Accessory Dwelling Units

Modern small-lot homes in north Dallas suburb

Code Reforms to Ease the Housing Crisis

Ten recommendations for zoning code changes that could make housing more affordable.

April 3, 2023 - Congress For New Urbanism

Two white two-story Sears Roebuck catalog homes in Tuscumbia, Alabama

The Return of ‘Catalog Homes’

Sets of pre-approved housing plans can lower construction costs, shorten timelines, and encourage more badly needed housing production.

March 29, 2023 - Route Fifty

An aerial view of the Anchorage metropolitan area shows sprawling development surrounded by tall mountains.

With New ADU Rules, Anchorage Leading U.S. Zoning Reform Efforts

Anchorage recently passed a package of laws that will allow accessory dwelling units in commercial and residential zones, and, in a rare move, on residential lots with existing multi-family housing.

March 22, 2023 - Sightline Institute

Drone view of colorful sunset over suburban neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona Housing Bill Fails in State Senate

The bill would have eliminated some parking requirements, legalized more types of affordable housing, and promoted increased housing production.

March 14, 2023 - 12News

Seattle

More ADUs Than Single Homes Being Built in Seattle

Permits for accessory dwelling units jumped by 250 percent between 2019 and 2022.

March 10, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Pacific Coast

Huntington Beach Mounts Legal Change to State-Mandated Density

The Orange County beachfront community has had enough of the California State Legislature’s preemption of local zoning laws.

February 27, 2023 - LAist

San Diego skyline and apartment buildings

San Diego Expands Transit Oriented Zoning From a Half-Mile to a Mile

A recent package of code changes by the city of San Diego will make it possible to build high-rise residential buildings and accessory dwelling units in larger areas around public transit.

February 23, 2023 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Quincy Market

Op-Ed: Boston Needs Zoning Reform Now

The Boston Globe’s editorial board calls on the city to take on citywide zoning reform to boost housing construction and revitalize areas that have faced historical underinvestment.

February 21, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Spanish-style State Street commercial buildings in downtown Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara Expands ADU Program to Boost Housing

The city hopes that permitting larger ADUs and making adaptive reuse easier will help it meet its state-mandated goal of building over 8,000 new housing units by 2031.

February 7, 2023 - Noozhawk

Rendering of modern black and brown one-story backyard home design

Taking the ADU Model to the Next Level

How can we get more accessory dwelling units built, keep them affordable, and make them a force for increasing racial equity?

January 26, 2023 - Shelterforce Magazine

Granny Flat

Pre-Approved ADUs Now Available in Sacramento

The city of Sacramento is making it easier to develop accessory dwelling units.

January 25, 2023 - CBS Sacramento

View of downtown Seattle across a body of water with colorful houses in the foreground

Op-Ed: Seattle’s ADU Rules Leave Long-Term Renters Out in the Cold

One resident argues that adding a unit for long-term rental is too expensive and difficult, especially when compared to the city’s ‘super easy’ process for permitting a short-term or vacation rental.

January 24, 2023 - The Seattle Times

San Diego skyline and apartment buildings

Proposed San Diego Code Update Seeks to Increase Density Near Transit

A set of proposed updates to the city’s development code would expand TOD zones and encourage more backyard dwellings.

January 9, 2023 - Del Mar Times

Rendering of white cottage-style ADU

Raleigh Launches Pre-Approved ‘ADU Gallery’

The city wants to streamline the process and lower construction costs for accessory dwelling units in order to boost the city’s housing supply without dramatically altering neighborhoods.

December 20, 2022 - WUNC

Row of white two-story townhomes with black trim

When Zoning Reform Isn’t Enough: How To Boost Missing Middle Housing

For upzoning efforts to result in a significant rise in new housing units, cities and states must do more than just change zoning codes to ensure missing middle housing is easy and affordable to build.

December 13, 2022 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Aerial view of Yountville, California in Napa County

Napa County Announces Forgivable Loans for Affordable ADU Rentals

Homeowners in the county will be eligible for the loans if they comply with affordability requirements for five years.

December 1, 2022 - Napa Valley Register

Rendering of Samara Backyard ADU

That ADU Would Make a Nice Airbnb

An Airbnb co-founder is jumping in the pre-fab backyard cottage game—but will too many ADUs become short-term rentals to make a difference for housing costs?

November 25, 2022 - Curbed

Wooden two-story homes on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units

The city expanded the areas where homeowners can build ADUs in an effort to boost housing supply and affordable rental units.

November 16, 2022 - Jacksonville Daily Record

Historic single-family homes in San Antonio, Texas.

San Antonio Debates ‘Casita’ Regulations

The city wants to incentivize the construction of backyard dwelling units, but some councilmembers want to proceed cautiously to ensure the policy benefits local homeowners.

November 9, 2022 - KENS

Duplex with twin two-story homes

Do Owner Occupancy Requirements Constrain Housing Supply?

Born out of a fear of absentee owners and rapacious investors, owner-occupancy requirements can have the contradictory effects of excluding renters from neighborhoods and limiting the number of rental units available.

November 1, 2022 - Brookings / The Avenue

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