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Table of Contents

#affordable#archivedmaterials#bestpractices#bonus#communityoutreach#design#finance#nonprofit#policy#seniors

Promising Practices

City of Carlsbad Inclusionary Zoning Bonus
#affordable
#bonus
#policy
One way that developers of single family homes can comply with the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance is by constructing ADUs that have a deed restriction. The deed restriction lasts for a period of 55 years, and requires that rent for the ADU be restricted to a low income level and that tenants be income qualified. The city’s inclusionary housing ordinance is a part of the zoning ordinance and applies to residential projects of seven or more units.
Town of Ross Floor Area Bonus
#affordable
#bonus
#policy
The Town of Ross utilizes a clause in the Zoning Code that allows homeowners to have additional square footage in their ADU with an affordability contract. Currently the maximum floor area allowed by right is 1,000 square feet. However, up to 1,200 square feet can be approved with Council action and an affordability contract. The affordability is monitored through the Town’s business license process. After 20 years the Council can consider terminating the affordability contract.
City of LA: ADU Accelerator Program
#affordable
#seniors
The City of LA pairs older adults with homeowners willing to provide a stable home by offering their accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as affordable rentals. In exchange, homeowners receive benefits such as qualified tenant referrals, tenant case management, and stable rental payments.
LA County: ADU Pilot Program
#affordable
#finance
Homeowners who rent their units to individuals or families experiencing homelessness for 10 years receive a $75,000 forgivable loan, guaranteed through a deed of trust and promissory agreement, to help cover the costs of building an ADU. Five homeowners were selected for this pilot program, and two ADUs are expected to be placed in service during Fall 2020.
City of San Diego: Density Bonus for Multiple ADUs
#affordable
#bonus
#policy
The City of San Diego created an Affordable ADU Bonus Program that allows for the construction of one unrestricted ADU for every affordable ADU deed-restricted for 15 years. Outside of Sustainable Development Areas (SDAs), projects would be limited to one additional unrestricted ADU. Within SDAs, the number of additional ADUs does not have a specific limit.
Sonoma County Cottage Housing
#bestpractices
#policy
The County’s code encourages the development of ADUs and smaller units with shared parking and common open areas within existing low- and medium-density urban residential neighborhoods. The County allows two types of cottage housing developments—detached and attached.
City of Berkeley’s Codes and Development Standards
#policy
Berkeley’s ADU development standards are communicated clearly through Berkeley’s website, FAQ sheets, and development codes. Berkeley’s policies are more permissive in flat areas and more restrictive in hilly areas so as to increase potential for ADUs while still balancing fire safety risk in hilly areas.
Pasadena Second Unit ADU Program
#bestpractices
#finance
#policy
The Pasadena Second Unit ADU Program offers Pasadena homeowners “Comprehensive Assistance” for financing, designing, permitting, and constructing a new affordable ADU in the City of Pasadena. Specifically the program provides homeowners financial assistance to build an ADU through new construction, garage conversion, or bring up to code an existing unpermitted ADU or illegal garage conversion.
West Hollywood: Affordable ADU Pilot Program
#affordable
#bestpractices
This ADU Pilot Program offers “comprehensive assistance” for financing, designing, permitting, and constructing a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in the City of West Hollywood. Program applicants must rent their ADU to a Section 8 voucher holder for a minimum seven continuous years.
City of Milpitas: ADU Legalization, Incentives, and Online Appointment Scheduler
#bestpractices
#finance
Milpitas’ Safe ADU Legalization Program is an ADU amnesty program that connects homeowners with existing but unpermitted ADUs with a program coordinator to get answers to their questions without having to reveal their name or address. The goal of this program is to ensure that ADUs are compliant with building codes and meet health and safety standards. The City of Milpitas also has used American Rescue Plan Act funding to waive most ADU permit fees. Additionally, the city has created an online appointment platform where homeowners can schedule a virtual meeting with city officials to explore the development of an ADU.

ADU Finance

San Mateo County: One Stop Shop Program
#finance
San Mateo County, Hello Housing, and the Cities of East Palo Alto, Pacifica, and Redwood City partnered to launch this program. Participating homeowners receive no-cost support from Hello Housing with the design, permitting, and project management involved with building an ADU.
Monterey Bay: My House My Home Program
#affordable
#finance
Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay partners with the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, and Senior Network Services to operate the My House My Home Program, which builds affordable ADUs for low income senior homeowners in the area.
Santa Cruz County: ADU Forgivable Loan Program
#affordable
#finance
Santa Cruz County partners with a local bank to implement the County’s ADU Forgivable Loan Program, which offers loans up to $40,000 to homeowners who rent the ADU to low-income households at affordable rents for up to 20 years. The loan is forgiven after 20 years if the ADU has been rented with this restriction.
City of Clovis: ADU Finance Program
#finance
In partnership with the City of Clovis, Self-Help Enterprises will provide financing to eligible property owners seeking funding to build or repair Accessory Dwelling Units on their existing single-family lot. The program targets the City of Clovis’ existing ADU Program/ Cottage Home Program.
Pasadena Second Unit ADU Program
#bestpractices
#finance
#policy
The Pasadena Second Unit ADU Program offers Pasadena homeowners “Comprehensive Assistance” for financing, designing, permitting, and constructing a new affordable ADU in the City of Pasadena. Specifically the program provides homeowners financial assistance to build an ADU through new construction, garage conversion, or bring up to code an existing unpermitted ADU or illegal garage conversion.
Town of Truckee ADU Loan + Mini-grant Program
#finance
The Town of Truckee offers mini grants and loans to encourage the building of new units as well as the permitting of existing, unpermitted units to increase the inventory of long-term housing in Truckee that serves the local workforce and community.
City of Milpitas: ADU Legalization, Incentives, and Online Appointment Scheduler
#bestpractices
#finance
Milpitas’ Safe ADU Legalization Program is an ADU amnesty program that connects homeowners with existing but unpermitted ADUs with a program coordinator to get answers to their questions without having to reveal their name or address. The goal of this program is to ensure that ADUs are compliant with building codes and meet health and safety standards. The City of Milpitas also has used American Rescue Plan Act funding to waive most ADU permit fees. Additionally, the city has created an online appointment platform where homeowners can schedule a virtual meeting with city officials to explore the development of an ADU.

Pre-Approved Units

City of Clovis Cottage Home Program
#bestpractices
#policy
The City of Clovis developed a “Cottage Home Program,” that offers residents an opportunity to construct one of three free streamlined cottage home plans on their property with a rear yard facing an alley.
City of Encinitas Permit Ready ADU Program
#bestpractices
#policy
The City of Encinitas developed a “Permit Ready ADU Program”, in which property owners can simply print out the plans available online and bring them in to the city for approval.
Humbolt County Pre-Approved Units
#bestpractices
#policy
Humbolt County provides pre-approved ADU Plans online, free of charge. These plans are compliant with current California building codes. Humbolt County also provide a comprehensive guidebook walking residents step-by-step through the ADU development and permitting process.
San Diego County Pre-Approved Plans
#bestpractices
#policy
San Diego County provides pre-approved plans and CAD files to any interested homeowner.
City of San José Pre-approved ADUs
#bestpractices
#policy
The City of San José maintains a list of designers and builders on their webpage who offer pre-approved detached ADU building plans, which means homeowners can go through expedited plan review.
City of Seaside ADU Resources
#bestpractices
#policy
The City of Seaside is committed to making it easier to add an ADU to your single-family or multi-family property.
City of Fresno ADU Program
#bestpractices
#design
#policy
The City of Fresno’s ADU Program encourages the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by offering a selection of pre-approved plans to homeowners. The plans offer a variety of sizes and styles that will match the diversity of Fresno’s neighborhoods and the needs of households throughout the city. These plans can also be used to build small primary homes to help first-time buyers enter the housing market or assist those seeking to downsize.
City of Chico ADU Program
#bestpractices
#design
#policy
The City of Chico’s ADU Program encourages the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by offering a selection of pre-approved plans to homeowners free of charge. Floor plans are available that incorporate accessible universal design features with wider doorway widths and larger bathrooms for increased ADA accessibility.

Checklists and Handouts

San Diego County ADU Regulations
#communityoutreach
#policy
San Diego County’s ADU Zoning Division handout clearly outlines all planning requirements associated with ADU Projects in one central location.
San Francisco ADU Checklist (Single-Family Homes)
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#policy
San Francisco’s multi-agency ADU checklist clearly describes what features are required to be shown on ADU permit submittals. It also contains links to more detailed requirements from each department involved in the permitting process.
San Francisco ADU Planning Requirements (Single-Family Homes)
#communityoutreach
#policy
San Francisco’s Planning Department developed a comprehensive document that outlines every potential scenario/code requirement that a property owner could run into in developing an ADU. This document is tailored towards single-family homes adding one ADU, but there is also one for multifamily homes.
San Jose ADU Checklist
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#policy
San Jose’s universal ADU checklist clearly and simply outlines all requirements associated with pulling an ADU permit in the city, and prompts people to contact their “ADU Ally” with any specific ADU questions.
Sebastopol ADU Checklist
#archivedmaterials
#communityoutreach
#policy
Sebastopol’s ADU Checklist provides a high-level overview of planning requirements, fees, and processes associated with ADUs.
Sebastopol ADU Primer
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
Sebastopol’s ADU Primer provides a user-friendly and digestible two page handout outlining key ADU definitions and requirements, with great graphic design.
Sunnyvale ADU Handout
Sunnyvale’s up-to-date ADU handout outlines key requirements associated with ADUs from each municipal department and provides contact information for homeowners seeking additional assistance

Reports and Handbooks

City of Folsom ADU Design Workbook
#design
#finance
The City of Folsom prepared a two-part ADU Design Workbook that contains a review of the permitting, design, and financing process for basic ADUs and ADUs built in the city’s historic district.
Oakland ADU Initiatives Existing Conditions and Barriers Report (2020)
#communityoutreach
#finance
The City of Oakland produced an ADU report that contains a literature review, information on demographics and housing trends in the city, a review of Oakland’s current ADU regulations, a projection of the City’s ADU potential, a finance section, and information solicited from community members.
San Francisco ADU Handbook
#archivedmaterials
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#finance
#policy
The San Francisco Planning Department sponsored the development of a comprehensive “Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook,” prepared by OpenScope Studio. This handbook provides detailed information about ADU regulations, financing, and design. It is important to note that the content of this handbook is now outdated and does not reflect the requirements of the 2019 legislation passed at the state and local level.

Best Practices Resources

Affordability in ADUs Research
#bestpractices
#finance
This document provides information on jurisdictions across the country that are working to increase affordability of constructing and financing ADUs. The content of this report was supplied by Baird & Driskell Community Planning.
ADU Best Practices
#bestpractices
#policy
This document provides information on jurisdictions across that country that have ADU “Best Practices” in place. The content of this report was supplied by Baird & Driskell Community Planning.

Non-Governmental Organizations

Build It Green
#nonprofit
Build It Green’s “Potential of ADUs” page provides resources and webinars regarding the viability and sustainability of ADUs.
Casita Coalition
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#design
#finance
#nonprofit
#policy
The Casita Coalition is the only statewide, multi-sector organization that brings together all key players to remove policy barriers, making a big impact through small homes. Working through our Board, Advisory Committee and Working Groups, the Coalition draws on the diversity of expertise and experience of our members to make it easier to build small homes in all neighborhoods across California.
HelloADU
HelloADU, is Hello Housing’s Accessory Dwelling Unit platform showcasing ADU and JADU support services available to homeowners throughout the Bay Area. HelloADU creates a place for professionals working in the space to connect with our team, funders to learn about our work in this space, and homeowners to connect to support they may need wherever they are at in their ADU journey.

Websites

City of Calabasas ADU Website
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
The City of Calabasas developed a comprehensive ADU webpage that provides viewers with information about ADUs and the regulations associated with constructing an ADU in Calabasas.
City of San Diego Companion Unit Website
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#finance
#policy
The City of San Diego’s newly renovated “Companion Unit” website contains all information homeowners may want to access regarding ADUs, including links to code sections, information on fee schedules, and statistics on ADU construction in San Diego.
San Mateo County ADU Website
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#policy
Home for All San Mateo County’s ADU Website provides general information about ADUs, as well as links to jurisdictions with updated ADU ordinances in the County. The County also developed a “Second Unit Resource Center” that contains detailed design, policy, and procedural information regarding ADUs.
City of Santa Cruz ADU Website
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
#finance
#policy
This website outlines policy and procedural requirements associated with constructing ADUs in the City of Santa Cruz. It notably contains fee estimates, and contact points from both the Planning and Building departments.
Make Room for Marin: Marin County ADU Website
#bestpractices
#communityoutreach
Marin County’s “Make Room for Marin” website provides property owners with a step-by-step overview of the processes associated with ADU development.
Napa Sonoma ADU Center
The Napa Sonoma ADU Center website provides homeowners with information and resources to support them in every step of the ADU construction process. The site also includes links to webinars and highlights existing ADUs built by local residents.

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