The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to waive fees for residents building accessory units on their property Wednesday to address the county housing shortage.
These accessory dwelling units, known as “granny flats,” are described as attached or detached residential spaces to an existing property that can provide sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, according to the county.
“This is a critical step in our on-going efforts to address the housing crisis in San Diego County, especially the serious need for affordable housing,” said District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “This new program is the quickest and easiest way for us to expedite the development of housing in San Diego.”
The board voted Wednesday to waive all county permit and development impact fees over the next five years with the hopes of bringing thousands of additional granny-flat homes across San Diego County.
The previous cost of a permit for a granny flat was $1,222 plus $0.0411 per square-foot of space, according to the county’s website.
In total, residents planning to build granny flats could save an average of $14,000, according to District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond.
In order to offset the loss of these fees, the county said it would subsidize $11 million for the five-year program.
“We will continue to be creative and challenge the status quo to solve the region’s housing crisis,” said Desmond.
The incentivized units can be used for family members or rented out as a source of income for the homeowner, the Board of Supervisors said.
To learn more about what constitutes a granny flat in San Diego, go to the county’s website.
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