ADUs and You
There’s been a lot of talk about ADUs in recent years. Perhaps your local jurisdiction has altered their zoning ordinance to allow them. Or maybe you just want to know what the buzz is all about. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s start with the basics: ADU stands for ‘Accessory Dwelling Unit.’
It is a secondary housing unit located on a single-family residential parcel. It is intended to be ‘accessory’ in its use and subservient to the primary residential structure in size, as well as height if the ADU is in a detached structure.
Common implementations of ADUs
Basement or attic renovation
New or existing addition to primary structure (attached)
Renovation of existing garage or detached structure
New detached structure (with a permanent foundation - not a mobile home structure)
Popular nicknames for ADUS
Granny Flat, Granny Pod, In-law Suite and my personal favorite…a Fonzie Flat. (For those that recall the show ‘Happy Days,’ The Fonz lived in the Cunningham’s apartment over their garage.) No matter what you call it, an ADU provides a self-contained dwelling unit with a full kitchen on the same lot as a residential structure.
Now that you know what an ADU is, why would you or your neighbors want one? They have a wide range of possible uses to include:
Dependent Independence (e.g. housing for aging parents, disabled dependents, adult children)
Living quarters for in-home health care worker or child caregiver
Short-term living quarters (visiting family and friends)
Supplemental rental income (long-term or short-term) - typically not a primary reason for an ADU build
Typical ADU scenarios
An aging couple builds an ADU in anticipation for an on-site home caregiver. In the meantime, the couple welcomes their adult children to stay in the ADU during their visits.
A young family welcomes an aging parent to live with them. The ADU provides independent living while having the support of family close by. The couple gains an added benefit of having their children grow up in a multi-generational household which also assists with a reduction in daycare costs.
A couple with a disabled child plans ahead for at-home long-term care when their child becomes an adult. The couple builds a detached ADU in preparation for semi-dependent living support. Until the child becomes and adult, the couple receives supplemental income by renting it long-term to a recent college graduate.
Sounds good right? But are they safe?
We all have that one friend who lived in some sketchy basement apartment or converted garage that was not on the up and up, so I understand the concern. Let me dispel that concern. New ADUs must comply with all local and state building code regulations. The construction of a new structure or renovation is just like any other construction project. Your contractor will still need to file for a building permit, pass building inspections, as well as, any special use permits required by zoning if the use is not allowed as ‘by-right' in your locality.
What about cost?
Costs can vary greatly by your location, as well as the overall size and finishes of the final design. For example, do you want a Honda or a Maserati? As with any construction project, you should determine your overall goals, a reasonable budget and property value comps in your neighborhood. The majority of requests I receive for ADUs are for the uses listed above that do not generate income. Most ADU design requests are based on a family or medical need. While ADUs can provide supplemental rental income, the cost to build an ADU solely for income purposes is typically cost prohibitive.
