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Trusted resources for your ADU project
What you need to know about successfully planning and finding expert help for your accessory dwelling unit
An online resource provided by Daniel S. Gonzales, attorney at law
California faces a critical imbalance between job growth and residential stock. Experts have concluded that a key component in bridging this gap will be accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”), also known as “granny units” or “in-law flats.” ADUs are far from a new idea, but “NIMBY” laws intended to preserve neighborhood character have long restrained their use. Despite these restrictions, however, it is estimated that Los Angeles has 50,000 illegal units.
Recent California legislation aimed at remedying our housing shortage is expected to accelerate ADU construction across the state. These reforms set statewide ADU standards, voided local laws imposing more restrictive limits, established a process and timeline for local government to comply with these new standards, and addressed overregulation.
These efforts appear to be paying off, as permits for and construction of ADUs are on the rise. Still, property owners who want to plan and execute ADU projects need sources of information about resources, laws, and tools to help increase their chances of success.
To help those interested in ADUs meet these needs, I have created this website, which features news about ADUs, as well as an FAQ on ADU basics. I have also provided online tools to assist ADU developers. The Excel-based “Return on Investment” tool has a template designed for ADUs to help plan projects and track costs. The “Regulations” section will help you identify the jurisdiction in Santa Clara County in which your project is located and ascertain their relevant guidelines. Finally, I have included a forum for client references of local ADU project vendors; as you successfully deal with such vendors, I hope you will share your thoughts here.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about ADUs or if you are looking for professional services related to their planning, design, construction or marketing.
ROI Calculator
You can download this MS Excel calculator how many years your ADU project will take to break even.
To use the excel worksheet, enter your values into the cells highlighted in green and blue by double clicking on them in the “assumptions” tab. The bottom cell in yellow will show you your “Number of Years to break even”. You’ll need to make some assumptions about the cost of construction, the property tax impacts, and the rental income rate. You can also view (and modify) the core calculator assumptions.
ROI Calculator, courtesy of Accessory Dwellings website.
In the News
Does Your ADU Need Parking Spaces?
Accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) have become simpler to build and more popular in California as a result of legislative changes at the state level. The intent of these changes has been to clarify those laws, as well as to remove red tape and regulatory barriers at the local level. In particular, California laws passed in recent years have … [Read More...]
2023 update of California ADU laws
California law governing ADUs has been revised pursuant to two new “clean up measures”, SB 897 and AB 2221, which went into effect January 1, 2023. These new laws clarify and correct several different unforeseen barriers to the approval and construction of ADUs that had surfaced after the adoption of previous ADU legislation by the state. These … [Read More...]
