CA ADU question FAQ

[Ben Chow]

Questions

Owner occupancy is still off till 2025 for a ADU on a SFR, does that mean after 2025 I (owner) will be forced to live in one of the units on a R1 lot? or does it mean any ADU built before 2025 will be not require owner occupancy ever? Or only ADU's built 2026 onwards will require owner occupancy?

2) JADU question - 

R1 -SFR I built a 1200 sq ft ADU ( max) on a detached garage and now El Segundo city is
saying you cannot built any more JADU? Is this per CA law? I thought you could built JADU in addition to ADU? ( I have a attached car port and detached 2 car  garage on which ADU is built) 

3) R2 Duplex (Los Angeles). Can I build 2 additional ADU's on existing R2 duplex? So total 4 units?

4) R3 ( ADU) how many units and how many ADU's can I built on a R3 lot ?

[Solicitation Removed by Moderators]

Any upcoming meeting in beach cities?

[Andrew Aladjadjian]

Hi, Ben! 

1) It is not yet clear but it seems that you will be grandfathered in at the time when the changes occur in regards to occupancy changes.

2) Per AB-68:

"(A) One accessory dwelling unit and one junior accessory dwelling unit per lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling if all of the following apply:

(i) The accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit is within the proposed space of a single-family dwelling or existing space of a single-family dwelling or accessory structure and may include an expansion of not more than 150 square feet beyond the same physical dimensions as the existing accessory structure. An expansion beyond the physical dimensions of the existing accessory structure shall be limited to accommodating ingress and egress."

It seems odd that the city is giving you a hard time, however it may be due to how you proposed it. I believe in your case you can add a JADU if you split a portion of the main dwelling unit, up to 50% of the floor plan, under 500 sqft. If you had built a separate ADU and not converted the garage, you may have been able to use the garage for the JADU.

3 & 4) 

"multiple accessory dwelling units within the portions of an existing multifamily dwelling structure provided those units meet certain requirements; or (4) not more than two accessory dwelling units that are located on a lot that has an existing multifamily dwelling, but are detached from that multifamily dwelling and are subject to certain height and rear yard and side setback requirements."

ALSO

" (i) Multiple accessory dwelling units within the portions of existing multifamily dwelling structures that are not used as livable space, including, but not limited to, storage rooms, boiler rooms, passageways, attics, basements, or garages, if each unit complies with state building standards for dwellings.

(ii) A local agency shall allow at least one accessory dwelling unit within an existing multifamily dwelling and shall allow up to 25 percent of the existing multifamily dwelling units.

Not more than two accessory dwelling units that are located on a lot that has an existing multifamily dwelling, but are detached from that multifamily dwelling and are subject to a height limit of 16 feet and four-foot rear yard and side setbacks."

According to this you may build up to two ADU's on a multi-family property.

This is my interpretation of the law and may not be correct.