities like Bend and Salem, where pre-approved options are already in use.

While the use of a pre-approved plan is optional for homeowners aiming to add a detached ADU to their property, it's a straightforward alternative to custom design submissions that traditionally undergo more stringent reviews; in addition to these plans, homeowners will need to snag separate permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, Portland's Development Services reminds potential builders.

Future initiatives by the Bureau of Development Services—which is soon to be part of Portland Permitting and Development—will look to continue community engagement and offer additional pre-approved plan sets to enhance permit acquisition efficiency for homeowners, as reported in the official announcement from the Bureau.

Homeowners and builders looking to dive into the ADU project pool can find further guidelines and the nitty-gritty on regulations on the Accessory Dwelling Units web page, according to Portland's Development Services.