In pursuit of more affordable housing for young families and first-time homebuyers, cities across the US are legalizing “missing middle” housing. But the reforms passed in many cities often fail to produce new homes. A deep dive into a Memphis,…
California Legalizes “Duplexes In My Historic Back Yard”
Local Abuse of Historic Preservation Rules Leads to Reform “We can build more homes and also preserve historic neighborhoods” SACRAMENTO – Today, California took a major step toward ending the abuse of historic preservation laws to block urgently-needed new housing,…
California Law Makes it Easier to Build Small, In-Home ADUs
New Law Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Removes Barriers, Imposes Standards “It’s now easier than ever to build a home inside your home” SACRAMENTO – Californians will find it faster, cheaper, and easier to add small accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”)…
New Law Ends NIMBY Abuse of ADU Permitting
“Final Boss” Bill Voids Local Regulations Designed to Ban Accessory Dwelling Units “Californians want to build ADUs. Now, local jurisdictions have to let them.” SACRAMENTO – Homeowners who seek to build accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) will now have the full…
The Missing Middle: Why Accessory Dwelling Units Face Implementation Barriers in Truckee
In Truckee, California, where median home prices exceed $1.1 million, workers essential to the resort community struggle to find housing they can afford. However, despite California’s nation-leading ADU reforms and the potential for rental income, few homeowners in the small…
More Housing Options, Lower Prices: Evidence from Houston, Portland, and Auckland
Eight states have recently passed laws allowing smaller homes like duplexes and townhomes, also known as “middle housing,” in areas previously restricted to only large, expensive houses. In “Missing No More: Planners Should Harness Private Developers to Build Middle Housing,”…
How-To ADU: The Handbook
Over the past eight years, California lawmakers have adopted dozens of reforms designed to make it easier for homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which are sometimes referred to as “granny flats,” in-law units, or casitas. To help homeowners,…
The Accessory Success Story: How San Diego Builds Multi-Family ADUs
In 2016 the California state legislature passed a series of bills that broadly legalized accessory dwelling units (ADUs), sometimes known as “granny flats” or “in-law units.” These “accessory” homes – so-called because they are legally a part of the existing…
“Informal” Housing – It’s Not Just a Formality
California’s statewide accessory dwelling unit (ADU) reforms are an unambiguous housing policy win, enabling the permitting and construction of tens of thousands of new homes all across the state. However, legal ADU development is not the whole story: even with…
Small is Beautiful … and Expensive: Removing Barriers to “Middle Housing” in California
When Senate Bill 9 passed in 2021, it represented a sea-change in California state housing policy. By allowing up to four units on all single-family zoned parcels statewide, SB 9 represented a significant step toward achieving housing abundance. But some…