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ADUs

An ADU, or "Accessory Dwelling Unit", is becoming a popular way to address Southern California's housing problems.   Los Angeles and Orange County, in comparison to East Coast cities, have relatively low housing density.  In other words, single family home lots predominate.  We have two problems:  too many people desiring to live here and very high rents.   One of the solutions identified is to have higher density areas by allowing more habitable units on a single family lot.  What used to be called a granny flat or in-law suite, is now termed an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU.

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California took the lead in 2017 passing ADU legislation.   As recent as October 2109, Governor Newsom signed 16 housing bills, many of which addressed simplifying and expediting the process of growing ADUs in the state.   In Los Angeles alone, plan check submissions for ADUs now surpass those of any other type of construction.   Applications have increased 15 fold since 2015.

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Below is more information about ADUs.

  • Size limited for a standard ADU to 50% of the primary residence or 1200 SF maximum, or 500 SF for a Junior ADU

  • Types:  attached to primary home, detached from primary home, or garage conversion

  • ADU must have own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping areas; Junior ADU must be in primary home existing bedroom, kitchenette, access to a bathroom, and doorway to primary home and exterior

  • Setbacks:  new California law establishes 4 ft setback from existing structures and property lines.  Previous legislation states ADUs must be 10 ft from primary home.

  • Parking:  no extra parking required if located less than 1/2 mile from public bus stop or one block from car-share location

  • Power lines:  must be 10 ft clear of ADU

  • Hillside and Fire areas:  area specific ADU restrictions

  • Construction types:  traditional "stick-built" home, manufactured home; Los Angeles law allows Tiny Homes

  • Los Angeles allows non-owner occupied properties

  • Uses:  multiple uses including office, studio, exercise room, reading room, storage, granny flat, in-law suite, 1 or 2 bedroom units, duplex

  • Time:  Following permits, BHW can build your new ADU in 4 to 9 months depending on construction type.

  • Rental Income:  as high as $2500 per month per single tenant in some neighborhoods

  • ​Multi-family zoned lots are allowed up to 2 ADUs per lot when zoning permits

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