If you are planning on building an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU for short, converting your garage, or thinking about installing a prefab unit in your backyard, you probably have a lot of questions, and we have the answers.

This article will be a one-stop-shop for all the questions you need to be answered before you start your ADU journey.

1. How long does it take to build an ADU?

The ADU process varies from project to project, depending on your location, permitting and approval times. As a general rule of thumb, the best-case scenario would be 9-10 months.

The process may vary from which type of ADU you plan to build, such as a garage conversion, prefab, or a stick build.

  1. Prefab (Estimated Time: Up to a week): The fastest of the three would be the prefab since it is constructed at a factory and then installed on your lot.While not as customizable as a stick-built granny flat, you would still benefit from a fast installation rate making this a favorite method for many. Learn more about this convenient building technique here.
  2. Garage Conversion (Estimated Time: 3-6 months): Garage conversions vary depending on the quality of the existing structure, but still take less time, since there is already a foundation in place.
  3. Stick Build (Estimated Time: 6 months): A stick build granny flat would be a long process since there are more steps you have to go through since it is completely customized:
    • Figuring out if your lot qualifies for building.
    • Designing the plans for your project.
    • Hiring a general contractor to build your unit.

ADU

2. What permits do I need to build a granny flat?

Permitting is one of the most difficult steps when building a granny flat. Figuring out what restrictions and regulations apply to your area is intimidating.

The rules and regulations for ADUs are continually changing for the better.

This year alone, six bills have passed, making it easier for California homeowners to build an ADU on their property.

Some takeaways from those bills include:

  1. No longer having to account for additional parking if your home is within half a mile of public transportation.
  2. Eliminating HOAs hold on residents being able to build an ADU onto their property.
  3. Minimizing the impact fees based on the size of your lot.

You can read more about these new bills here.

4. Is Owner Occupancy required for my ADU?

Maybe you wanted to build an ADU to travel the world, but strict owner occupancy laws kept you stuck? With the new bills, cities are no longer allowed to require owner occupancy until January 2025. That means you can vacation to your heart’s desire.

5. Can I put an ADU on my property?

Determining if your lot or garage is compatible with the regulations in your district can be confusing.

There are certain guidelines that your lot has to meet to build an ADU on your property, thankfully California is constantly passing bills to make it easier for residents to build a granny flat.

To see if your property qualifies as a viable space to build on, book a Site Evaluation here.

7. How should I design my ADU?

ADU

Designing your ADU can be daunting and there are a lot of different styles.

Finding a style that opens up space is essential when working with smaller spaces.

Below are some tips and tricks that you can keep in mind during your design process:

  1. Since your space is smaller think about using vertical space to open up a room.
  2. Make sure you take advantage of natural light by incorporating windows and skylights into your design. Natural light will make your space feel larger.
  3. Include furniture that can have multiple functions, such as furniture that doubles as a storage space.
  4. Make sure you account for the loss of space with multiple bookshelves and organizers for extra storage.

For more information from one of our ADU experts, you can watch a recording of our design webinar here.

8. What are the benefits of building an ADU?

Some of the benefits of building an ADU includes:

  1. Having your family closer to home: With an aging population in America, more and more homeowners are looking to build onto their property to have their families closer to home. A granny flat is a great way to add value to your property while also helping your family.
  2. Extra income: Renting out your ADU can be a great way for you to earn extra income. Many people who rent their ADUs whether it is short-term or long-term have a great return on their investment and breakeven or are able to cover more of their monthly expenses.
  3. Adding value to your property: An ADU adds more square footage to your living space, which increases the overall value of your property.

9. Does an ADU increase property tax?

ADU

Adding an ADU does increase your property tax, but the nice thing is that it will not trigger a reassessment of your entire property.

For example, say you bought your home in 1986 and decide to add an ADU to your property, the state will only assess your most recent addition. You’ll pay property taxes for your ADU for the present year while you continue paying the 1986 property taxes for your main home.

This is called a blended assessment.

If you have more questions on the regulations in your city book a free phone consultation with one of our granny flat experts.

10. How Much Does an ADU Cost?

The price of an ADU varies depending on your project and your location.

Depending on the build of your unit, prices can range from $80,000 to $300,000+.

  1. Stick Build: The most expensive build would be a stand-alone unit since it is completely customized.
  2. Garage Conversion: This can be the most cost-effective since there is an existing structure, but it varies due to the conditions of the structure.
  3. Prefab: Depending on the make of the unit and the company you purchase it from; the prices can vary.

Your location also impacts the cost of your ADU due to the different permitting and regulations that you would have to comply with.

11. How To Get Started?

Getting started can be a daunting task but the granny flat experts at Maxable are here to help.

At Maxable, we believe that building an ADU should be fun and exciting. You shouldn’t have to be the one to deal with confusing obstacles like permitting snafus or ever-changing regulations. We’ll be by your side every step of the way and connect you to experienced designers and general contractors in your area to make sure your project goes as smoothly as possible.

Leave the headaches to us! Check your address and see what Maxable can do for your home during a free ADU Planning Call.

Happy building!