ADU rules in California assist homeowners in building granny flats.

The Accessory Dwelling Unit rules in California make it simpler for landowners to create granny flats and garage apartments on their property. Examine what has changed.

What you will discover:

What is an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)?
What are the advantages of constructing an ADU?
What are the most current ADU invoices that I should be aware of?

There is an old proverb that reads, ‘Rome was not constructed in a day, but they were pouring bricks every hour.’ The preceding phrase reminds us that significant work takes time. While California legislators are not attempting to rebuild Rome, they have been tasked with tackling the state’s current housing issue.

The effort of multiple lawmakers is addressing California’s housing issue brick by brick, or in this instance, law by law, via smaller pieces of legislation. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed numerous ADU (Accessory Dwelling Units) laws into law, allowing homeowners in California to develop modest freestanding dwellings (i.e. granny flats) and convert garages into residential quarters. Governor Gavin Newsom expects that lowering the hurdles to ADU building would eventually drive more construction, resulting in an increase in available housing.

What is an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)?

ADUs are tiny free-standing or connected structures that property owners may build and rent out as rental apartments. They are usually smaller than 1,000 square feet in size and are referred to as “secondary units,” “granny flats,” “in-law suites,” or “cottages.”

What are the advantages of constructing an ADU?

Building an ADU may be advantageous in the following ways:

Increases the overall value of the existing home
Provides homeowners with the option to earn additional revenue.
It has a lower environmental effect than other dwelling alternatives.
Reduces the requirement for infrastructure expansion (for example, roads).
Allows communities to flourish without substantially altering their general nature.

What are the most current ADU invoices that I should be aware of?

The following legislation affect property owners in California:

AB-68 (Ting): Limits the number of times a city may deny a homeowner’s application for permits to develop ADUs that are smaller than 850 square feet in size and 16 feet in height. Homeowners will also be able to install a second in-law apartment to their home provided there is enough room to build it at least 4 feet away from the property borders. In other words, a single-family residence may be converted into a triplex.
Wieckowski (SB-13): SB-13, a mixture of AB-68 and AB-881, especially tackles concerns related to excessive permit costs and other hurdles to ADU construction. SP-13 waives local impact costs for ADUs under 750 square feet and reduces rates for units larger than that. Owners of ADUs are also no longer needed to remain in the main house while renting out the ADU for the first five years, enabling a landlord to rent out both the main and ancillary units.
SB-330 (Skinner): Also known as the “Housing Crisis Act of 2019,” SB-330 prohibits housing development moratoriums, prohibits local governments from limiting the number of houses that may be constructed, and shortens the time it takes to secure a building permit.

What was formerly a time-consuming and financially stressful endeavor for homes has become an easier, more streamlined, and cost-effective investment. Homeowners throughout the state will now face fewer hurdles and more options for ADU construction.