Accessory Dwelling Units

State Senator Bob Wieckowski is working to help communities get the necessary tools to increase capacity for climate resilience.

November 4, 2016 - The Planning Report

The city of Vancouver has emerged as a leader in "laneway" housing: secondary units built onto existing lots, often facing an alleyway. To boost supply, the city may expedite permitting for modular units.

October 27, 2016 - Vancouver Sun

After nine years of controversy, the District's first zoning revamp since 1958 is officially on the books.

September 14, 2016 - Washington City Paper

The state of California stepped into to make it easier for local governments to approve permissive regulations of accessory dwelling units.

September 6, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Faced with the task of conforming its "granny flats" ordinance with state law, the Los Angeles City Council yielded.

August 29, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

The legal, and social, challenges to building more second units in Los Angeles.

August 14, 2016 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

An op-ed by Daniel Freedman explains how a legal spat over an 850-square-foot "granny flat" affected hundreds of units around Los Angeles. The city's attempt to rectify the problems with its second unit ordinance has encountered more resistance.

August 8, 2016 - Daniel Freedman

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has approved legislation that will allow the construction of accessory dwelling units, potentially adding thousands of units to the city's housing supply.

July 28, 2016 - San Francisco Examiner

Washington, D.C. approved a long-awaited new zoning code in January. Greater Greater Washington digs into one of the new code's more substantive changes: more permissive regulations for accessory dwelling units.

May 11, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Building permits for Accessory Dwelling Units have been stopped by court order in Los Angeles.

May 1, 2016 - The Planning Report

Many Maine communities have amended their zoning ordinances to allow accessory dwelling units, recognizing the benefits of this housing option.

April 19, 2016 - Maine Association of Planners Front Page

Granny flats, also known as mother-in-law units or accessory dwelling units, are a hot button item in most cities. A county court recently took the city of Los Angeles' finger off the button, so to speak.

April 10, 2016 - KPCC

At a building industry trade show held last week, the new trend was for houses constructed with extra space for renters or extended family. In other words, depreciation comes standard.

January 26, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

The D.C. Zoning Commission last week approved a new zoning code for the nation's capital. The new code will go into effect in September.

January 21, 2016 - WAMU

Since a zoning code change in 2010, the city of Denver has added 66 accessory dwelling units in a city of 650,000.

January 18, 2016 - The Denver Post

Following the recent example of cities like Vancouver, Austin, and Berkeley, Oakland, CA recently made it much easier for residents to create secondary units, also known as accessory dwelling units.

January 9, 2016 - East Bay Express

Portland is tackling a critical but often controversial issue: how to regulate infill development in residential neighborhoods when growth is pushing landowners and developers to build bigger and denser.

December 26, 2015 - City of Portland

Leading other expensive cities in North America, Vancouver, British Columbia is quickly adding accessory dwelling units as a result of permissive regulations approved in 2009.

December 14, 2015 - Citiscope

Accessory dwelling units, granny flats, mother-in-law units—whatever you call them, they're now legal in Austin.

November 23, 2015 - Community Impact Newspaper

Tiny Houses on trailers are available and buyers are ready to live small, but most zoning regulations don’t allow recreational vehicles as a permanent residence. Can zoning catch up to the tiny living trend?

July 11, 2015 - The Charlotte Observer