NYC Likely to Legalize ADUs as Part of ‘City of Yes’ Reforms

Two New York City subcommittees approved a modified version of the City of Yes zoning reform plan proposed by Mayor Eric Adams, paving the way for its full approval, reports Eliza Relman in Business Insider. The plan includes zoning changes that will permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in more parts of the city.

The modified plan would allow for the building of around 20,000 ADUs over the next 15 years by permitting them in more residential neighborhoods, though it will still exclude “neighborhoods that allow only rowhouses or single-family detached homes.”

Housing advocates see ADUs as a tool for increasing the housing supply while alleviating concerns about unsustainable density. According to California YIMBY research director Nolan Gray, ADU legalization is “the beachhead for broader reform.” In California, where the state has been legalizing ADUs in various forms since 1982, the units made up 20 percent of new homes built in 2023.