5 Fast Facts About Building An ADU

If you are considering building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or adding one to your existing home, there are some fast facts you should know. ADUs can be great for the environment, help grow your income, and perhaps even make it easier to sell your home down the road.

What Is An Accessory Dwelling Unit?

An accessory dwelling unit is a second living space that’s located on the same lot as an existing single-family home. It’s not just some other house on the property, though.

ADUs are usually attached to or part of the primary home in some way so they can share resources like electricity and water supply.

Typically built at least partially below ground level, ADU units are typically smaller than the main residence but still offer plenty of room for everyone who lives thereby providing separate entrances, bathrooms, kitchens where possible, etc., all while being more affordable than building another full-size home! 5 fast facts about building an ADU include: 

1. Accessory Dwelling Units Have Been Growing In Popularity

Yes, accessory dwelling units are becoming more and more popular. In fact, the number of people building ADUs has doubled in the last ten years! As a result, accessory dwelling unit contractors have been popping up everywhere to help these folks with their accessory dwelling projects.

Accessory housing is becoming very common nowadays. The growing trend can be attributed mostly due to land shortage as well as high demand for affordable living spaces. 

As a result, there has been a significant increase in numbers of those who opt for this type of housing which require them not only to think about how they will finance such construction but also in ensuring that the accessory dwelling units they build are in line with relevant safety and building codes.

2. Laws About ADUs Change All The Time

The accessory dwelling unit, or ADU for short, was first introduced to the California housing market in 1979. At this time, accessory units were referred to as “Granny Flats” because they allowed aging parents of homeowners the ability to live on-site within close proximity of their children. 

Since then, there have been a number of changes made by both state and local governments that affect building accessory units throughout California’s different cities and counties. While some areas are more lenient with these laws than others, it is important to keep abreast of all current rules surrounding accessory dwellings before beginning any construction project related to them!

3. Concrete Is The Best Option For ADU Foundation

The concrete foundation is the best option for accessory dwelling units because it is reliable, durable, and strong. The biggest reason you need a solid concrete foundation under your accessory dwelling unit is that there are very specific rules regarding building code with these types of structures. 

You can’t just put up any type of structure or go off plans someone else has made because each one must be brought before the city planning commission first. This means that everything from floor plan measurements to wall thicknesses to window sizes needs approval by local authorities who will look at things like structural integrity and stability as well as durability and longevity.

4. Accessory Dwelling Units Are Real Houses

Accessories Dwelling Units, also known as ADUs, are small residential buildings that can be used as a secondary suite to the main house. Some people build ADUs on their property for relatives and family members who need extra space but want to remain close by. 

Other homeowners use ADUs as rental properties in order to generate additional income. According to studies done at the University of California Berkeley’s Terner Center, adding accessory dwelling units could increase a city’s housing supply by up 60%.

They have kitchens and bathrooms just like any other house on the market. Many people assume that accessory dwelling units are small units or spaces because they don’t understand them fully. Most accessory dwelling units fit into a regular size lot which makes them much larger than expected.