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The Time Is Now <br />Rules for ADUs continue to evolve and frequently differ from one town to the next <br />Some communities allow almost any home to be set <br />up with an ADU — so long as size limits, property <br />line setbacks and placement caveats in relation to <br />the primary dwelling are met. Others start with <br />those basic standards and then layer on extra <br />requirements that can make it challenging to create <br />an ADU. (Learn more on pages 14 and 15.) <br />Municipalities nationwide have been relaxing their <br />restrictions against ADUs, and several states now <br />require communities to allow them. Some examples <br />New Hampshire and Vermont allow ADUs nearly <br />everywhere single-family housing is permitted. <br />New Hampshire's 2017 legislation stemmed in <br />large part from the frustration of builders who <br />couldn't construct the backyard cottages and <br />garage apartments their clients desired. <br />In 2020, the California legislature declared that <br />"allowing accessory dwelling units in zones that <br />allow single-family and multifamily uses provides <br />additional rental housing, and is an essential <br />component in addressing California's housing <br />needs." The state allows up to one ADU and one <br />JADU per lot. (What's a JADU? See page 14.) <br />• Oregon requires cities and counties of certain <br />sizes to allow ADUs in all single-family areas within <br />urban growth boundaries. In 2021, the state <br />extended ADU rights to rural residential areas. <br />Other states allowing ADUs include Connecticut, <br />Rhode Island and Utah. Many cities now allow <br />ADUs, including Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta, <br />Georgia; Annapolis, Maryland; Asheville, North <br />Carolina; Austin, Texas; Denver, Colorado; <br />Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Louisville, <br />Kentucky; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix <br />and Tucson, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; and <br />Washington, D.C.■ <br />10, Located on the lowest floor of a town house, an <br />English basement is a partially belowground apartment <br />that has its own exterior entrance. They are typically <br />found in older cities such as New York or (pictured) <br />Washington, D.C. In the past, property owners used the <br />space as servant quarters. Today, these essentially <br />built-in ADUs are often used as rental apartments. <br />8 A A RP I The ABCs of ADUs <br />To Encourage ADUs <br />LOCAL OFFICIALS can ... <br />• allow all ADU types (detached, attached, interior) <br />• simplify the building permit process for ADUs <br />• waive or reduce permit and impact fees <br />• establish funding programs to help homeowners <br />create ADUs <br />• let garages be converted into ADUs without <br />requiring replacement off-street parking <br />• allow for the creation of a second ADU, subject <br />to a combined size cap <br />COMMUNITY PLANNERS can ... <br />• adopt simple, flexible but nondiscretionary ADU <br />rules about setbacks, square footage and design <br />compatibility with the primary dwelling <br />LENDERS can ... <br />• work with homeowners to finance the construction <br />of ADUs by using renovation loans <br />ADVOCATES can ... <br />• organize tours of completed ADUs in order to <br />inform and inspire the community <br />• educate homeowners, real estate agents, <br />architects and builders about local zoning <br />regulations and the permit process <br />REAL ESTATE AGENTS can ... <br />• educate themselves and their clients about rules <br />for the construction of ADUs <br />LOCAL MEDIA can ... <br />• report on how and why homeowners build ADUs <br />