Following the California housing crisis, California Senate passed government code 65852.2 in Jan 2017 allowing homeowners the ability to build an addition to their existing home, creating an ADU (accessory dwelling unit or “granny flat”).
With the average Sunnyvale home priced above a million dollars and condos above 800,000, many homeowners want to maximize their properties potential. A two-bedroom apartment rents upwards of $2,500 a month (and that’s a modest price).
While the perks of building a granny flat may be endless, navigating local and state ordinances can be off-putting.
When the state passed the ADU law, it voided all previous local ordinances that were deemed burdensome on upon homeowners. Which allows the local jurisdiction to adopt state standards or employ their own local ordinances.
So what are current Granny Flat Regulations for Sunnyvale:
- Accessory Dwelling Units can take one of three forms:
- Detached: Unit is separated from the primary structure.
- Attached: Unit is attached to the primary structure. So the accessory dwelling unit would be built onto an existing home, but maintain its own kitchen, bath, and private entrance.
- Repurposed Existing: Space within a primary residence that is converted into an independent living unit, like a garage conversion.
- The accessory dwelling unit cannot be sold separately from the main home.
- Fire sprinklers are not required for an accessory dwelling unit unless they are required for the primary residence. (This saves homeowners around 7K!)
- The entrance to the ADU and the entrance to the primary dwelling unit must not be on the same wall plane facing the public street; however, if the entrance to the ADU is above the first floor, it must not be on the same building side as the entrance to the primary dwelling unit.
- Exterior materials, colors, design, and appearance of an ADU must be consistent with the primary dwelling unit on the same lot.
- A new edition or expanded accessory dwelling unit must be between 150 square feet and 700 square feet.
- A detached accessory dwelling unit must be a minimum of 150 square feet and has no maximum of square footage and must not be in front of the main residence.
- Any existing legal structure can be converted into an accessory dwelling unit. This is great for homeowners looking to maximize their garage! In fact, an existing permitted garage doesn’t have to comply with the new setback requirements.
Setback Requirements for Granny Flat Regulations:
- Sufficient side and rear setback are required for fire safety. Consult with Fire Protection Division staff.
Parking Requirements for Granny Flat Regulations in Sunnyvale:
For new or expanded ADUs, there must be one additional off-street parking space unless eligible for parking exemption (consult with Sunnyvale planner to determine).
An ADU conversion has no requirements for parking unless the conversion is a garage; replacement parking spaces must be located on the same lot.
Sunnyvale Local Permitting Resources:
To find the local ordinance, go here: https://sunnyvale.ca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23584
For any permit inquiries contact the Planning and Building Staff here: (408)730-7444.
Your next steps? Download our free tools to maximize your Sunnyvale granny flat:
Plan, hire, and manage your ADU project with Maxable.
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.
