Dave Kaptain
Jeff Kaptain
Jeff Kaptain
Mar 20th, 2017
How many homeowners in Los Angeles could benefit by having extra living space at their current residence? Two state laws went into effect this year that are intended to make it easier for homeowners to add an accessory dwelling unit — "granny flat," "bonus room," etc. in standard lingo — to their residential property.
A few highlights of the new regulations are as follows, per a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle:
∙ Accessory dwelling units up to 1,200 square feet are allowed on any lot with a single-family home (but local ordinances can still say where they will or won’t be permitted based on factors such as water and sewer services).
∙ Parking requirements and utility fees have been dramatically scaled back to make it far less cost and space prohibitive to add a secondary unit.
∙ Units being created within an existing living space such as a bedroom, basement, attic or garage will be held to a certain set of guidelines, while another set of guidelines will apply if the new unit adds square footage outside or on top of existing structures.
∙ Plans that meet state and local requirements must be approved by the local jurisdiction within 120 days, without the need to notify neighbors.
You can read the full SF Chronicle article here, and/or a fascinating and comprehensive article focusing on the potential impact of the new laws on the Los Angeles housing scene here.
There will surely be an ongoing debate in the coming months and years over whether or not secondary units are the key to easing city and statewide housing shortages. But if adding an accessory dwelling unit to your current property seems like an appealing and appropriate means of addressing your spacial needs, it would probably be worthwhile exploring the idea with a qualified contractor.
As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or wish to discuss the aforementioned in more detail!
