Accessory Dwelling Units

March Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
Proposed housing solutions, Chicago transit in peril, and executive actions in limbo.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

NYC Zoning Reform: Where Will It Have an Impact?
The zoning reform package dubbed ‘City of Yes’ will likely yield uneven results, with many of the lowest-density neighborhoods exempted from new regulations.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

California’s Housing Laws Yielding Disappointing Results
A relatively few number of new units are being built as a result of new laws aimed at boosting the housing supply.

Study: Married People Struggle Least With Housing Costs
Both people who live alone and unmarried partners who live together spend more on housing than married couples.

Washington State Bills Would Boost Housing in Rural Areas
Several proposed laws could make way for more housing development outside the state’s major city centers.

2024: The Year in Zoning
Cities and states are leaning on zoning reform to help stem the housing crisis and create more affordable, livable neighborhoods.

Berkeley Launches ADU Amnesty Program
Owners of unpermitted accessory dwelling units can bring their units up to code and obtain certificates of compliance without facing penalties.

NYC Likely to Legalize ADUs as Part of ‘City of Yes’ Reforms
Homeowners in some neighborhoods could soon be able to build accessory dwelling units in their backyards, garages, or basements.

The ADU Movement Grows Around the Country
More states and cities are promoting backyard cottages, converted garages, and other add-on units. Are they making an impact?

How Cities Can Support ADU Production
Although state-level laws are making it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, high impact and development fees remain a major barrier for many prospective ADU builders.

San Diego Begins to See Results of State Housing Law
Homeowners in Southern California are starting to take advantage of a state law that allows lot splitting and higher density in residential areas in an effort to increase housing supply and affordability.

Pittsburgh Mayor Proposes Zoning Changes to Curb Housing Shortage
The mayor’s plan includes legalizing ADUs in single-family neighborhoods, eliminating parking requirements, and adding new affordability requirements to buildings with over 20 units.

‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reform Gains Planning Commission Approval
The proposal to overhaul New York City’s zoning code, popular with voters, to make housing development easier faces opposition in the City Council.

New Jersey Housing Laws Take Effect in January
New affordable housing regulations will require cities to submit plans outlining how they will meet housing demand in their jurisdictions.

Can Zoning Reform Save Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing?
With home sale prices growing faster than anywhere in the country, the Steel City could enact major reforms to boost density and lower housing costs.

Montana Supreme Court Upholds Zoning Reform Bills
The decision invalidates a preliminary injunction that blocked two key housing bills.

How Massachusetts Zoning Reform Impacts ADU Laws
Cities and towns have until February to adjust their zoning codes to reflect more permissive rules for accessory dwelling units.

ADUs as Condos: What Does it Mean for Homeownership?
A California law that allows the sale of ADUs as condos may soon make homeownership more attainable.
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