Campbell Ca. - As part of its work to facilitate more housing opportunities in the community, the City of Campbell recently published a suite of resources to help homeowners navigate the process of developing an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU. The resources can be found on a new website, www.aduscc.org, created in collaboration with other jurisdictions across Santa Clara County.
ADUs--also called granny flats, converted garages, or basement apartments--are flexible spaces that meet the changing needs of households over time. An ADU can be attached to the main home or detached as a separate home. State law also allows homes in California to have a Junior ADU (or JADU), located within the existing footprint of a home, including an attached garage.
With other communities in Santa Clara County, the City of Campbell sees ADUs as a valuable way to create more housing options. However, individual homeowners wanting to build ADUs face challenges as they have little or no experience in taking on a home development project. The resources at Santa Clara County ADU are designed to demystify the process with clear step-by-step instructions and resources to meet homeowners' needs, including:
- The aduscc.org website and free ADU Guidebook that walks through each step of the process, from concept through permitting and construction as well as the basics on being a landlord.
- ADU Process Overview & Important Information outlines the key steps and things to consider along the way.
- Local ADU Rules for homeowners to learn about the ADU rules and regulations that apply to them, as well as get contact information for local departments and staff.
- Sample ADU floorplans and stories from neighbors about what they built.
- An ADU Glossary with frequently used terms.
- ADU Calculator estimates potential building costs, rent, and homeowner return on investment.
- An ADU Plans Gallery, to launch later this year, will allow homeowners to select from a variety of free and low-cost plans and connect with ADU designers and firms.
"Our dedicated team remains committed to advancing projects that aim to expand housing options for the entire Campbell community," stated Mayor Anne Bybee. "ADUs represent a pivotal component of our multifaceted approach to addressing the pressing housing challenges. The resources at aduscc.org aim to empower and guide homeowners through their ADU development endeavors, all while actively contributing to the growth and strengthening of our community."
The Santa Clara County ADU website and resources were developed by the Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative, a joint initiative of all 16 jurisdictions in the county that meets regularly to share information and find opportunities for working together on shared housing challenges. The Planning Collaborative is operated under the auspices of the Cities Association of Santa Clara County. The ADU work was made possible by State grant funding received from the Association of Bay Area Governments.
For more information contact our Planning Division at planning@campbellca.gov.