Looking for a local solution to the California housing shortage, Clovis city planners bypassed legalizing tiny houses on wheels for what they saw as a solution more attractive to homeowners: providing free fee-waived plans for backyard “cottage” homes.

The three plan options are for homes 400-square-feet or less, and are available to homeowners with access to an alleyway (a prominent feature of Old Town Clovis).

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), AKA “granny flats” or in-law units, are legal in California, but Clovis Planning Director Dwight Kroll says the savings under their Backyard Cottage program are substantial. He estimates 9 to 10 thousand dollars for the plans, plus a few thousand more to have them approved by the building department.

On top of this it can cost another $5000 for water and sewage connection fees (plan participants can avoid this by connecting the new units to existing services).