If you feel like reading the actual ADU Handbook put out by the state by all means I highly recommend it especially if you suffer from insomnia. I’ll summarize here the key points for easy reference. Your city might have some extra bonus or incentives but for the most part it should conform to the highlights here. For example, Los Angeles allows you to build a detached ADU up to 1,200sf.
Parking
You are exempt from parking requirements if any of the following is met:
- The property is located within 1/2 mile from a public transit station.
- The property is located within a historically designated area.
- The unit is an existing structure or part of an existing structure.
- When on-street parking permits are required but would not be offered to the occupant of the unit.
- When there is a car-share drop off point located within one block of the unit.
A quick note about JADU and conversion ADU – the square footage limit can include up to 150sf of new construction. For example, if the existing garage is 450sf you can expand it to 600sf.
As of fall 2020, solar panels will be required for detached new construction ADU’s FYI so be sure to include that in your budget. Fire sprinklers, however, are only required when it is in the existing primary unit still.
#NINJATIP – If your ADU is smaller than 750sf you are exempt from paying impact fees. Depending on where you are, this can be a decent chunk of change. 750sf is enough to fit a 2 bedroom unit, maybe a little tight, but we did this once and saved around $20,000 in fees.
For multifamily properties, in short you can convert up to 25% of the existing units plus two detached units. However, the conversion must come from non-living spaces such as a carport, laundry room, storage room, etc. For example, if you have a fourplex, you can convert one units out of the existing building footprint, and add two more detached units bringing it 7 units. They can be hard to find, but when you do it can be an extremely powerful way to increase your property value.
