ADU
What is An Adu?
Traditionally known as granny flats, secondary residences, or laneway homes in Canada, ADU’s (“Accessory Dwelling Units”) are smaller, secondary residences that homeowners can place on their existing land to serve as guest houses, in-law suites, home offices, gyms and more.
And now, thanks to new changes in California law designed specifically to streamline the construction of these spaces, it’s easier than ever to add critical square footage to your home!
With custom and semi-custom ADU solutions in a variety of sizes, DNM Architecture is a leading advocate for responsible and useful development of these revolutionary spaces.
California ADUs
With an estimated shortage of almost 1 Million homes in California and almost 4 Million across the US, ADUs are just one tool to help combat the country’s chronic lack of affordable housing. It may seem trivial to add one unit in a backyard or convert a basement to an apartment, but, in contrast to large apartment buildings or expanded suburbs, ADUs provide a “surgical” path to new housing using existing land, sewers, water and other infrastructure. They may be the greenest and most sustainable housing strategy available.
ADU’s
- add living space
- allow families to live closer together
- provide income opportunities
- and more!
Fast Approval
A significant advantage of ADUs is that they must be approved “ministerially” if they meet all of the design criteria in the State law.This means that they are not subject to design review by a Planning Commission and can only be evaluated by planning staff using “objective criteria.” If they meet the criteria for size, location and other conditions, a complete permit application must be processed within 30 days (60 days for larger multi-ADU projects).
Convenient
All You Need
What makes ADUs so attractive to homeowners and other building owners is that they can be built on lots that normally do not allow additional dwellings, such as in neighborhoods zoned for single family homes only. Additionally, the ADU is exempt from size restrictions which may exist for other construction on the property.
Useable
Environment
It may seem trivial to add one unit in a backyard or convert a basement to an apartment, but, in contrast to large apartment buildings or expanded suburbs, ADUs provide a “surgical” path to new housing using existing land, sewers, water and other infrastructure. They may be the greenest and most sustainable housing strategy available.
Green
Rules & Regs
A studio or one-bedroom ADU is limited to 850sf. An ADU with 2 or more bedrooms can be the greater of 1000 sf or 50% of the primary dwelling unit’s floor area. The height is generally limited to 16’ although there are circumstances when it can be up to 18-25’.
Rules
DNM Architecture ADU Projects
on the board
605
Content
645
Content
1000
Content
ADU
Contact us to learn more about how DNM Architecture can design your ideal ADU.