The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Homeowners in California say the utility company PG&E is delaying the building of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) through long and onerous permitting and inspection processes, making property owners wait as long as a year to approve new electrical panels or wiring.
According to a San Francisco Chronicle article by Jessica Roy, homeowners and developers are citing “pervasive” problems with the utility, including “weather-related delays, communication issues, inconsistent enforcement of rules from PG&E’s ‘Green Book,’ and poor management of the contractors PG&E outsources some of its work to.”
For its part, PG&E says it is working to improve its processes and that it reduced its application backlog from six months in 2023 to less than one month at the end of 2024. To ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible, the utility recommends “having a licensed electrician or general contractor advise them on the feasibility of the planned ADU location and panel upgrades; submitting a Residential Load Request Form to ensure the existing neighborhood power grid can handle the additional demand from an ADU; and having a site plan produced by an architect or civil engineer that lays out where the new structure and utilities will go.”
FULL STORY: PG&E is delaying ADU construction in California, builders and homeowners say
Affordable Homes Act Targets ADUs, ‘Seasonal Communities’ in Massachusetts
State legislators say the new law could support 65,000 new housing units.
Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing
Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.
Iowa Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units
A new law will allow property owners to build ADUs on single-family lots starting on July 1.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?
Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Guts EV Tax Credits
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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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont