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.

What to check before you buy land to build a home in San Luis Obispo County: city or County, legal lot status and certificates of compliance, zoning, community water or a well, Paso Basin, Nipomo Mesa and Los Osos water rules, septic under the County LAMP, fire and flood zones, the coastal zone, Williamson Act contracts, slope, access and utilities.

How ADU rules work in San Luis Obispo County: city vs County, how many ADUs a lot can have, size and setback limits, the water, septic, fire, access and drainage pre-screening, areas where ADUs are not allowed, the County pre-reviewed plans (also accepted in Paso Robles), City of San Luis Obispo rules and the permit path.

How building in Hope Ranch works for a new home, rebuild, addition or ADU: the Hope Ranch Park Homes Association permit and Architectural Board of Review stages, floor area, height, setback and view rules, Santa Barbara County design review and coastal permits, La Cumbre water, septic and fire access.

How a Big Sur building permit works for a new home, rebuild or addition: Monterey County coastal permits, the critical viewshed test from Highway 1, staking and flagging, siting rules outside the viewshed, appeals, water and septic, geology and fire access, Caltrans driveways and rebuilding after a fire or slide.

How the Montecito Board of Architectural Review (MBAR) works for a new home, rebuild or addition: what it reviews, conceptual, preliminary and final review, what to submit, timing and appeals, the Montecito floor area guidelines and hillside standards, and the fire, water and coastal steps that ride along.

How the Carmel-by-the-Sea design review process works for a new home, rebuild or addition: Track 1 staff review vs Track 2 Planning Commission hearings, the Preliminary Site Assessment, story poles, trees, historic review, floor area and volume, and the Design Guidelines 1.5 update.