New ADU laws come to California as 2024 begins

With a new year comes new laws and a handful of them deal directly with accessory dwelling units, better known as ADUs.
One new law, AB 1033, gives cities the option to allow homeowners to sell their ADUs separately from the main house. Not surprisingly, there are those who support the idea and others who have serious concerns.
“I think it's a great thing,” said Raphael Perez, Chair of the of Casita Coalition, which encourages the building of more smaller, affordable housing.
He believes ADUs will sell for a lot less than a full house, allowing more people an opportunity to buy a home.
“You're not sharing walls, you get a little bit of a yard, hopefully somewhere to park and that's what we're really hoping for,” Perez said. “People get this opportunity to own a price of San Diego that otherwise may be locked out.”
He also believes it's great for seniors who own a home, but need more income to stay in their house. They can sell an ADU for extra cash.
FULL STORY: www.cbs8.com/a...

[@somedudeonyoutoob]

the guy said "hopefully somewhere to park". parking is a big issue

[@alexlayne967]

This is already ruining my neighborhood, taking all the garages away and in turn all the parking. Who wants their front door right next to a dumpster?

[@joeyjojojunior1794]

It's not about what you want. It's about what you can afford and actually obtain...

[@alexlayne967]

This makes no sense, if they can pay 1800 for a studio they can find one that's not next to a dumpster.

[@rbfarrell1]

This will just increase over crowding and lower standard of living.

[@johnjaco5544]

It is already doing it.

[@patriot9487]

You have zero idea what you are talking about

[@vmobile890]

Great plan to put 2 homes on normally 1 home lot increases the property taxes . How about a 3rd story to that house already doing in Nevada .

[@joeyjojojunior1794]

San Diego will be (more) overcrowded soon. Welcome to the American Hong Kong where you will live in a small box, have no parking, and "love it."

[@patriot9487]

@@joeyjojojunior1794 NPC

[@zander7671]

I can't imagine the neighbors are overly happy that now people can look into their once private backyard.

[@samuelg3586]

Now they get to see the ADU inhabitant whacking off

[@2416ryan]

Agree, this will make CA housing so ugly if many people start doing it.

[@Worldwidetravel553]

People complain about homeless due to housing shortage. Now they’re going to complain about people lowering houses costs which may reduce homelessness and absurd housing prices.

[@JacqueCRISCOsd]

The only constant is change….

[@haha20042003]

Most new houses are two story and near one another no sense of privacy either way. Most homes can have a second story addition added so really no expectation of privacy.

[@DanielPaulsen884]

The intent and effect of this is to destroy neighborhoods that have traditionally been for single-family residences. An ADU is bad for traffic, parking, and infrastructure. All one needs to do is to look at conditions in the barrio, such as in Pacoima or Huntington Park to see the effect of the absence of single-family residences.

[@hdfjg]

still housing short but the sad part is these adus wont even be affordable- i'm sure they will reach up to 600k soon

[@will-nc1zy]

Totaly agree with you. Our neighborhoods will become a ghetto. If I was to tear my house down and build apartments on my lot, I would be expected through the permits, to create additional parking on my lot to accommodate the residents so they won't take up the street parking. But what these ADU's residents they are expected to park on the street and take up our street parking! Can you imagine if I built an Adu and so did my neighbor to my left and right did also? And a family of 4 moves in at each residence. That is like 12 parking spaces that will not be available to the other neighbors and they will have to park 1/2 a block away to find parking! And like you said it will destroy our neighborhoods because the people coming in will be of low income (section 8, homeless (paid by state)) and bad people from outside neighborhoods who want to move into our area. My neighbor just sold his house and he didn't sell it to 2 separate investors who had the same idea and they were interested in buying his home because they told him they wanted to put and Adu on the property. These investors are the ones who will also destroy our neighborhoods because they don't live there and they just want that MONEY! They are buying properties now, and changing our neighborhoods. Does anyone know if we can change this law with another law or just get rid of this current law? Also, some of the homeless are being housed in apartments in good areas and rents are paid by state and it is increasing the crimes in the areas that they reside in. The same type of crime will happen when we bring ADU people into our neighborhoods.

[@DanielPaulsen884]

@@will-nc1zy We have to work with our local city councils and neighborhood councils to counter the state laws' assaults on our neighborhoods. I am pretty sure places like Malibu and Beverly Hills have something up their sleeves.

[@taritaserramo7797]

Also the people renting the ADU are taking up all the parking ! Selling these is a bad idea

[@SpencerHeckwolf]

Feel free to move to a no growth exurb in Ohio. Plenty of parking and no one looking to add ADU’s to homes.

[@xs8372]

No backyards that’s where people go to relax and unwind. Looks awful

[@mauriciosandoval4482]

You want something nice and cheap good luck

[@AmyFesta]

“Plugging the leak?” More like putting a screen on it. Just making things worse.

[@kenc2257]

Wow. Some of these gigantic 2-story ADUs almost "overpower" the main house.

[@Fredflinstone23]

Im wondering how did it pass through planning.. Code requires adu sq ft not more than the main dwelling unit AND should be the same construction and style

[@caratan474]

One architect told me that you can build a 2nd home that will be deemed as the "main" home and the original main home be designated the ADU if owners want to move into the new build instead

[@paddleduck5328]

Interesting

[@rubidot]

​@@Fredflinstone23those specifics vary greatly with local regulations.

[@Fredflinstone23]

@@caratan474 that will depend on AHJ or which city it is.. Some city like where im at, it adopted the full CA code with no revision

[@letsdothis6274]

Did you see that 2-story ADU being built at min 2:26, the walls are so close to the main house, they can practically hear each others farts, 🤣makes no sense

[@bobbif100]

Probably a developer who won't live in either space.

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. Not makes no sense. Not “makes no sense.” /

[@AM-gm3zx]

Have you ever heard about soundproofing dumb a$$.

[@Marl-hj8hh]

ADU shifts all of the risk to the homeowner while the city takes credit for “doing something about” the housing shortage crisis. Terrible idea. Don’t fall for it.

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

homeowners aren’t forced to build ADUs …

[@Marl-hj8hh]

@@sarahbaartmansrevenge true but their neighbors that do, will cause an effect for the community as a whole which will be negative.

[@beanerschnitzel794]

agreed

[@PerfectoKiss]

And allows them to collect $$$ from taxes. Greedy F’ers!

[@paddleduck5328]

Hmm food for thought

[@ByebyeBiden]

It’s all bull crap we bought a home for the reason of our privacy . Now there’s less parking

[@E36ASAP]

wtf does parking have to do with your privacy? 😂 don’t you have a driveway? Shouldn’t you have your own parking spot(s) and again what does parking have to do with privacy 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@ByebyeBiden]

@@E36ASAP it’s that they should have there own driveway to park in . These single family homes are just that Americans want there Californian lifestyle. A lawn and BBQ plus a space to have a garden , not seeing a rental home over there 6’ wall. We never voted for this crap.

[@milanomartin5417]

Shouldn't have JUST bought a home for privacy. You should have strategically planned for future development. The best way to solidify privacy is by buying 1 or more acres of land. You should also have considered building a driveway into your property so you won't have to worry about street parking, but if you owned ample acreage of land you wouldn't have much to worry if you decided to park on the street. With that said if you're so concerned about parking and privacy you definitely should've had a driveway from the start. Personally when I buy a house I'm eager about the opportunity of building an ADU and renting it out. Hell I wish I could find an affordable one already set up in the housing market ready to rent out right after closing on the property. Sounds like a solid way to buy a house with mortgage covered from their rent, option to pay the mortgage off quicker, and if no mortgage is concerned taking care of property tax and a nice source of additional income!

[@ByebyeBiden]

@@milanomartin5417 listen I have a driveway been in this valley since 1955 . This is a new idea snuck in by greedy city planers

[@milanomartin5417]

@@ByebyeBiden Then why are you concerned about parking? Hey if you're smart build an ADU and sell or rent both properties and buy you a that large land with all the privacy your heart could desire. ;)

[@mayakattt3475]

The empty office buildings should convert to apartments

[@dorothythorpe6183]

Did you notice how many windows will be looking into the other backyard. Everybody looses.

[@user-mm2yh1hr3c]

oh , so your views and snooping around of your neighbors backyards takes precedence over the city's tax revenue huh? what are you, the king of sandiego CA ?

[@tomfresh9478]

Over crowding... No more street parking.... Riff Raff moves in. Drugs, guns, sex in the back alley.

[@lothean2099]

Why sell an adu, when you can rent one out.

[@rubidot]

With the new law, that's a question the owner gets to decide, instead of the state deciding for them.

[@milanomartin5417]

That is something that makes no sense to me at all. How do you sell ownership of property plotted on land you own for them? Can you evict them? If you evict them do they just pick up the ADU and find land elsewhere? Given the fact that it's a longer process to remove property from land than it is just being removed from said property would such an eviction process take longer than a typical one?

[@davidkudo]

He said hopefully somewhere to park lol

[@nm-mack4778]

Exactly, that is so true but it's going to be a major issue. Lol

[@ll4680]

Once those ADU’s are finish being built, $5200 a month 😂

[@zander7671]

And what's so funny about that⁉

[@hynos323]

@@zander7671it’s kind of like the feds raising interest rates to lower home prices but the homes are still priced really high.

[@paddleduck5328]

🧐

[@rubidot]

Like they mentioned, ADUs aren't going to fix the housing crisis alone. But with that one $5200/month ADU, there's one less family looking for a place to live.

[@johnjaco5544]

These ADU's are the worst things ever,they are ruining this city.The lots are to small as it is for one house.

[@milanomartin5417]

Well blame yourself for moving to an area that houses in small lots of land. Pretty sure you can find better opportunities on the outskirts of the city. Better act fast and buy larger land to secure the future you want for your home. lol

[@gophukyurselvs3621]

This is only going to benefit the city and the rich

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. /

[@jceddy1]

Luckily most homes in my neighborhood have pools. Gonna be hard to fit in an ADU. I think this will put a premium on neighborhoods like mine when people figure out the value of moving to an "ADU proof" neighborhood. Thanks for making me richer newsome.

[@lisalastnamesmith]

My ADU is for my children!! NOT strangers. I'M BUILDING A FAMILY COMPOUND. Sounds like greedy weirdos are taking advantage.

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

horrifying!! this will make interesting material for that true crime show ‘fear thy neighbor’ . pack ‘em and stack ‘em . really unintelligent

[@joeyjojojunior1794]

Why sell an ADU when you can just keep collecting rent?!

[@desmeisme]

“Hopefully finds parking”

[@SpencerHeckwolf]

NIMBY’s whining; ignore them and build homes.

[@yeahman211]

The set of laws that guaranteed the destruction of Californian suburbia. It's not a "crisis" that everyone who wants to live in "America's finest city" is unable to. This is open borders logic. The intelligent thing to do is to limit population growth until it can occur organically with a natural rise in housing supply, where possible, *NOT* allowing the floodgates to open by giving residential property owners the ability to plant apartment buildings in their backyards.

[@theencouragementcenter1349]

Need to STOP ADUs....property values are tanking...neighborhood parking & population is beyond the pale. 🙄

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

This is how San Diego turns into LA

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

you’re about twenty years too late!!

[@unknownsender6852]

No that's the open border

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

@@unknownsender6852The open border is how San Diego turns into Tijuana

[@Metrifold]

This makes no sense. San Diego would only turn into LA if we continued building on undeveloped land on the outskirts of SD county. As in - expanding the county by building more suburbs to the east. LA is the way it is because of massive suburban sprawl. I agree that LA sucks in comparison to SD. The way we avoid becoming LA is by increasing housing density in our already existing neighborhoods.

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

@@MetrifoldYou are partially correct, let me explain a little. The area of LA I lived in was middle class single family homes back in the 80s. By 2005, everyone had built multiple ADUs in their backyard, and there were 8 cars per "home". The street was completely jam packed with parked cars on every inch curb. The density became ridiculous, and whole neighborhood turned ghetto. Everyone who could afford to, moved away to places on the edge of LA, which helped create the sprawl you are referring to.

[@Skaterone]

Disaster coming.

[@abc123fhdi]

There is so much undeveloped land available and it's not far away, everyone just wants to live in the same neighborhood rather than 15-20 minutes away. People who own large acreages should develop some of it and rent it out. Some state owned land can be sold to developers.

[@cvshav]

No

[@blakeaaron5698]

I'm curious, when an ADU is sold separately from the main residence, will the land entitlement (lot lines) be restructured, or will the new ADU owner pay a land lease indefinitely?

[@alexlayne967]

They will just be sold with the main house and be additional income.

[@user-zg2nw5yu8j]

This is actually going to depend on deed convents, actual city implementation, and most importantly, your lenders preference. The bank that actually owns your deed is going to have the final say as selling your Adu technically will cause a breech of contract/ mortgage contract failure as it is a material change in circumstances.

[@blakeaaron5698]

@@user-zg2nw5yu8j Yes, many variables to consider.

[@user-zg2nw5yu8j]

@blakeaaron5698 no. The only variable that needs consideration is your lender's risk assessment on its foreclosure rates. Selling an ADU means that 1 loan now has two potential foreclosures. Double the risk, double the legal fees, double the overhead, double everything except base profit. Looking at this fiducialy, unless your bank is trying to violate the spirit of truth in financing disclosure laws/ mediate or enforce contract terms in bad faith and become a commercial real estate developer, this plan is DOA.

[@paddleduck5328]

🤔

[@morrisng72]

EDU will be a big mess.

[@Reactstocomments11]

They need to build more houses in borrego springs as San Diego county out there All that land out there's ridiculous.

[@sneat2028]

No insurance company will cover it.

[@cesargarduno7999]

Where I live all the shopping plaza's are empty ran out of business convert those.

[@justinbieber12373]

HOPEFULLY SOMEWHERE TO PARK ????? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 PARKING NOT REQUIRED for ADUS.

[@CHUCK-nw4mv]

Don't worry too much - getting permits for an ADU in California is an absolute nightmare.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

cost to do lot spilt. add water meter .parking ? its for the ones who have $$$$$$$ to do it

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

why would people with money want complete strangers living in their backyard? it doesn’t make any sense…

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

@@sarahbaartmansrevenge put our kids /grand kids in the front house and move into the small house

[@paddleduck5328]

@@youtubecarspottersguide1 that would be nice

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

@@paddleduck5328 only issue is getting the cash to do it

[@theouroboros7470]

More property crime incoming.

[@DanielPaulsen884]

ADUs should have an owner-occupancy requirement. If a homeowner wants to build a home office or an art studio where he will be doing work, that is fine. But the idea of effectively transforming single-family residences into multi-family dwellings by allowing tenants to move into ADUs is absolute lunacy. People are fleeing California in droves specifically to get something resembling the Brady Bunch house, which in L.A. County outside of the barrios cannot be found for less than seven figures.

[@Paradys8]

What’s an ADU please?

[@Justin-hj9yq]

turn key granny units

[@paddleduck5328]

Mother in law suite

[@rubidot]

Accessory Dwelling Unit. It's a living space separate from the main home on the property. It could be a converted garage, an addon to the building, or a separate building. Specifics vary by region, but they're generally required to have a separate entrance, a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping/living space so a person could live there completely independently of the main house.

[@patriot9487]

This comment section is filled with examples of why this country, and specifically California is facing an incredibly bad housing crisis. Imagine complaining about giving people the FREEDOM to build whatever they want on THEIR land.

[@DanielPaulsen884]

Spoken like a true Libertarian sissу. Cities and neighborhoods alone get to decide who gets to build what. We shouldn't allow people to paint their house pink or in a 🏳️‍🌈 pattern because it would harm the character of the neighborhood. If we did things your way, a developer would have the license to build a skyscraper next to the Brady Bunch house.

[@patriot9487]

@@DanielPaulsen884 Lol I'm not a libertarian, I'm just an actual American. Unlike you. I am also far more educated on this subject than you are. You made me laugh though, so thanks.

[@rubidot]

​@@DanielPaulsen884I don't know about other people, but I think the person afraid of pink walls is the one that sounds like a sissy here.

[@milanomartin5417]

@@DanielPaulsen884 who cares if a house is pink or rainbow? If you care so much about the look of a neighborhood go stay in an HOA community with like minded sissy mentalities. BTW the real sissy would be the one having a fit over the property that someone else owns. Mind the business that pays you.

[@xFactoryUSA]

You own the ADU, but not the grass you step out on. Wait till issue comes up and you need the people off your property, or worse, you don’t own the land and the landowner is at your door. YIKES

[@milanomartin5417]

I would home with both parties in mind they split the lot and sell the ADU as a tiny home on a chunk of land. Because just selling something that's built on your land is crazy.

[@bubpori5105]

Sounds nice but it is still a expensive Proposition to get one built more like a stop gap result for the cash flush Individuals willing to take on a Build in there back yard !.

[@israelosorio1795]

they should make it owner occupied in order to build an adu and rental income also.

[@CHUCK-nw4mv]

Don't worry - permits for ADU's are a nightmare

[@haudeamerican6959]

Absolute disgrace

[@johnhayes3314]

Say good bye to America’s Finest City 🤬🤬🤬

[@nelsondecaires9516]

This is the most none sense rule ever

[@Wyndu777]

PARKING!!!!! That's the main thing here in California.

[@darinow-wing902]

The creation of extensive single-family zoning is a major reason why housing is so expensive, and a major reason why people who don't make 6-figure salaries have been pushed into the barrios. If you are so against ADU's, then what's your solution to overpriced housing?

[@pauld.b7129]

Theyll let wealthy homeowners build ADUs to rent or sell for inflated prices, but will fight RABIDLY against you having a tiny house anywhere. California works for the rich. This is why the wealth gap keeps getting bigger

[@nocomments1202]

I don't blame people trying to get extra money or getting two or three jobs to make more money.

[@jayralston2305]

what is wrong with this state it will make every neighborhood more dense with no back yard , the gentleman that was talking his culture doesn't care about over crowding people from south of the boarder are used to living in over crowded environments but lets think about others . maybe a one story granny unit !

[@milanomartin5417]

boo-hoo "let's think about others" Let's think about the people without houses while you're whining about feeling over crowded because your neighbor having additional residence in an ADU on THEIR lot.

[@jayralston2305]

@@milanomartin5417 don’t forget we can have some car parked on the front lawn as well , you can live like this if you want but I don’t want this in my neighborhood that I pay for so boo-hoo MF

[@milanomartin5417]

@@jayralston2305 you chose to limit yourself to a small enough lot that you feel overcrowded. You want to dictate how your neighborhood that you pay for turns out? Go buy a large lot and build your own neighborhood to dictate how you please. Because you don’t pay for the neighborhood, you pay for your piece of land.

[@jayralston2305]

You said I pay for it so I should have say what about you do you pay for it then you should have a say , other than that I really don’t give a fuk what you think opinions are like assholes everyone has one

[@milanomartin5417]

@@jayralston2305 you pay for what you want but if other people want something different surrounding you that ain’t in your control. So like I’m tryna tell you… if it’s a problem get to packing and go get what you want that you can have more control over.

[@willieverusethis]

Soon it will be apartment blocks, so count your blessings it's just a second house.

[@DoitbreakitlearNmoveon]

Bring it to Vegas

[@mdubb4855]

Parking sufficiency?

[@edd2184]

ADU comment sections, when people have the money it's the best thing ever. When they don't, now they're worried about overcrowding and whatever other Fox and The grapes rhetoric they have in their head.

[@chiehlilee9224]

It’s a train wreck waiting to happen.

[@paddleduck5328]

Very interesting

[@mannymo8364]

Just another reason to hate your neighbor 😂

[@Ngm0123]

Bad idea.

[@pev789]

Hoa starting to look nice lol

[@deathblade909]

Make sense why they pushed SB9 to divide plots now this. Lmao about ti be q clusterfuck

[@Metrifold]

I’m curious - for most of those commenting against ADUs and new ADU laws - are most of you home / landowners? 🤔 I was born, raised, and still live in San Diego. I never plan to leave. As someone who has no generational wealth or property to inherit - and as someone who owns a condo but wants to upgrade to a home one day, God only knows when I can afford it - I think ADUs are great. I don’t get all this hate against ADUs.

[@Mines619]

I think they pose a threat to the integrity of the communities and the property value. You work hard to finally buy a home in SD and then someone builds a huge ADU next door… it’s like buying a Toyota Tundra and having it turn into a Toyota Corolla. Sure it’s still functional but your comfort and property value just dropped significantly. Parking is also another issue. Unfortunately, not everyone will have the opportunity to own in San Diego… why buy a small unit in a backyard vs a condo or townhome? Plus the plumbing and electrical may be tied in which just causes a whole bunch of other headaches

[@ka6459]

There are several concerns. 1) two, three story ADUs destroy the privacy previously held by neighbors. 2) As parking requirements have been waived, it will eat up the available street parking. Many neighborhoods are rather old and the houses weren't built with garages so anything that impacts street parking will affect the entire neighborhood. 3) Infrastructure is simply not ready to support the density desired. Many neighborhoods are very old and struggle to provide quality utilities now. The roads will become congested. The sewers will flood or worse leak, causing sinkholes. The electric lines will become hazardous as more and more units are sharing a single AC line. The internet and wifi will draw to a crawl as the current bandwidth is divided more and more. Last but not least, it won't help homeownership or the high cost of rentals because people will just sell or rent the property at the prevailing market value. The most you'll get is a 20% percent discount due to the size of the lot. With interest rates where they are, it won't help many people.

[@leeb.7188]

The Manhattanization of California is not what most people want for Calif’s future. Why don’t they just control the damned border? You can’t let in a million people every year, then build cheap, ugly mini-units on every square foot of land to house them. It’s going to look like shit!

[@caratan474]

It's the typical CA NIMBY.

[@ka6459]

@@caratan474 Someday, if you work hard, you might own something too. When you do, you're not going to want anyone throwing trash at it either.

[@VoteForBukele]

Oh so you want favelas?

[@Iamablackkid]

I think it’s a great thing so more can get a change to own a piece of land

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

do you really wanna ‘own’ a piece of somebody’s backyard?

[@Iamablackkid]

@@sarahbaartmansrevenge owning anything is a great thing what do you mean I rather own a piece of someone’s backyard than not own anything