Golden State Today

While there’s a housing crisis across California, it appears cities are enacting policies that could make the housing shortage worse, according to a column written by Brian Hodges and published on The Hill.

“This problem has been well documented, so there is no excuse when our cities refuse to allow individuals to take steps to alleviate the housing shortage. Yet communities across California continue to oppose the simplest of housing reforms: Allowing property owners to build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, commonly known as ‘granny flats’ or ‘in-law apartments,’” he wrote.

To deal with a lack of land suitable for housing – partly because of zoning laws – the state enacted a law that allows the construction of accessory development units, more than 30 years ago. That move unlocked previously unusable land, meaning that there could be a step toward alleviating the housing crunch.

“Owners could build a rental unit to help with their mortgage payments or build a cottage where their parents could age in place. Better yet, the cost of an ADU is typically a fraction of a stand-alone house or apartment unit, resulting in the potential for new affordable housing,” Hodges wrote.

The problem is, many cities are pushing back and rejecting this potential solution. The state amended the 1981 law to require that cities allow ADU development as a right of ownership. The law now directs cities to approve permits that satisfy unit and lot size, without the process that is typical of building permits.

In communities where the law has been implemented, new affordable housing has surged. But, not every city has embraced the ADUs.

San Marino has rejected proposals that meet state requirements. One proposal, from Cordelia Donnelly, was rejected because the lot was too small, the ADU was too big, and too close to the garage. Donnelly has petitioned the California Supreme Court to take up the decision.

“The state’s decision to streamline the permit approval process by recognizing a right to build ADUs on residential-zoned property has removed much of the cost, time and uncertainty that continues to drive up housing costs and rent. If California were to extend the same type of recognition to other types of homes, the state could potentially turn a modest reform into a housing revolution,” Hodges said.