ADU Construction Still Difficult in California

Accessory dwelling units should be easier to build in California, but the process is still slow and complicated in many cities, say housing advocates.

1 minute read

January 22, 2019, 11:00 AM PST

By Camille Fink


Accessory Dwelling Unit

Brett VA / Flickr

California state legislation easing the red tape and lowering the costs of building accessory dwelling units was supposed to spur construction and help with the state’s affordable housing crisis. But, many local municipalities have been slow to get ADU developments moving along, reports Louis Hansen:

Many more residents are requesting applications for ADUs than actually getting construction permits to build, [David] Garcia said. Homeowners often still find the process daunting and filled with unexpected costs. They report getting conflicting guidance from local planners and being hit with high fees for local services and schools.

Housing advocates and developers want cities to do more to help homeowners who want to build the units. The California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco alleging that zoning ordinances prohibit ADUs on most properties in the city and the discretionary review process can hold up projects indefinitely.

While some cities are resisting the ADU changes, Hansen writes that others are pushing forward. For example, San Jose eased zoning restrictions last year, and ADU construction is now permitted on many more lots in the city. 

Thursday, January 17, 2019 in The Mercury News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater

The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

35 minutes ago - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

2 hours ago - The New York Times

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

3 hours ago - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.