The Windsor ADU Tree Protection Trap Most Homeowners Don't See Coming

Windsor tree protection can add $2K to $5K and 4 to 8 weeks to an ADU. Check the local trigger before you design.

If you are planning an ADU in Windsor, the first question is not size, setbacks, or whether the unit pencils. The first question is whether your site plan touches a protected tree. That is the real Windsor hook. In a lot of cities, tree review feels secondary. In Windsor, it can become the issue that changes the layout before your permit set is stable. If your ADU footprint, driveway shift, utility trench, grading, or access path conflicts with a protected tree area, you are not dealing with a minor note at the end of plan check. You are dealing with redesign risk up front. That matters…