In California, thanks to a number of state-level interventions in recent years, building an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is easier than ever.
Still, construction projects, even of a tiny home, are a major undertaking for the average homeowner. Before lining up contractors and breaking ground, a property owner might spend thousands of dollars and wait weeks just to get architectural plans drafted and approved by a local permitting agency.
Now, though, California is trying to reduce those up-front barriers as part of a broader push to address its housing crisis…