Following the recent example of cities like Vancouver, Austin, and Berkeley, Oakland, CA recently made it much easier for residents to create secondary units, also known as accessory dwelling units.
According to Darwin BondGraham, "the Oakland City Council voted to ease restrictions on the construction of secondary housing units, or backyard cottages," earlier this week.
"The new rules promote more rental housing by easing parking requirements, allowing homeowners to transform existing backyard buildings like sheds and garages into living spaces, and relaxing height and setback requirements," according to BondGraham's summary of the new regulations.
The article provides more background on the case for secondary housing units (also known as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), granny flats, or mother-in law units). Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is cited in the article as a supporter of the new regulations, but opposition, common in some neighborhoods and cities considering similar restrictions, is not mentioned.
The nearby city of Berkeley approved similar new regulations in March 2015, with the added layer of prohibiting the use of ADUs for short-term rentals. Under Oakland's new regulations, owners of such units could rent the property through services like Airbnb.
FULL STORY: Oakland Eases Rules on Secondary Units to Add New Rental Housing

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie