Introduction to Accessory Dwelling Units
An accessory dwelling unit commonly called a granny flat or in-law suite must exist on a lot that’s zoned single-family. It has its own entrance, separate from the primary house, as well as a kitchen, bathroom and living space. These units can be rented, year-round, and add a lot of value to a property.
Zoning
ADU’s are allowed in lots zoned for single-family residency.
Lot size
Santa Clarita does not have any lot size regulations for ADU’s.
Min/Max Building Sizes
Your maximum build size differs depending on whether your accessory unit is attached or detached from the primary home.
Attached ADU: The floor area of the ADU should not be more than 50% of the existing residence up to 1,200 square feet, whichever is smaller. For example, if your existing house in 2,500 sq. ft., the attached ADU cannot exceed 1,200 sq. ft. in size.
Detached ADU: For a detached ADU, the total floor space area of the ADU should not be more than 1,200 square feet, regardless of the size of the primary residence.
You do, however, need to comply with floor area ratios and maximum lot coverage requirements which can override your maximum build size.
Height Restrictions
Santa Clarita does not have any height restrictions for ADU’s at this point in time. The height restrictions of the local building code should be consulted.
Parking
Any parking space lost during construction of ADU (either by garage conversion, or destruction in the process of ADU construction) must be replaced.
Parking not required if the ADU is:
- Located within ½ mile of public transit
- Located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district
- Part of an existing primary residence or an existing accessory structure
- In an area where on-street parking permits are required, but not offered to the occupant of the ADU
- Is located within one block of a car share area
Setbacks
Santa Clarita does not have any specific setback requirements for ADU’s, so they should follow the same setbacks the current building code references.
Owner Occupancy
There is no owner occupancy ordinance in the city currently. This means there are no restrictions on if the owner has to live in either of the dwellings.
Rentals
California passed Senate Bill 1069 in an effort to increase the supply of housing to the state. For this reason, any accessory dwelling unit may be used for a long-term rental. The city has no other stipulations at this time.
How to Evaluate ROI
Building an accessory dwelling unit, especially if you intend to keep the property for a few years, represents an enormously beneficial opportunity to maximize your property.
By constructing an accessory dwelling unit you are adding additional square footage to the property. So if you can build a unit for $275 a square foot, but the average value of homes in your neighborhood are worth $400 a square foot you are gaining instant equity through the project. Plus, you also now have the added benefit of a flexible space that can be rented or used for family.
What are you waiting for? Contact us today at 888-987-6638 or info@usmodularinc.com
