From the Orange County Newsroom
Camilo Betancur faced a difficult challenge: finding an affordable home for his aging parents.
As rental prices soared and housing options shrank, that dream felt increasingly out of reach — until Ready Set Orange offered the perfect solution.
“When I learned about this program on the news, I thought about my parents,” said Betancur. “I want to build something for them so they can live close to me when they retire.”
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In early March, Betancur became the first Orange County resident to receive construction permits through Ready Set Orange, a new Orange County program designed to help homeowners build Accessory Dwelling Units — often called granny flats or in-law suites — on their property.
Launched in August 2024, Ready Set Orange is one of Orange County’s key initiatives to address the affordable housing crisis. The program offers eight pre-designed floor plans and provides step-by-step guidance for homeowners to apply for and secure construction permits. By streamlining the process, it reduces both costs and wait times.
Betancur now joins a growing number of homeowners exploring ADU options.
These small, self-contained units share a property with a single-family home and can be used for family housing or rented for periods longer than 180 days.
By mid-March 2025, Ready Set Orange had received 323 applications, with 122 applicants advancing past initial zoning reviews to begin construction planning.
In Betancur’s neighborhood, Maykel Permuy also started building an ADU through the program, becoming the second homeowner to receive a construction permit.
“My mom lives with me now,” said Permuy. “She needs her own place, but rent is expensive. I gave up looking for a while. When I heard about Ready Set Orange, I wanted to pursue it.”
The program offers four ADU floor plans ranging from 531 to 708 square feet, and four single-family home plans between 1,150 and 1,483 square feet. Among applicants, ADUs have quickly become the most popular option.
Both Permuy and Betancur selected the Clementine model, a 531-sq.-ft. unit with a covered entry and a secondary rear entrance.
Betancur made a few minor modifications to the design and completed the permitting process in just four months. By using the pre-designed plans, he estimates he saved nearly $10,000 on architectural fees.
“Going back and forth with an architect could’ve taken months,” he said. “But in this case, we saved a lot of time and money. The process was easy and fast.”
To learn more, visit Ready Set Orange.
