Strong Statewide ADU Reform Matrix
Legislative ADU activity has been coming at such a dizzying pace that it is extremely hard for anyone to keep up. For ADU enthusiasts, this is excellent news, of course.
The fact that States are now clawing back their zoning powers from jurisdictions is fairly new. I would pin this change to the lowly ADU, which helped to started this phenomenon in CA in 2017. The concept is now launching and evolving so quickly, that I predict the majority of States will have preemptive zoning to address statewide housing matters including ADUs but also middle housing, within a year.
Massachusetts Adopted a Strong ADU Law, but Local Regulations will Still Prevent Them
I grew up with an illegal ADU in my attic in Newton, MA that my mom used to house grad students from a nearby campus. The tenants were like members of our family; they literally walked through the center staircase in house to access their cute, affordable, attic, studio apartment.
A Condo-Converted ADU Family Compound
We ended up using the ADU and the north duplex unit for family members, and renting out the south unit. Once that unit is vacant our plan is to sell it, which we can do because we recently condo-converted the whole property. This will let us recoup the cost of building the ADU.
Colorado Passed Zoning for ADUs in Urban Areas. What’s Next?
I was called many things during a dozen years on Denver’s City Council. I’ll own the label “houser,” because of my focus on affordability for low-income families. But “ADU advocate” wasn’t one of them.
Portland ADU Tour 2024: Tickets Available Now for Exclusive Look at 10+ New ADUs
This year’s ADU tour in Portland will feature a new set of 10+ ADUs throughout the city. Also…
The total number of permitted ADUs in Portland is now approximately 4,200.
10-15% of permitted ADU are never built.
Condoized ADUs in Portland take root.
RMLS improvements for ADUs
Colorado Passes Strong ADU Legislation
Colorado has passed a strong ADU law (House Bill -1152), making it the 5th state to pass strong ADU legislation. Colorado is having a big year! It is expected that legislation related to upzoning near transit, parking reduction laws, and housing needs assessments legislation will all pass. And last month, a bill was signed into law that prohibits residential occupancy limits on housing in Colorado.
Inhabited Mobile Dwellings Survey 2024 (Cully Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon)
Four years ago, in June, 2020, I conducted the inaugural study of the rate of inhabited mobile dwellings on residential properties in the Cully neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. This study laid the groundwork for a follow-up survey I conducted four years later, which used the same parameters and methods.
New ADU visualization app available
Explore 67 ADUs right in your backyard with augmented reality and iPhone or iPad.
THE BIG ADU WEST COAST DATASET
This may seem weird, but I’m giddy to share this big new ADU dataset from the West Coast with you. This is the first time that this big dataset has been presented to the public. Here, I will show why this particular data is so important, and explain why I’m proud to release it.
Getting my hands on this data from California, Oregon, and Washington was difficult. Making it presentable was also a challenge.
Innovative Ways to Develop ADUs that Intentionally Help Your Community
Building an ADU can be a way for you to build your wealth, which is a great individual motivator for their construction.
Meanwhile, for policymakers such as city council members or state legislators, allowing ADUs by liberalizing rules for their development will help solve the housing crisis. As rental units, ADUs typically provide financially attainable rental housing stock in residential neighborhoods simply due to their limited size.
ADU Legislative Initiatives- History in the Making (Part IV)
Washington State has passed very strong ADU legislation called HB 1337. Here’s a summary of some of things it does.
Under HB 1337, cities and counties must follow specific policies, including:
Not requiring owner occupancy
Permitting detached ADUs, not just attached ADUs.
Allowing at least two ADUs in all urban growth areas with single-family zoning.
Legalizes two story ADUs (24ft)
Limiting impact fees for ADUs to 50% of the fees for the principal unit.
Generally not imposing stricter limitations on ADUs compared to principal units.
One Year In, Are Tiny Houses on Wheels the New ADU in Portland?
We are one year into installing RV hookup infrastructure on residential properties in Portland for homeowners who are adding a mobile dwelling. We do this work through a company called Tiny Hookups LLC. This company was formed on the heels of the legalization of RVs (and tiny houses on wheels, which are classified as RVs under Oregon state law) as a legal dwelling option in Portland, Oregon, in 2021.
10 Ways Your ADU Can Support Your Retirement
As I’ve interviewed homeowners, designers, and builders about ADUs over the past several years, one thing that has impressed me is how many people are using an ADU as part of their retirement plan. ADUs can provide housing flexibility, additional income, one-floor living to age-in-place, proximity to family members and caretakers, or even just a place to call home when traveling.
Design Your ADU Through Yestermorrow
Accessory Dwelling Unit Design (ADUD) will help you envision and design a backyard cottage, guest house, or in-law suite that meets your needs. We’ll virtually tour noteworthy accessory dwellings, spark a dialogue about space-saving strategies, and engage in an imaginative process with interactive design exercises. In the “design studio” you’ll learn a variety of tools to help you communicate your ideas. Students completing this course will have the skills necessary to continue work on their own ADU projects. Bring your curiosity, enthusiasm, and project ideas!
Portland, Oregon’s ADU Permit Data for 2020
As of July, 2021, there have been approximately 3,350 total permits issued for ADUs in Portland. Here’s the latest annual permit trend chart.
The Three Facts of California’s ADU Boom
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in California are “a revolution in progress,” in the words of researchers at the University of California’s Center for Community Innovation. A series of laws enacted over the past five years have systematically eliminated most explicit and implicit legal barriers to ADU construction across the entire state. Using data reported to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, I investigated likely economic and regulatory determinants of ADU growth across California cities.
Tiny Houses and RVs To Be Allowed as Housing in Portland
On April 28th, 2021, Portland’s City Council unanimously passed a new set of regulations that allows for recreational vehicles and tiny houses on wheels to be used as a legal, viable housing option on residential properties in the City of Portland beginning on August 1st, 2021.
Liberalized ADU laws must be defended in court
Recent legal developments show that we need to do more to ensure that permits are, in fact, being issued and new ADUs can be built.
ADU Legislative Initiatives- History in the Making (Part IV)
On August 12th, 2020, the City of Portland finally passed the Residential Infill Project. This was an overhaul of single family residential zoning regulations that was nearly five years in the making. This post will cover the changes that are coming with Residential Infill Project and also tease you with what is to come with Oregon’s House Bill 2001.
Rate of Inhabited Mobile Dwellings on Residential Properties in One Portland Neighborhood
In June, 2020, I conducted some voluntary research to determine how many single family residential properties had an inhabited mobile dwelling. The Cully neighborhood consists of 12,595 residents, or 4,685 households. My survey found 65 inhabited mobile dwellings located on residentially zoned lots, which translates to a rate of 0.005/resident.
Rent Control, PDX Ordinances and Recent Legislation Impacting ADUs.
Over the past five years there have been new laws passed in Portland and Oregon targeting the residential rental market. This article will provide context on the passage of these laws, inform ADU owners how the laws affect their properties, and give guidance on how owners can best stay in compliance.
Incremental Updates for ADUs for 2020
Here’s some notable stuff for those interested in ADU minutiae in the Portland market and beyond. It’s a mashup of information and updates that will be of interest to ADU advocates: ADU Permit Numbers, MLS, Mapping ADUs, SDCs, ADU events in April 2020, Summit videos, oh my.
ADU classes for Portland homeowners- postponed due to Coronavirus- Special offer for Portland Metro locals
Kol Peterson, one of the editors here, hosts a class called “Building An Accessory Dwelling Unit on your property,” on Please visit Kol’s site for more details.
ADU Advocates’ Unsanctioned Guidance for Oregon Cities Updating Local ADU Regulations by January, 2020 to Comply with HB 2001 Statute
Two of the most common “poison pills” in ADU standards will be prohibited statewide in Oregon beginning in January, 2020, making earlier ADU legislation significantly more effective.
Oregon House Bill 2001 (HB 2001) was signed into law on August 8th, 2019. While HB 2001 rightly claimed headlines for expanding missing middle housing options, it also included some specific requirements for ADUs.
Consider Going All-Electric For Your ADU
Natural Gas, or methane has been promoted both as a ‘Clean Fuel’ or a ‘Bridge Fuel’ in various circles, both locally and nationally during this time of climate crisis. Concurrently, the IPCC has called for a far more rapid decline in the use of fossil fuel, more rapid scaling up of renewable energy taking advantage of the falling costs, and avoiding a lock-in of high-carbon infrastructure.
Perspective: How to make accessory dwelling units affordable
ADU financing could — and perhaps should — be a lot more like commercial real estate financing, only with a human touch. A guest post by Roger A. Gins.
ADU Legislative Initiatives- History in the Making (Part III)
Several significant bills passed through the legislative process in California last week. This legislation that passed in CA is major and will help usher ADUs out of the dark ages.
ADU Legislative Initiatives- History in the Making (Part II)
As reviewed in my first post on this topical thread, significant and progressive legislative and regulatory ADU code overhauls are occuring at quickening pace in jurisdictions up and down the west coast. I’ve been tracking ADU regulatory reform fairly closely for a decade, and there hasn’t ever been a time period where ADUs have been gaining as much national traction as they are now.
Announcing the next Build Small Live Large Summit and the next ADU Academy. November 7th and 8th, 2019. Portland, Oregon.
Two national, back-to-back events on November 7th and 8th in Portland, Oregon
Recap of 2019 ADU Tour
The ADU Tour in June was a blast. Approximately 800 people attended. We’ve made the 17 project profiles public. You can find them here.
ADU Legislative Initiatives- History in the Making (Part I)
The 24-hour period from the afternoon of Sunday, June 29th- afternoon Monday, June 30th, 2019, was an important day for ADUs.
In the future, urban planners will point to that day as a signature moment for an era of deregulation and liberalization of codes for ADUs.
ADU Development Costs Keep Going Up
I’ve updated an extensive post about ADU development costs here. These updates are based new cost numbers that just came in from the upcoming 2019 ADU Tour in Portland, which serves as a repository of current and active primary source data for cost estimates. It turns out that current primary source data is critical when it comes to talking about the costs of ADUs, because the development cost numbers here keep escalating rapidly.
2019 is the Year of ADU Financing Innovation
Financing ADUs has remained a major challenge. But, in the future, 2019 will always be thought of as the year of ADU financing innovation. On April 29th, Portland State University convened a meeting in Washington, D.C to help flesh out some of the innovative programs that are being developed to finance ADUs.
Seventeen ADUs!
I don’t know what I was thinking.I couldn’t help myself. I kept saying yes; I couldn’t resist. Now, look what I’ve done.Maybe you’re wondering what am I talking about. I’m talking about this year’s ADU Tour, of course!
New ADU Financing Option with No Monthly Payments
One provider of ADU financing describes their service.
Announcing Accessory Dwelling Academy and The ADU Tour
On June 21st, 2019, we are running a new professional education event designed for builders, designers, lenders, realtors and appraisers who aspire to up their ADU game and stand out from the competition.
ADU Permit Trends in Portland in 2017 and 2018
This post details some findings about ADU permit trends in Portland.
First, we’ll start with the big picture. Here’s the latest data on the number of permits issued by the City of Portland for ADUs from 2000-2018. In 2017, 588 permits were issued. In 2018, 660 were issued. This is a total of 1248 ADU permits issued in 2017 and 2018.
ADU Rental Income Can Be Used to Qualify Borrowers to Purchase on HomeReady Loans
A HomeReady Mortgage is a Fannie Mae, first-time home buyer loan program, with minimum down payment requirements, and some very particular underwriting characteristics. When a borrower is purchasing a single-unit primary residence with a 3% minimum down payment and there is an ADU present, 75% of the potential rents from the ADU can be used to qualify.
ADU Legislative Initiatives Abound
SDC Waiver, Residential Infill Project, Oregon and California state legislative updates….
There are significant ADU legislative initiatives underway in California, Porltand, and Oregon at large. Each of these legislative efforts have national signficance.
Basement/Garage Conversion Open House on Thursday, April 19th
For those of you in Portland, I’m having an open house event this Thursday, April 19th at my recently completed basement/garage conversion ADU from 4-7pm. I hope to see you there.
Accessory Dwelling Units: A Tale of Two Cities
Guest post by Mark Thieroff from St. Paul, MN
About five years ago, interest in accessory dwelling units had reached a critical mass in Minneapolis and St. Paul. ADUs were seen by proponents as a way to increase housing diversity and flexibility and add density in residential neighborhoods. But Minneapolis and St. Paul ended up taking very different approaches and, consequently, have seen markedly different results.
Backdoor Revolution – Part I – Origin
In 2013, I was observing ADU trends in the US by tracking Google News Alerts and reading academic articles….
I’ve spent the last 2.5 years on this book, and I am proud to finally release it to the world on January 23rd, 2018.
Building an ADU in L.A.- Part II (excerpt)
Between 2003-2016, an average of one hundred permitted ADUs had been developed each year in L.A.. While 100 ADUs a year is something, it’s certainly not a lot of housing for a city with a population of nearly four million people, and 1.4 million housing units. But, 2017 has entirely changed the landscape for ADUs in California at large. And, L.A. has done something that no one expected.
DRUM ROLL……
The First National ADU Summit on November 3-5 in Portland
The Build Small Live Large Summit is the first ever national gathering of leaders in ADU policymaking, design and development. ADU industry practicioners across the country will convene to share and showcase emerging best practices regarding the development of this rare housing type. If you are an ADU enterprenuer, designer, builder, policy-maker, or advocate, we hope that you will be able to attend.
2017 ADU Tour Wrap-Up
The ADU Tour in Portland on September 9th and 10th was great. 600 people each day attended to see the 12 ADUs featured in NE Portland and the 12 ADUs in SE Portland.
Garden Suites in Edmonton: a private investment in the public good
New research from Canada finds that ADUs and garden suites can function as voluntary version of affordable housing — with some important caveats.
ADU Tour on September 8th-10th
The ADU Tour is just a couple weeks away on September 8-10th. If you are planning to build an ADU, drop whatever else you have planned and clear your schedule for this weekend. This is the largest (and best) ADU Tour in the nation.
ADU Tour- Early bird sales end August 19th
Eary bird sales for the ADU Tour end on August 19th. You can buy tickets now.
It’s shaping up to be an awesome event! There’s going to be 12 ADUs featured on Saturday in SE and 12 ADUs on Sunday in SE. For those who are only interested in seeing certain ADU structural types, here is the breakdown by day.
Building An ADU- a new website for those seeking to build ADUs
BuildinganADU.com is a website geared to homeowners who want to build an ADU on their property, featuring posts and tips that delve into great detail about explaining how much ADUs cost to build using actual costs from recent projects,
Announcing the 2017 ADU Tour
We are excited to announce the next ADU Tour. This tour has an awesome line up, chock-full with awesome and diverse ADU types and styles.
It’s going to be a full weekend event with 10+ ADUs in NE Portland featured on Saturday, and a different set of 10+ ADUs in SE Portland on Sunday. None of these ADUs have been featured on previous ADU tours before.
Accessory Dwellings 
You must be logged in to post a comment.