California’s ADU Solar Requirements: Does My ADU Need Solar Panels?

In 2020, California became the first state to require new homes to be equipped with solar panels to offset the use of grid electricity as part of its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Known as the California Solar Mandate or Title 24, this standard applies to single-family homes, apartments, condos, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).

Accessory Dwelling Unit Update 2020

With the arrival of the new year, new housing laws are taking hold in California. Red tape has been cleared for homeowners to build not just one, but two accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, under ministerial approval from local governments.  ADUs, also called “granny flats,” offer cities an opportunity to develop new housing units that are not disruptive to the look and feel of single-family neighborhoods. 

5 Ways an ADU Investment Can Produce ROI

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is typically a one or two-room living unit designed as a separate dwelling from the single-family home located on the same lot. ADUs can sometimes be referred to as guest house, carriage house, or granny flat. These spaces are completely habitable with features such as a kitchen and bathroom. ADUs can be a money maker for homeowners looking for short-term cash flow and long-term investment.

Relaxed Requirements for ADU’s: An Update

Effective January 1, 2017, local laws regarding Secondary Dwelling Units were superseded. State law now mandates that local jurisdictions ease restrictions and barriers to the permitting and use of what are now referred to as Accessory Dwelling Units (“ADUs”).