How accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs work on unincorporated Santa Barbara County lots in 2026: the two paths in LUDC Section 35.42.015, size and height limits, Montecito and coastal zone permits, water, septic and fire sign-offs, pre-approved County plans, and the places where state law overrides the County text. Cities set their own rules.

How accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs work in unincorporated Monterey County: inland vs coastal zone rules, size caps by area, height and setbacks, Cal Am water permits, wells and septic, guesthouses, pre-designed County plans and the permit path. Cities set their own rules.

What the 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) means for a new custom home on the Central Coast: heat pump baseline, gas or all-electric, electric-ready circuits, solar sizing, battery-ready panels, climate zones, inspections and County rules.

Adding a second story in San Luis Obispo County: County height limits and community rules, structural checks, fire sprinkler triggers, the 2025 Energy Code, septic and bedroom counts, coastal permits and a planning checklist.

Expansive clay in Paso Robles and Templeton: City Safety Element and County geologic rules, what shrink-swell does to slabs and footings, and the checklist we use before foundation design.

Garage conversion vs detached ADU in San Luis Obispo County: how state law and County Ordinance 3536 treat setbacks, parking, size, utility connections, the 2025 Energy Code and fire sprinklers for each, what it takes to make a garage livable, and a checklist to decide.

How building on a sloped lot works in San Luis Obispo County: County vs city, Chapter 22.52 grading and drainage triggers, retaining walls, foundation choices, Chapter 7A and County Fire access, and what to check before you buy or design.

Who issues the permit, when design review applies and how fire review fits, for a custom home in Santa Barbara County.

What to check before you build on rural acreage in North County San Luis Obispo County.

How rebuilding after a wildfire works in San Luis Obispo County: safety placards and debris removal, city or County, the County permit path and disaster fee waivers, like-for-like and nonconforming rules, temporary housing on site, coastal zone, septic under the County LAMP, wells, Chapter 7A and fire hazard zones, defensible space and Zone 0, insurance documentation, property tax relief and burn scar flood risk.