The city wants to streamline the process and lower construction costs for accessory dwelling units in order to boost the city’s housing supply without dramatically altering neighborhoods.
Property owners in Raleigh, North Carolina can now purchase pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as part of an effort by the city to spur ADU construction and increase the housing supply through gentle density boosts. Bradley George describes the program for WUNC.
The plans, which cost between $400 and $1,400, can save homeowners the time and money involved in developing their own plans, speeding up the process of getting an ADU permitted and built. According to Raleigh director of planning and development Pat Young, “You still have to go through a site assessment to make sure you're meeting all the setbacks and other requirements on site, but the building code issues have been pre-reviewed and pre-approved, essentially.”
Other cities, including Stockton and Los Angeles, are using similar programs to streamline ADU construction and bring down the costs of construction. Raleigh relaxed restrictions on ADUs in 2020, paving the way for ‘gentle density’ increases in its residential neighborhoods.
Read the full story: Raleigh hopes 'ADU Gallery' will spur affordable housing construction
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