Tiny Homes On A Foundation And Movable Tiny Homes
California is one of the leading states that allow tiny homes as ADUs. Never has there been a better time to plan an ADU in your backyard in California. There has been great progress in legislation and advocacy efforts.
What Is An ADU?
ADU stands for accessory dwelling units. They are known by many other names including, carriage houses, bungalows, granny flats, MIL, a secondary suite, lane houses, and more.
New 2020 California ADU Laws
The Legislature further updated ADU and JADU law effective January 1, 2020, to clarify and improve various provisions in order to promote the development of ADUs and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). These include allowing ADUs and JADUs to be built concurrently with a single-family dwelling, opening areas where ADUs can be created to include all zoning districts that allow single-family and multifamily uses, modifying fees from utilities such as special districts and water corporations, limited exemptions or reductions in impact fees, and reduced parking requirements.
Please see the Accessory Dwelling Unit Technical Assistance memo (PDF) for more information.
What are JADUs?
Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) are allowed to be created within the walls of a proposed or existing single-family residence and shall contain no more than 500 square feet. JADUs offer additional housing options. They may share central systems, contain a basic kitchen utilizing small plug-in appliances, may share a bathroom with the primary dwelling, all to reduce development costs. JADUs present no additional stress on utility services or infrastructure because they simply repurpose existing space within the residence and do not expand the dwellings’ planned occupancy.
Benefits Of An ADU
- Increases the value of your property
- Gives you an extra income stream
- An alternative to assisted living
- Encourages multigenerational living
- Encourages aging in place
- Unites individuals and creates supportive communities
- Guesthouse
- Dorm alternative
- An affordable housing solution
- Extends family living quarters for more privacy
- Perfect home solution when isolation is required
Movable Tiny Homes
Movable tiny homes can be placed in backyards in Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and Santa Clara, Humboldt County and California City are moving to allow them. The added benefit of a movable tiny home is that they are built to be mobile and have the added benefit of moving quickly if there is a warning of a natural disaster.
Most movable tiny home builders are building RVs and Park Models, building to the NFPA 1192 or ANSI 119.5 standard, though they are marketed as tiny homes. All the best builders increase the building standards beyond the minimum requirements and build with 2 X 6 construction, higher insulation ratings, meet health and fire safety requirements, and all snow loads when applicable.
Movable tiny homes are also certified by a third-party agency, such as RADCO, ICC NTA, and Pacific West Associates which is required by the ordinances in California.
Ready To Get Your ADU Started?
I work with Paul Nyulassie, a bay area Architect and the founder of NYU Designs and Digz 2 Go. Paul has a factory in California. They build site-built homes, Modular homes, movable tiny homes, and ADUs. Digz 2 Go is certified by RADCO, always uses licensed plumbers and electricians, uses superior materials, and builds to CalGreen building code standards. Paul is an expert cost estimator and knows how the weave around the California permit process.
All Photos Courtesy Of Paul Nyulassie. The home is an ADU in Mill Valley, California. The main home and ADU is listed for sale with Ahern + Kalback at this time.
Please contact me so I can introduce you to Paul.
NYU Designs And Digz 2 Go Services Include
- Architecture Services
- Modular Construction
- Movable Tiny Homes ( Built To the Park Model standard)
- ADUs
- Site Built
- ADUs