Council approves use of Yavapai County 'Home of My Own' house plans to speed workforce housing

Prescott — The City Council approved a contract on Sept. 9 allowing Prescott to use Yavapai County’s “Home of My Own” pre‑designed house plans as a tool to facilitate workforce housing.

Under city contract number 2026‑106, the county’s plans — available at no cost — include one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom floor plans designed for slab‑on‑grade construction and basic, builder‑level finishes. Chelsea Walton, the city’s community development director, said the plans are sealed by an architect and intended to reduce drafting costs and shorten permitting timelines for builds on sites that do not require specialized engineering.

Yavapai County director Jeremy Dye told council the county has issued about 39 certificates of occupancy for homes using the program over roughly five years and has expanded the initial set of drawings based on user feedback. Dye said the program has been well‑received, but cautioned that certain site conditions (steep topography, special foundation requirements or extensive engineering needs) may make an otherwise eligible parcel unsuitable.

Walton said the plans may not be modified before or during construction, and homeowners must still obtain site‑specific permits and provide required grading, utility and geotechnical information. The contract covers plans valid for the 2018 building code cycle; staff will return with an amendment or new contract once Prescott adopts the 2024 code set.

Council members asked about time savings and cost estimates. Walton said plan review for a mass‑graded, preengineered lot could be as fast as five days; Mayor Pro Tem Cantellme estimated local architectural fees saved could be in the range of $7,000–$10,000 depending on the project. The council approved the contract by voice vote (recorded as passed).