Diablo Gazette February 2021
Is an ADU Accessory Dwelling Unit in your future?
More commonly you’d remember it as a “mother inlaw unit” which is not a term we use these days. SO, if you’ve thought of putting an office, play room, pool house, guest room or apartment on your property as part of your home or outside your home, there could not be a better time. They are now called an Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit JADU. I’ve had a number of client calls on this recently so I realize this is a hot topic and this new information makes this more possible than ever. Of course, you have to check with your individual City for their regulations, however, the point of all this is that the State of California has required the Cities to move forward by removing some of the prohibitive regulations of the past to create more housing. (see below).
Gone is the regulation that you had to have off street parking for the new unit which was sometimes the thing prohibiting ADU approvals.
The next question by the clients who inquire about this is whether it will bring value to their property. The short answer is YES. This has become an item at the top of the buyer wish list as one of the most requested in some form either a home office, detached home office, or a classroom area for home schooling; a guest room or place for relatives to be nearby. In addition, in my case, we had planned it for my elderly mother (94 yrs young) and it is being used as our guest room, music room (we had it insulated for music) as she is inside our home now, unable to be alone. But if we needed 24 hour care, or a place for a caretaker, that would serve that purpose as well.
Whether you purchase a modular or prefab version or build it yourself, a well done, permitted unit will be an asset to your home’s value when you sell, and you’ll have the use of it while you are there. It is going to allow many folks to stay in their homes who might not have been able to by having relatives or caretakers or rental income. The housing shortage was part of the goal of the law, but the real benefit for many is the ability to stay in their homes. Take this info and call your City jurisdiction for more info.
