Permitting Amma #1: Geoship’s First Bioceramic, Geodesic Dome House

Hi! Anna here—I am one of the leads for architectural design and permitting at Geoship! With experience designing and permitting more than a dozen backyard homes through California's state-approved Factory-Built Housing program in Los Angeles, I'm honored to now lead Geoship's permitting process and share an inside look at the permitting journey for Amma #1. I hope you enjoy this peek behind the scenes!

-Anna

Creating a Scalable, Repeatable Permitting Process

For a prefabricated home, many of the unknowns and variables experienced in traditional construction are mitigated by bringing the construction into the factory. However, the permitting process is one area that is still subject to the whims of external forces and regulatory bodies which can lead to unpredictable costs and timelines. At Geoship, our aim is to streamline the permitting process by 1) attaining state approval through California’s Factory-Built Housing Program and 2) understanding and documenting the processes of each local jurisdiction to mitigate unknown variables.

By doing these two things, the permitting process can be transformed from a tangled, unknown mess into a scalable and repeatable process.

Nevada City Planning Commission Approved Amma #1

Chris Anderson (left) and Morgan Bierschenk (right) advocating for Amma #1 at the Nevada City Planning Commission meeting

Exciting Announcement: The Amma Dome*,* our 2-bedroom / 2-bathroom flagship model, has been approved by the Nevada City Planning Commission to be built at the Bodhi Hive, a campus of light industrial and commercial buildings on the western edge of Nevada City! Amma #1 will serve as a caretaker unit and residence for Chris Anderson, the property owner.

Nevada City has strict architectural guidelines and the Planning Commission is the body responsible for upholding these guidelines. There was previously no precedent for round structures in Nevada City which makes their approval of Amma #1 an exciting milestone. Due to its context within the industrial campus of the Bodhi Hive and enthusiasm around both its non-toxic and climate-resilient properties and its beautiful design, Amma #1 was well-received by both the Commission and the community.

Watch the Planning Commission discuss Geoship!

Expansion into Neighboring Jurisdictions and Beyond

After the blessing of Nevada City, which has the strictest architectural guidelines in the area, we are excited to build relationships with neighboring jurisdictions as well. We will soon begin the permitting process for the next several Amma Domes throughout these nearby jurisdictions, where we have received initial support and enthusiasm from the building departments.

This is more than just building individual homes—it’s about co-creating communities. Our bioceramic domes are designed to create regenerative ecosystems, fostering human and environmental well-being. These first Amma Domes will serve as a prototype, inspiring future “cities of light” where architecture, technology, and nature converge harmoniously.

Together, these milestones represent much more than progress—they’re powerful signals of what’s possible as we push forward and they’re signs of a regenerative future taking root. Thank you for being part of this movement. Let’s keep building!