The available space for affordable housing in the Golden State of California is low, with state and local governments looking for answers to this problem. Accessory Dwelling Units are one answer that could prove an impressive way of adding affordable housing to the state. These are not a new idea, with examples of accessory dwelling units including in-law apartments, granny flats, and the iconic apartment above a garage. Forbes reports Governor Gavin Newsom signed five new bills into law that highlight the benefits of adding a small building to an existing property.
1. Adding Affordable Housing
One of the biggest issues facing the people of California is the lack of affordable housing that is available. The decision to sign into law the five bills regarding the development of the ADU market in California included limits on the size of these homes. The Californian State Legislature has eased the construction of small dwellings built beside or behind an existing property. The lack of affordable housing is a problem across California, with the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units helping create new opportunities.
2. Keeping Families Together
Each family has members they would like to see more, with ADUs making it easier for this to happen. Families can worry about aging members who they know are struggling to cope financially. One of the original uses of Accessory Dwelling Units was to allow widowed parents and grandparents to move closer to their children and grandchildren. ADUs remains the simplest way for a family to provide a home for a relative while both parties retaining their independence. The ability to remain independent is vital for many elderly and aging people as they grow older, with the desire to remain close to their family just as important.
3. A Low Cost of Construction
The cost of building an apartment block is high because of the design of the latest multifamily homes. Several benefits are available when a single-family homeowner able to design a wood-framed building that is cheaper to construct than multi-family properties. Backyard Unlimited reports the high cost of construction of apartment buildings is driving up the cost of renting these homes. The cost of designing and constructing Accessory Dwelling Units is lower, with the knock-on effect of lowering rents.
4. Less Paperwork to Complete
The Governor of California was not unaware of the housing crisis facing the state and looked at Accessory Dwelling Units as a solution. The rule changes signed into law in 2019 included the ability to make state officials aware of an unpermitted Accessory Dwelling Unit and quickly bring it up to code. A fast-track program has been developed allowing homeowners with unpermitted ADUs the chance to bring them up to code within five years.
Similar changes to the law were approved to make it easier to gain approval for the construction of a dwelling. The consultation period with local officials over the design of ADUs has been lowered to 60 days for the application to be approved or denied.
5. Adding Density to City Planning
One of the areas that have proven an issue in the state of California is the ability to add more properties to existing neighborhoods. Density has always been at a premium in a state where urban sprawl has been an issue for decades. The encouragement provided for property-owners considering an ADU gives an insight into the importance of the program to state officials. More density for the population makes it easier for the state to manage the development of properties and neighborhoods across the state.
6. Adding Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
Single-family homes have proven one of the success stories of the 20th-century extending into the 21st-century. The changing landscape of the 21st-century has forced a change in the view of the traditional neighborhood, with young people priced out of moving to certain areas. Co Everything reports California has chosen to allow new single-family home lots to include the ability to construct Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior versions. The use of Junior Accessory Dwelling Units triples the number of homes being constructed, with every potential renter allowed to access different neighborhoods.
7. Shared Space
As the population of California continues to expand, the need to share space with neighbors and family members has never been greater. The inclusion of Accessory Dwelling Units in neighborhoods and new sub-divisions allows the number of residents per lot to rise and allows for more community links.
Accessory Dwelling Units are a city planning program that has spread north from California into Seattle and Washington. The program began in California, but it has moved to the East Coast, where the need to house people close to transportation hubs is growing. By allowing multiple families to live on a single lot, politicians in California believe they can positively impact the future of the state.
